Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars crowned its winner on Tuesday, Nov. 26, after eight thrilling weeks of competition.
According to a report by PEOPLE, the finalists included former NFL star Danny Amendola and Witney Carson, Bachelorette 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.
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The results were revealed as Danny and Witney finished fifth, Stephen and Rylee placed fourth, and Chandler and Brandon secured third. The final two contenders were Joey and Jenna, and Ilona and Alan, with Joey and Jenna ultimately being crowned the winners of Season 33.
Joey, 29, expressed his gratitude and joy, saying, “It means everything, this whole experience has been unbelievable. Thank you for bearing with us. I tried my best, I promise!”
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The final performances included a freestyle with extra dancers, followed by a redemption dance. Joey and Jenna revisited their Cha Cha, while other couples chose dances like the Tango, Quickstep, and Jive. Joey and Jenna earned perfect scores, topping the leaderboard after both their redemption dance and freestyle.
Throughout the season, Joey and Jenna, along with Chandler and Brandon, were consistent frontrunners, with Stephen and Rylee and Ilona and Alan not far behind. Danny, after a slow start, gained momentum and became a strong contender. Danny explained his improvement by saying, “We watch a lot of film and try to tweak our performances.”
All five couples made it to the finale after host Alfonso Ribeiro announced that no one would be eliminated in the semifinals. Chandler shared her excitement for the finale, saying she was “shocked” but “grateful” for the chance to continue. Ilona admitted she wasn’t sure if they’d make it, given the tough competition.
Season 33 also saw some budding romances, including model Brooks Nader and her partner Gleb Savchenko, who continued seeing each other despite their breakup, and Bachelorette Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber, who formed a close bond and even planned to move in together after their elimination.
