Carrie Ann Inaba on Being DWTS’ Sole Female Judge: ‘I Have to Fight Harder for My Opinion to Be Honored’

Carrie Ann Inaba is revealing the challenge of being the only female judge on Dancing with the Stars. 

Speaking at the 2023 Variety Women Of Reality TV event in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Inaba, 55, said that she has to “fight harder” for her opinion.

“Yes, there have been times when I have almost walked away,” Inaba revealed as she sat next to other ladies from the reality TV world, including Kyle Richards. “As the only female judge for most of the seasons, I get a lot more hate than the men do and people doubt what I say. Oh I’m going to get emotional.”

“I’m the judge who cries,” Inaba continued. “Yes that’s true, but it’s also because I feel like I have to fight harder for my opinion to be honored.”

The judge then added that she appreciated the event organizers for "having this moment for the women in this business."

As the crowd cheered, the professional choreographer explained, “We’re all carrying a load that’s a little different and I feel it’s such an honor that you guys see that and have honored it.”

Inaba also exclusively spoke to PEOPLE at the event about her work in reality TV being recognized. The star noted that her mother was the first person she told when she found out that she would be honored.

“People who work in reality television are not often appreciated for what we do,” Inaba said. “And it's been the world that I've been working in for a long time as a choreographer, as a staging director and then now as an on-camera person, as a judge.”

Tuesday night saw Dancing with the Stars hosts  Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announce that all couples had made it into next week’s season finale.

Next Tuesday will see Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov, and Marvel actress Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy compete, as well as Bachelorette star Charity Lawson and Artem Chigvintsev,singer Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach, and Alyson Hannigan and Sasha Farber.