If you’ve spent any time watching Dancing with the Stars, you know Cheryl Burke. She’s the powerhouse pro who racked up two Mirrorball trophies back-to-back with Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith. But even though she’s been in our living rooms for over 25 seasons, there is one question that still pops up in Google searches like clockwork: "What is Cheryl Burke’s ethnicity?"
People are curious. Honestly, it’s because she has that "ambiguous" look that Hollywood loves but rarely explains well. Some fans guess she’s Latina because of her incredible ballroom flair and tan. Others think she’s strictly Caucasian.
The truth? It’s a mix that’s a lot more interesting than the "Latin" label she often gets slapped with on stage.
The Reality of Cheryl Burke’s Ethnicity
Cheryl is actually mixed-race. Specifically, she is Filipina, Irish, and Russian.
She was born in San Francisco, California, which is a massive melting pot itself. Her mother, Sherri Burke (formerly Sherri Bautista), is Filipina. Her late father, Stephen Burke, was of Ashkenazi Jewish, Irish, and Russian descent.
📖 Related: Jungle 2 Jungle Actors: Where the Cast of the 1997 Disney Hit Is Now
It’s a unique blend.
In a world where people love to put celebrities into neat little boxes, Cheryl doesn't really fit one. She’s spoken openly about how her mom, Sherri, moved from the Philippines and worked incredibly hard as a nurse and entrepreneur to give Cheryl opportunities. That "immigrant work ethic" is something Cheryl credits for her own discipline on the dance floor.
You’ve probably noticed she often carries a deep tan and wears heavy bronzer for competitions. This is standard for ballroom—the "stage tan" is basically a uniform. But for Cheryl, it often led viewers to assume she was Hispanic. While she’s a master of the Cha-Cha and the Rumba, her actual roots are firmly planted in Southeast Asian and European heritage.
A Legacy Recognized: The Asian Hall of Fame
Despite the confusion some fans have, the Asian-American community has claimed her with pride for years.
In 2008, she won an Asian Excellence Award. More recently, in 2020, she was officially inducted into the Robert Chinn Foundation’s Asian Hall of Fame.
💡 You might also like: La Mega NY en Vivo: Why This Station Still Dominates New York
Think about that for a second.
She isn't just a "dancer who happens to be Asian." She is a trailblazer. She was the first professional woman to win Dancing with the Stars, and she did it while representing a demographic that—at the time—wasn’t getting much spotlight in mainstream reality TV.
Why the "Latina" Myth Persists
Why do so many people get Cheryl Burke’s ethnicity wrong?
- The Ballroom Aesthetic: Ballroom culture is heavily influenced by Latin American styles. Dark hair, bronzed skin, and high-energy hip movements are part of the job.
- The Last Name: "Burke" is about as Irish as it gets. People hear the name and look at her features and get a bit confused.
- Media Representation: Early in her career, the media didn't talk much about her heritage. It was all about the dance.
Actually, if you look at her sister Nicole or her mother Sherri, the Filipino roots are very clear. Cheryl has mentioned in interviews that she didn't necessarily grow up in a "traditionally" Filipino household in terms of language or food—she joked once that she’s a horrible cook and didn't inherit her mom's skills in the kitchen—but the cultural influence of her mother’s journey stayed with her.
Growing Up in San Francisco
Cheryl’s childhood wasn’t all glitz and glamour. Her parents divorced when she was just a baby. Her father eventually moved to Thailand, which added another layer of international connection to her life, though it made their relationship complicated.
She started ballet at age four.
She hated it.
Well, maybe not hated it, but it didn't click.
It wasn't until she discovered ballroom at age 11 that things changed. In the Bay Area, she found a community where she could excel. By the time she was a teenager, she was traveling the world for competitions. This wasn’t just a hobby; it was a career before she even graduated high school.
The Jewish-Irish-Russian Connection
We talk a lot about her Filipino side because it’s so central to her public identity and awards, but her father’s side is equally a part of her DNA. Stephen Burke’s background as an Ashkenazi Jewish man with Irish and Russian roots is where she gets that "Burke" surname.
When her father passed away in 2018, it was a turning point for her. She actually discovered a half-sister she never knew she had through that side of the family. It just goes to show that even for a celebrity whose life seems like an open book, there are always layers of family history and ethnicity still being peeled back.
Why This Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we’re still talking about this.
Basically, representation has changed. In the early 2000s, being "ethnically ambiguous" was treated like a fashion accessory. Today, people want to know the real story. They want to know that one of the most successful dancers in TV history is a Filipina-American woman who broke barriers.
Cheryl has used her platform recently—especially on her podcasts like Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans—to talk about the "real" version of herself. Not the one in sequins, but the one who dealt with childhood trauma, sobriety, and the pressures of being a woman of color in a high-stakes industry.
🔗 Read more: Elizabeth Taylor Cleopatra 1963: What Most People Get Wrong About the Movie That Almost Killed Fox
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re a fan of Cheryl or just interested in her journey, here is how you can actually engage with her story:
- Listen to her podcast: She dives deep into her history and the BTS of the dance world. It’s a raw look at the person behind the performer.
- Support the Asian Hall of Fame: Since her induction, she’s been a vocal supporter of Asian-American representation in the arts.
- Look past the tan: Recognize that the "ballroom look" is a performance, but her heritage is a blend of Filipino resilience and European-Jewish history.
Cheryl Burke’s ethnicity isn't just a trivia fact. It’s the foundation of her work ethic and her place in TV history. Whether she’s judging a competition or sharing her life on YouTube, she’s doing it as a proud, multi-racial woman who refused to be pigeonholed.