Dancing With The Stars’ Christian Wilkins reflects on breaking out of the shadow of TV host dad Dickie
Dancing With The Stars’ Christian Wilkins has been tipped as this season’s underdog. The model son of TV presenter Richard Wilkins speaks to Sydney Confidential’s Mibenge Nsenduluka about forging his own path in the entertainment world.
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Dancing With The Stars contestant Christian Wilkins has been tipped as this season’s underdog.
With a background in singing and acting, the son of veteran TV presenter Richard Wilkins has entertainment in his blood which could no doubt work in his favour as he competes to win $50,000 for his chosen charity.
“This is the biggest thing I’ve ever done and to be part of a production that’s so based around positivity is exciting,” he told Confidential.
“It’s so exciting to be a part of something that really celebrates weirdness and being yourself. I’m the by-product of when your parents praise you too much and don’t say ‘no’ enough.”
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Wilkins made his debut on the Channel 10 show alongside his dance partner Lily Cornish earlier this month and the judges were impressed with the pair’s tango performance – which earned them 18 points.
However, the podcast host says he accepts that not everyone will like him and he’s learned to brush off criticism about whether his last name has helped his career.
His father has been a staple on Aussie TV screens as a presenter for over 30 years.
“If that’s [people’s] opinion of me then that’s their opinion of me. I’m a 6”3 flamboyant gay man with long blonde hair, I’m very aware that not everyone’s going to like me. I’ve made peace with that fact,” he said.
“I just hope that people are along for the ride. I’m a big believer in putting positive energy into the world and so that’s what I try and do and if that’s not what people want to do then that’s on them.”
“I definitely went through a phase where I did [care what people think].
“I think in my early adulthood, the whole “prince” persona was something I projected to protect myself and now for the first time I think part of the reason why I’m so excited is I really feel like I’m being authentically Christian now.
“But you know my parents always really celebrated my weirdness and my queerness and because of that I feel like I’ve been able to just go out there with that same confidence.”
Dancing With The Stars continues Sunday at 7:30pm on Channel 10.