Ricki Lake is seriously wowing everyone on this season of "Dancing with the Stars." The 43-year-old is dancing up a storm with her pro partner Derek Hough, and she's a real contender to take home that coveted sparkly disco ball trophy at the end. The former John Waters muse and talk show host spoke to The Huffington Post about her chances of winning "DWTS," the home-birthing movement and being madly in love.
Okay first of all, go Ricki!
Oh boy, I'm definitely outdoing myself. It's exhausting. I'm whittling away to nothing and I'm having the best time but it's just brutal.
You know it's between you and J.R. Martinez.
I know, well that's very sweet of you. I think everyone's improved every week. He's definitely the one to beat. All I can say is it's going to be very hard to beat the war hero who can dance.
And he's so positive and happy. It's so annoying! He makes me feel guilty!
And he's got a smile that lights up the whole ballroom. He's amazing. I'd be happy to take second to him. I hope we take first, but if I have to lose to someone, I'd be glad if it's him. But I really want it to be about who gives the best performance so I'm bringing as much of my "A" game as I can and it's not easy. I am not a natural dancer. J.R. has natural ability. It's definitely a work in progress.
How much weight have you lost?
I don't know. I didn't weigh myself at the beginning. I'm definitely a size six now. I'll probably be a size four by the end of it. It's come to the point where it doesn't matter. I no longer wear Spanx. I don't have lumps where I used to. I will weigh myself at the end. I really like where my body is going. My waist has never been smaller.
I loved your documentary "The Business of Being Born." You're now the face of the home-birthing movement.
I'm really not advocating home birth as much as I'm advocating choices being available. So, I have to be really clear -- I had an amazing home birth. I loved that experience. That baby is now 10 years old and I look back on that experience and I get so much strength from it. I feel like it gets me through "Dancing with the Stars." Clearly not everyone is going to do what I did. It's about people educating themselves and knowing they have options and knowing to care about this most precious experience we have. You can be positive and present during this experience. The idea that doctors come in and save the day -- yes, sometimes that happens when it's a medical emergency and yes, we need doctors and technological interventions -- but so many times this intervention is given to women who don't need it. I want people to be able to make a conscious, informed decision for what's best for them and their babies.
So, you're in love and getting married. Tell me about it.
I'm madly in love [with Christian Evans]. We're engaged. Today is our 13 month anniversary. He's amazing and he's not somebody anybody would know. He's like a normal guy. He knows who he is; he's not in any way emasculated by my career. He doesn't want to be the big star when he walks in the room. He's just there and he supports me. I adore him.
Are you going to be a Bridezilla?
No, I just want to marry him. The fact that I'm saying that -- a year ago I never would have imagined being in this place where I wanted to marry. I had a really kind of yucky divorce and it was really challenging to get over that. I thought, 'I don't need to be married, I'll be independent. I'll just date,' and then I met this amazing person. We really complement each other. I need him and he needs me. So I don't know what kind of wedding I'm going to have right now. I can't even plan tomorrow.
'Dancing With The Stars' Season 13
