Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy thinks his partner, Laurie Hernandez, has real potential to be a star.

Hernandez has become one of the indisputable frontrunners on Dancing With the Stars thus far, earning the first perfect score of the season in Week 4. While the Olympic gold medalist may be well on her way to taking home the Mirrorball trophy at the end of the season, Chmerkovskiy sees even bigger things in her future.

"She's a star," Chmerkovskiy told Access Hollywood this week. "She's already a star but I feel like she hasn't even reached nearly her potential, not just in the gymnastics world but in this world. She's a Hollywood star in the making. So I just want to create, weekly, a portfolio for her."

Hernandez has already accomplished so much at the tender age of 16 (even meeting Beyonce!) and her pro dancing partner is hoping that she can inspire young girls as a positive role model.

Chmerkovskiy explained that Hernandez "has the opportunity to inspire an entire generation of young ladies, to not just - like yesterday's show - sexy this, sexy that and that's beautiful, but I want girls to know that it's not about how little clothing you wear or how much makeup you wear it's about strength it's about confidence and exclusivity and feeling like you're worth more than just a guy's approval. That's what's sexiest to me and I want people to know that."

Hernandez is currently in the top 8 on Dancing With the Stars, with five celebrities having been eliminated thus far. Monday is "Eras Night" on the dance competition, with the couples performing dance numbers in the style of previous generations. Hernandez and Chmerkovskiy are set to dance the quickstep with a 1960s influence, set to the song "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons.

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Tags: Dancing with the Stars laurie hernandez Reality TV ABC