Where Are Past 'Dancing With The Stars' Winners Now?
They all compete for an entire season of ABC's popular "Dancing With the Stars," and have all successfully won Mirrorball trophies in the end. However, what happens to the celebrities who call themselves "DWTS" champs after their time on the show comes to an end?
A new winner will be crowned, the 27th total, during tonight's finale, and whichever of the finalists wins will join the likes of professional athletes, Olympians, singers and actors who have all been in their shoes since. However, after they win, unsurprisingly, their lives generally return to normal and they continue with their work and other commitments. However, some of the winners have gone on to find even more lucrative opportunities following their stints on the show.
Here's where the previous "DWTS" winners all are today:
Season 1: Kelly Monaco
After winning the first-ever Mirrorball trophy, Kelly Monaco returned to work on ABC’s only remaining soap opera, “General Hospital,” where she continues to portray the role of Sam Morgan. She returned to “DWTS” for Season 15’s All-Stars competition, where she placed third with Val Chmerkovskiy.
Season 2: Drew Lachey
In addition to other reality show appearances and a run at the All-Stars season, Drew Lachey supported his brother, Nick, during his run on Season 25 of the show. The brothers announced they were closing their Cincinnati, Ohio sports bar earlier this year.
Season 3: Emmitt Smith
Besides placing fourth during the All-Stars Season, Emmitt has been busy running his company, Emmitt Smith Enterprises.
Season 4: Apolo Anton Ohno
Besides appearing on the All-Stars season, where he placed fifth, Ohno competed in one final Olympics in 2010, where he completed his career with two Bronze medals. He has been focused on charity work and other ventures since.
Season 5: Helio Castroneves
The former Mirrorball Champion, who also returned for All-Stars, shifted gears with his career in 2018, switching from an IndyCar driver to a full-time sports car racer for Penske’s Acura team.
Season 6: Kristi Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi has taken on several different ventures since her “DWTS” win, including opening an ice rink in San Jose, California, in 2017.
Season 7: Brooke Burke
After serving as Tom Bergeron’s co-host from 2010-2013, Burke went on to become the spokeswoman for Poise products. She announced her divorce from husband David Charvet in 2018.
Season 8: Shawn Johnson
Shawn Johnson went on to place second during the All-Stars season of “DWTS,” and married Andrew East in 2016.
Season 9: Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond is keeping busy after his win, hosting game shows and continuing to entertain, including still headlining a show at The Flamingo in Las Vegas with his sister, Marie.
Season 10: Nicole Scherzinger
The former Pussycat Doll went on to see what life was like as a judge on both “The Sing-Off" and “The X-Factor.” She’s also done voice work for Disney movies, including Sina in 2016’s “Moana,” and Mo’s Mom in the newly released “Ralph Breaks The Internet.”
Season 11: Jennifer Grey
Jennifer Grey has stayed mainly off the radar and preferred to keep a low profile after her win. She remains married to actor Clark Gregg.
Season 12: Hines Ward
Since winning his Mirrorball trophy, Hines Ward has been busy staying with football, now serving as a sports contributor for CNN.
Season 13: J.R. Martinez
The army veteran and actor has entered post-production on a documentary titled “Good Luck,” which is due in 2019.
Season 14: Donald Driver
The former NFL star has been keeping busy since his Mirrorball win and focusing on charity work, which includes the planned return of a charity softball game he hosts in Wisconsin in 2019.
Season 15: Melissa Rycroft
Besides being a mom and wife, Rycroft returned to “DWTS” this season to perform alongside Cheryl Burke and Juan Pablo di Pace during Trios night.
Season 16: Kellie Pickler
The country singer joined the Hallmark movies family this year with the recent premiere of her Christmas flick, “Christmas at Graceland.”
Season 17: Amber Riley
The former “Glee” star wrapped up her run on the series as Mercedes Jones in 2015 and has enjoyed some other roles since then, including a recent one in the Tiffany Haddish-led movie “Nobody’s Fool.”
Season 18: Meryl Davis
Since retiring from competition, the former ice skater has been focused on her future, including earning a degree from the University of Michigan, where she expects to graduate from in 2019.
Season 19: Alfonso Ribeiro
Ribeiro is still hosting “America’s Funniest Home Videos” on ABC after taking over for Tom Bergeron in 2015. He recently announced that he and his wife, Angela, are expecting their third child together in 2019.
Season 20: Rumer Willis
Willis wrapped up her run as Tory on “Empire” in 2018, and has also completed work on “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.”
Season 21: Bindi Irwin
Bindi and her mother, Terri and brother, Robert have returned to TV with a new reality show titled “Crikey! It’s The Irwins.”
Season 22: Nyle DiMarco
DiMarco has kept a largely low profile recently, though he did star in the music video for Dan + Shay’s “Tequila.”
Season 23: Laurie Hernandez
The Olympic gymnast isn’t finished with competition yet and has announced that she is in training again, with the intention of competing for Team USA once again in the 2020 summer games in Japan.
Season 24: Rashad Jennings
In addition to returning to the show during Trios week to dance with Lindsay Arnold and DeMarcus Ware, Jennings has been keeping busy hosting the online “Dancing With the Stars” series “Making of DWTS.”
Season 25: Jordan Fisher
After winning the Mirrorball last fall, Fisher went on to become one of the co-hosts, alongside fellow finalist Frankie Muniz, of “Dancing With the Stars: Juniors.” The 24-year-old will also be seen in 2019 in FOX’s “Rent: Live!,” where he is set to portray the character of Mark Cohen.
Season 26: Athletes: Adam Rippon
After winning the Mirrorball earlier this year, Rippon went on to become a judge on “Dancing With the Stars: Juniors.”
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