What happens after the confetti falls and the Mirrorball Trophy is awarded? For Dancing With The Stars contestants, life after the ballroom takes wildly different paths. Some launch into superstardom. Others find quiet purpose. A few take turns nobody saw coming.
We tracked down 10 former DWTS contestants to see where their dance journeys led them. Their stories prove something we’ve always known: learning to dance changes more than just your footwork.
The Superstars: Careers That Exploded After DWTS
Zendaya – From Disney Channel to Hollywood’s Biggest Star
Season 16 (2013) – 2nd Place with Val Chmerkovskiy
At 16, Zendaya was a Disney Channel star with potential. Today, she’s arguably the biggest star in Hollywood. Two Emmy wins for Euphoria. Leading roles in billion-dollar Spider-Man films. Her 2024 film Challengers earned a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and Oscar buzz. Next up: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey alongside Robert Pattinson.
The discipline she developed on the ballroom floor translated directly to her explosive career growth. Zendaya holds the highest “Combined Score” in our DWTS database, tied only with Season 34’s Robert Irwin.
The takeaway: The performance skills, discipline, and confidence built through dance training transfer to every stage in life.
Alfonso Ribeiro – From Contestant to Boss
Season 19 (2014) – Winner with Witney Carson
Alfonso arrived famous for the Carlton Dance. He left as a Mirrorball champion. But here’s the remarkable part: he never left. A decade after his victory, Alfonso now hosts Dancing With The Stars alongside Julianne Hough. He also hosts America’s Funniest Home Videos.
From competitor to champion to ambassador, Alfonso’s journey shows how ballroom dancing creates lifelong passion. The man who made us laugh with the Carlton now runs the entire show.
The takeaway: Dance opens doors you never knew existed. Alfonso turned one season into a permanent career.
Mario Lopez – The $35 Million Man
Season 3 (2006) – 2nd Place with Karina Smirnoff
In 2006, Mario Lopez was “the guy from Saved by the Bell.” Nearly 20 years later, he’s earned over $100 million as a television host. After 11 years hosting Extra, he jumped to Access Hollywood where he earns $8 million annually. In 2024, he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
DWTS proved Mario could command a stage, connect with audiences, and deliver under pressure. His effortless charm, post show career, and 2nd place finish makes him easily one of the best casting decisions in the show’s history.
The takeaway: Progress on the dance floor builds skills that translate everywhere, from performance presence to connecting with people.
The Changemakers: Dance Led to Purpose
J.R. Martinez – The Ultimate Cinderella Story
Season 13 (2011) – Winner with Karina Smirnoff
In 2003, Army Specialist J.R. Martinez was trapped in a burning Humvee after hitting a roadside bomb in Iraq. He suffered burns to 34% of his body and spent 34 months in recovery. When he stepped onto the DWTS stage, most viewers had never heard of him.
He won anyway.
Today, J.R. is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker. He even spoke at the Arthur Murray Franchisee convention. He travels the world as a motivational speaker for Fortune 500 companies, veterans organizations, and burn survivor groups. His message of resilience and optimism has reached millions.
J.R. holds the highest “Cinderella Index” in our Arthur Murray Live DWTS database. His transformation from unknown to champion proves that anyone can start dancing, regardless of their starting point.
The takeaway: Dance reveals what’s inside you. J.R. already had the heart of a champion. The ballroom just gave the world a chance to see it.
Nyle DiMarco – Deaf Activist to Emmy-Nominated Director
Season 22 (2016) – Winner with Peta Murgatroyd
Nyle became the first deaf winner in DWTS history. As if learning to dance on television wasn’t hard enough, repeat after me: He won a dance competition without hearing the music. He felt the rhythm through vibrations in the floor, watching his partner and the band for cues. Just mind boggling.
Since then, Nyle has channeled his platform into advocacy. He founded The Nyle DiMarco Foundation, providing resources for deaf children. In 2025, his documentary Deaf President Now! premiered at Sundance and earned two Emmy nominations. He’s become one of the most visible advocates for deaf rights and representation.
The takeaway: Dance is about connection, not just hearing. Nyle proved that leading and following transcends any single sense.
The Plot Twists: Unexpected Turns
Anna Delvey – Dancing in an Ankle Monitor
Season 33 (2024) – 13th Place with Ezra Sosa
Yes, the convicted con artist performed on national television while under ICE house arrest. Her bedazzled ankle monitor became as famous as her dancing. When eliminated and asked what she’d take from the experience, she delivered the most talked-about moment of the season: “Nothing.”
As of 2025, Anna remains in the U.S. fighting deportation while walking New York Fashion Week runways. Ankle monitor and all.
The takeaway: Nothing like dance lessons, rhinestones, and a spotlight to make you forget the outsdie world.
JoJo Siwa – The Rebrand That Broke the Internet
Season 30 (2021) – 2nd Place with Jenna Johnson
JoJo made history as part of DWTS’s first same-sex pairing. But what happened after is where it gets complicated. In 2024, the 21-year-old attempted an “edgy adult rebrand” with her single Karma, trading rainbow bows for KISS-style makeup and leather. Safe to say… it didn’t go over well.
Since then, JoJo Siwa has opted to return to her given name, Joelle. She appeared on a series of reality shows, most notably, Celebrity Big Brother UK where she met her current boyfriend, Chris Hughes. The two have teased an engagement ring and it’s safe to say that Siwa has taken some life altering positive steps.
The takeaway: Transformation takes time. Growth isn’t always linear, and often, “it’s always darkest before the dawn.”
Ryan Lochte – From Scandal to Near-Death to… Comeback?
Season 23 (2016) – 7th Place with Cheryl Burke
Ryan competed on DWTS just weeks after his infamous Rio Olympics gas station scandal. During one live performance, a protester rushed the stage. Safe to say… it was a little crazy.
A few years later, the hits kept coming. In 2023, Ryan broke his femur in half in a car crash. He spent nine months recovering. But the 12-time Olympic medalist isn’t done. Now 40, he teaches kids to swim in Cincinnati and hints at a 2028 Olympic comeback attempt. Sadly, his wife filed for divorce in March 2025.
The takeaway: Sometimes the setback in the set up for something else. Ryan Lochte’s story is far from over and if resilience is a muscle, Lochte is getting heavy training in it.
The Controversies: Wins That Sparked Debate
Bobby Bones – The Most Controversial Champion
Season 27 (2018) – Winner with Sharna Burgess
Bobby Bones is widely considered the worst dancer to ever win the Mirrorball. His victory sparked so much fan outrage that DWTS actually changed its voting rules afterward. He won on personality and fanbase, not necessarily on hit dance development or execution.
Nevertheless, he parlayed that momentum into becoming American Idol‘s full-time mentor for four seasons. In 2024, he received the National Association of Broadcasters’ highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. Love him or not, he maximized the opportunity.
The takeaway: Starting a dance hobby isn’t about being the best dancer in the room. Bobby proved that being engaging and confident is what will draw people in to the performance. He may have disappointed anyone looking for perfect footwork, but he won over the voters and made the most of his Mirrorball.
The Quiet Life: Stars Who Stepped Back
Bristol Palin – From Spotlight to Real Estate
Season 11 (2010) – 3rd Place with Mark Ballas
Sarah Palin’s daughter competed with Mark Ballas once in Season 11 and another time in the All Star Season (season 15). She made progress, stepped out of her comfort zone, and performed wkell in her first stint. Unfortunately, on her second journey outside her comfort zone, she fell into the trap of focusing on others instead of her own development. She made some unfortunate choices and was eliminated early.
Today Bristol Palin is a mom and real estate agent in Austin, Texas, raising two daughters. Her son Tripp recently moved to Alaska to live with his dad Levi Johnston. In 2025, Bristol was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, causing facial paralysis she’s still recovering from.
The takeaway: Not everyone wants the spotlight forever. Sometimes the best path forward is a quieter one.
What Their Stories Tell Us
These 10 journeys couldn’t be more different. But they share one common thread: DWTS was a turning point. For some, it launched careers. For others, it revealed character. For a few, it was just one wild chapter in an even wilder life.
The celebrities who thrived after DWTS share certain traits:
- They embraced being beginners. Even Olympic champions had to learn ballroom basics from scratch.
- They showed up consistently. The rehearsal hours, the sore feet, the early mornings. They put in the work.
- They let dance change them. Not just their technique, but their confidence, their presence, their connection to others.
Sound familiar? Those are the same things that happen when anyone commits to learning to dance. You don’t need a TV show to experience the transformation. You just need to start.
Your Dance Journey Starts Somewhere
Zendaya was 16 with no ballroom experience. J.R. Martinez had never danced publicly. Alfonso Ribeiro was known for a comedy dance move. None of them knew where the journey would lead.
You don’t need to compete on national television to experience what dance can do. The confidence, the connection, the joy of moving to music with a partner… that’s available to everyone.
Curious what your own transformation might look like? Explore how Arthur Murray makes learning fun and see why millions have discovered that the dance floor changes everything.
For more DWTS history and the celebrities who inspired us, check out our complete guides:
Where will your dance journey take you?
