Alfonso shows off 20-lb weight loss as he prepares for the new season of Dancing With the Stars.
Alfonso Ribeiro is getting ready to light up the dance floor again, and this time, he’s bringing a fresh new look with him.
The beloved TV host, famous for his role as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, recently dropped 20 pounds, and he’s excited for fans to see the difference when Dancing With the Stars returns this fall.
As the show’s co-host alongside Julianne Hough, Alfonso can’t wait for viewers to notice his transformation. “I know that it’s going to be a tight season, and we are gonna have some fun,” the 52-year-old told PEOPLE, clearly buzzing with excitement. “It’s gonna be great, and the dancing will be better than ever.”
Shedding those 20 pounds has given Alfonso a newfound confidence, especially when it comes to joining in on the show’s playful opening numbers. “I think I might look a little better when they ask me to do some of the little dances,” he joked. “So you know, I am ready to rock.”
While he’s keeping the specifics of his weight loss under wraps, Alfonso has opened up in the past about how his family made a major lifestyle shift several years ago. Back in October, he shared on the Tamron Hall Show that his family decided to overhaul their diet after one of his kids had a health scare.
“He had a health issue, and we learned how to feed him,” Alfonso explained, recalling how that moment changed everything for their family. Since then, they’ve committed to living a non-toxic life, cutting out sugar, gluten, corn, dairy, oats—pretty much anything that causes inflammation. “We typically stay away from it all,” he said.
It’s a change that Alfonso credits for not only his weight loss but also for helping his entire family feel better. His wife, Angela Unkrich, is passionate about healthy eating and often shares tips and recipes on Instagram, inspiring others to take control of their health as well.
But it’s not just about the diet. Alfonso’s got a lot on his plate, with Dancing With the Stars kicking off on September 17 and America’s Funniest Home Videos premiering its 35th season on September 29.
This marks his 10th season as the host of AFV, and he couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of both shows. “It is a lot of work to do two shows at once,” he admitted. “But they are two shows that I absolutely adore and love, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of them.”
With Dancing With the Stars about to return, fans are eager to see which celebrities will be hitting the dance floor. Though Alfonso doesn’t know the full cast list yet, he’s hoping for some Olympians, given that this is an Olympic year. “I am excited to see who we’ve got this year,” he said. “It should be a fantastic season.”
Amid all the work, Alfonso still found time for some family fun this summer. He and nine of his closest family members, including Angela and their three youngest kids, embarked on an eight-day River Rhine Cruise with Adventures by Disney.
Although he wasn’t sure he’d enjoy it at first, the trip turned out to be a huge hit. “[I] didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did,” he confessed. “It was kind of a shock. But I really, really enjoyed it. The kids loved it, my wife loved it—it was a great time.”
Now, with a healthier body, a packed schedule, and fond memories from his summer vacation, Alfonso is ready to take on the fall season. Fans can look forward to seeing him back on TV, bringing his signature energy and warmth to both Dancing With the Stars and America’s Funniest Home Videos.
