On November 26, five couples faced off in the finale, with fan-favorite pairs making a return to the ballroom for the grand prize.
Warning: this story contains spoilers from the season 33 finale of Dancing with the Stars.
And the Mirrorball Trophy goes to…
After eight thrilling weeks of competition, Dancing with the Stars Season 33 crowned its champion on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The finale was packed with excitement as five talented pairs vied for the top spot. Former NFL star Danny Amendola and Witney Carson, Bachelorette heartthrob Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, actress Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong, Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten, and Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold all entered the night with their eyes on the prize.
As the results were revealed, emotions ran high. Danny and Witney finished in fifth place, followed by Stephen and Rylee in fourth. Chandler and Brandon earned a well-deserved third-place finish, leaving fans on the edge of their seats to find out who would take home the coveted trophy.
This left Jenna and Joey and Ilona and Alan as the final two contenders.
Finally, in the closing moments of the finale, the big announcement was made—Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson were crowned the winners of Dancing with the Stars Season 33!
Overwhelmed with emotion, Joey shared his gratitude after the victory: “This means everything. This whole experience has been unbelievable,” he said. With a heartfelt laugh, he added, “Thank you for bearing with us—I tried my best, I promise!”
The “Dancing with the Stars” finale brought the heat as each couple pulled out all the stops to impress the judges and audience. The night featured two performances from each duo: a redemption dance where they revisited a previous routine for another shot at perfection and a high-energy Freestyle, complete with additional dancers.
Joey Graziadei, 29, and his partner Jenna Johnson, 30, chose to redo their Cha Cha for the redemption round—and nailed it. Their polished technique and chemistry earned them a perfect score, setting the bar sky-high for the rest of the night.
Danny, 39, and Witney Carson, 31, took on the Tango with renewed determination, showcasing sharp lines and passionate movements. Meanwhile, Stephen, 26, and Rylee Arnold, 19, went for a Quickstep, bringing speed and precision to the ballroom.
Chandler Kinney, 24, and Brandon Armstrong, 30, along with Ilona Maher, 28, and Alan Bersten, 30, both performed the Jive for their redemption dances. The two couples brought unique flair to the classic routine, wowing the judges with their energy and charisma.
By the end of the night, it was Joey and Jenna who stole the show. Their flawless redemption Cha Cha and an electrifying Freestyle, which scored 29 out of 30, placed them at the top of the leaderboard, cementing their status as fan favorites. The competition was fierce, but their performances were simply unforgettable.
As the “Dancing with the Stars” finale drew closer, Joey and Jenna, along with Chandler and Brandon, were already sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard. From the start of the season, both couples consistently dazzled the judges and earned high scores. Right behind them were Stephen and Rylee, and Ilona and Alan, who were never far off the pace. As the weeks went on, Danny and Witney also found their rhythm, quickly becoming serious contenders for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
Danny, a former NFL wide receiver, opened up to People in October about how he and Witney improved throughout the competition. “We watch a lot of tape,” he shared, reflecting on their hard work. “Honestly, it sounds like a football interview, but we watch a lot of film, study other dancers, see what they’ve done, and try to tweak it a little ourselves. Then we just focus on putting together a solid performance for Tuesday night.”
In an unexpected twist, all five couples were able to make it to the finale, thanks to a surprise announcement from host Alfonso Ribeiro during the semifinals. He revealed that no one would be eliminated, giving each pair a chance to dance for the Mirrorball.
Chandler Kinney, visibly emotional after the November 20 show, shared her reaction with People. “I was shocked and so grateful,” she said, reflecting on the moment. “We have such an amazing group of people here. Honestly, none of us wanted anyone to go home. We were all just so excited for each other.” It was clear the camaraderie between the contestants made this season one to remember.
Ilona Maher admitted to People that she wasn’t sure they’d make it to the finale, given how tough the competition had been. “I honestly wasn’t sure if we were going to make it through,” she said, reflecting on the intensity of the season.
Her partner, Alan Bersten, echoed the sentiment, sharing how they felt when they first started. “The very first time we danced was just a day before we went to New York for Good Morning America,” he recalled. “We didn’t really know what we were doing, but I do remember that after we danced, we grabbed bagels, and I thought, ‘Okay, this is going to be fun.’” It was a lighthearted moment that helped them realize just how much they were enjoying the journey, despite the challenges.
Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars not only gave viewers unforgettable performances and emotional moments but also sparked some potential love stories. Model Brooks Nader and her partner Gleb Savchenko quickly became fan favorites, with undeniable chemistry from the start. After they were eliminated on October 15, the two continued to see each other, though things took a turn when Brooks, 27, revealed that Gleb, 41, ended their relationship via text later that month. Despite the breakup, the two have remained close, often sharing posts together on social media and continuing to spend time together.
Meanwhile, Bachelorette star Jenn Tran, 27, and her partner Sasha Farber also developed a strong connection throughout the season. After their elimination on October 29, the pair remained inseparable, hanging out frequently. Jenn even shared that she and Sasha were planning to move in together, showing just how deep their bond had grown beyond the ballroom.
In a lighthearted moment during the November 14 episode of the Sorry, We’re Cyrus podcast, Jenn Tran shared her living situation plans, joking that she might be crashing on Sasha Farber’s couch. “Right now I gotta find a place to live, and that’s probably Sasha’s couch,” she told hosts Tish and Brandi Cyrus. Jenn added that while living with the 40-year-old dance pro, she’d probably have to take on a lot of household duties. “He’s going to make me cook and clean every day. I don’t know how I feel about that, but I don’t have to pay rent,” she laughed, showing just how comfortable the two have become since their DWTS days.
Meanwhile, in the finale, two unexpected returns caught everyone’s attention. Convicted scam artist Anna Delvey, who had been the first contestant eliminated from the show, made her comeback to the ballroom. She had famously declared that she took away “nothing” from the experience, and she certainly wasn’t shy about poking fun at that comment. For her performance, Anna danced to Whitney Houston’s iconic “I Have Nothing,” making light of her previous remarks.
Reflecting on her time on the show during an interview on Tori Spelling’s misSPELLING podcast, the 33-year-old Delvey didn’t hold back. “I really did not take away much from this experience,” she admitted. “I think I had to be on the defensive, especially after all the backlash I received for being cast on the show, even though the producers tried to defend me. Everyone on the cast was generally very nice to me, but in the end, I don’t know.” It was clear her experience on DWTS wasn’t as transformative as some others, but she certainly made her mark on the season in her own way.
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