Jenna Johnson Talks ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 33, Self Care and Her Emmy Nomination (EXCLUSIVE)

Dancing With The Stars pro Jenna Johnson is getting ready to compete on season 33 of the hot reality show, and to do so, the dancer needs one thing: her Exuviance skin care. 

First for Women recently sat down with Johnson to discuss why she loves the brand, how she takes time for herself and what she wants people to know about Dancing With The Stars season 22. Keep scrolling for more. 

First for Women: What made you want to team up with Exuviance? Is there one thing in their skincare line that you swear by?

Jenna Johnson: I was beyond excited when I found out that I would be partnering with Exuviance. I am very particular and passionate about working with brands or people that have the same values or standards that I do, and Exuviance went above and beyond everything that I stand for. 

I'm going to put you on to my favorite product ever, and this is their Performance Peel AP25.  This is the first ever glycolic peel at a professional level that you can do at home. It's incredible for rejuvenating your skin, and it’s become a staple in my skincare routine. I just want to get the word out so that people can use this at home and have it available to them. It's incredible for brightening, exfoliating, smoothing your texture out and helping with dark spots. This product has everything that I need as a performer. 

FFW: How has your self-care and skin-care routine changed since you became a mom, and is there a specific thing you have to do to help yourself relax and unwind? 

Jenna Johnson: Time is a big factor. Once you become a mom, you lose a lot of that personal time. I have my days when I have my quick skincare routine, and then on the days that I have a moment to really take care of myself, I take advantage of it and I do my full-step routine, maybe a bath, throw on a candle, put on a mask.  I think you just have to take advantage of the time you get for yourself.

My skincare routine, when it's quick — in between my son running around and opening all of the drawers — is a good cleanse with Exuviance Gentle Cream Cleanser, which I absolutely love. I love their exfoliating pads because of all of the makeup that I have to wear. It's so important for me to get all of that extra gunk out of my skin. I love a juicy moisturizer that's going to leave my skin feeling fresh and plump. And then I love just like a little mist, and I'm out the door. 

FFW: Obviously, there is a new season of Dancing with the Stars premiering soon. What are you most excited for in season 33 and is there anything viewers should be on the lookout for?

Jenna Johnson: I'm excited for this cast because they're at similar playing levels. I feel like usually we have a couple of ringers where you're, like, “Oh, they're already a dancer,” and I think this season we maybe have one or two. 

I feel like the rest of the cast is at the same level going into this, which always makes it really exciting for us, because you never know which way it will go, and you never know who will gravitate to a certain dance. So, I feel like it's going to be a roller coaster each week with who stands out. 

FFW: Is there anything about working with Joey Graziadei that you’re partially excited about? 

Jenna Johnson: We just started, so we're still getting to know each other, but already I completely understand why he is so loved by people. He's genuine, kind and a hard worker, and that's all you want in a partner. Obviously, he's athletic with his tennis background, so I'm really excited to see what we'll be able to do.

FFW: Are you doing anything special to prepare for season 33 and are there any pre-show rituals you have to do?

Jenna Johnson: It's always exciting when you start a season and get to know your partner, because you have to get your creative juices flowing about how you're going to show them off the best. So I feel like I'm kind of in that beginning stage of getting to know Joey. He's telling me certain things that he can do or can't do, and that's kind of how I prepare myself. It is just like getting all the information I can and gearing up for the upcoming weeks. 

As far as rituals, I'm so superstitious, which is not a great thing.  I have to put my right shoe on before my left. If wardrobe hands it to me and it's a quick change, you will never see me put my left shoe on before my right.

FFW: How do you feel competing with your husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, is going to go? 

Jenna Johnson: It's been part of our relationship since the beginning. We met on the show, and then we've always competed against each other.

He is by far my number one cheerleader, and vice versa. I love watching him do his thing on the dance floor. It makes me so proud, and obviously so attracted to him, getting to see him excel and be his best, and I'm excited to see what he gets to do this season. He's paired with Phaedra Parks, and she is incredible and such a character, so I think their relationship will be really fun to watch. 

FFW: Between the show, your husband and your son, you’re quite a busy lady. How do you find time to balance it all?

Jenna Johnson: I still feel like I'm trying to figure that out. Sometimes, I'm running around like a chicken with its head cut off. But I really feel like the best thing for me to do, which I've kind of learned through all of the chaos and anxiety of working as a mom on the go, is to take little moments throughout my day to check in with myself and do some deep breaths. I feel like it really helps me recenter myself and get me grounded and refocused. 

FFW: Finally, we have to talk about your recent Emmy nomination. Where were you when you found out you were nominated and how did you react?

Jenna Johnson: Being nominated has been a bucket list item of mine, and I think my husband's, and the fact that we get to be nominated together on such a special piece that we did last season is an honor. 

We were in Chicago this summer, performing at the park with our son, and I knew that the nominations were about to be announced, so Val and I were, like, “You know what? Let's just find a bench. Let's sit down by ourselves and just look. Let's not put too much pressure on it. Let's just enjoy this moment together. If it happens, great. If it doesn't, it's totally fine.” So we're sitting there on this bench, and we see our names pop up, and it is like Christmas. I mean, I just got butterflies.

 I got emotional because it really was a moment of, “You did this, and you deserve this.”  It's just a dream come true. Honestly, I'm so excited.

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