Sailor Brinkley-Cook Admits ‘DWTS’ Elimination Was ‘Heartbreaking’: ‘I Wasn’t Ready To Finish’

ABC

Sailor Brinkley-Cook was full of emotion after her surprising early exit from ‘Dancing with the Stars’. She admitted that her elimination was ‘heartbreaking’ and also talked passionately about how the overall experience changed her life forever.

Sailor Brinkley-Cook, 21, poured her heart out about her DWTS experience on Instagram on Tuesday, October 22. “Last night was heartbreaking. I was so not ready for this experience to finish so soon but wow am I grateful for every minute of it!” she wrote next to two photos of herself with dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy, 33. “I loved every sweaty moment in the rehearsal studio pushing myself past so many inhibitions and insecurities, and laughing my way through it all. And then doing something every Monday that I never in a million years thought I could be capable of. It was such a gift, no matter how nervous I was getting up on that stage I’d always look around and think what is my life!? How blessed am I?! This experience changed my whole outlook on life. All my life I let my fears hold me back from anything I wasn’t comfortable with. This experience made me feel unstoppable. Each day on this rollercoaster ride was a massive learning lesson, a journey in 24 hours.”

Sailor also wrote a heartfelt dedication to her dancing buddy Val in the post. “A massive thank you to my fearless partner and friend @valentin for everything, for believing in my strengths, for never giving up, for cracking me up every day. I’ll sincerely miss dancing by your side. But i know it won’t be the last time.”

Val gushed in response to her message, writing “There are a lot of things I was looking forward to still showing you on our journey but looking back there are zero regrets and easily one of the most exciting heartwarming fun I’ve ever had on this show. You are class, ease, sophistication, humor, and pure beauty all in one from heart to soul. Keep loving the world, keep loving the people around you, and now finally start loving and celebrating yourself. As often as possible.” Sailor’s half-sister Alexa Ray Joel also consoled her after she was eliminated, writing that “No matter what she’s STILL the biggest shooting star on that stage in my eyes!” on her own Instagram Story.

See more

Sailor and Val ended up in the bottom two with singer Ally Brooke, 26, and her dance partner Sasha Farber, 35 on Monday night’s show. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, 51, and Bruno Tonioli, 63, chose to save Ally and Sasha, meaning Sailor and Val were sent home in only the fourth week of the reality competition program. They had a stellar showing before getting eliminated, earning three 9’s for their jive performance to “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” by Wham!

The Sports Illustrated model replaced her mother Christie Brinkley, 65, after she suffered an arm injury hours before season 28 premiered. Talk show host Wendy Williams, 55, thought the leggy blonde was faking her injury during a conversation about her on her talk show on September 16, which Sailor said was “so insane” in response in a separate interview.