Last updated on Dec. 1, 2025 at 02:22 p.m.

On Tuesday night, “Dancing with the Stars” crowned its season 34 champions. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson were the celebrity-pro duo that took home the Mirrorball Trophy.

In the three-hour finale, each of the five finalists performed three dances. The competition started off with a judges’ choice round where each couple had a dance style chosen for them by one of the three judges. Next, there was the instant dance challenge, where each couple had five minutes to prepare a dance to a randomly picked style and music. 

The show ended with each couple’s freestyle, an important final dance. There are no rules to the dance style, and each celebrity can make it their own. 

The finale also showcased dances from the troupe, the tour cast and season 33 champions Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson. The pair did one last dance before passing the Mirrorball Trophy on. 

Fifth place: Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten

Hendrix and Bersten’s rumba was nothing short of pure gracefulness. It showcased both her talents and her joy to be performing each week. The dance also showcased Hendrix’s dedication to the show and her resilience to dance. She was hospitalized a few weeks ago, but that didn’t stop her from going on and making it to the finale.

After earning a perfect score in her first round, it was evident that she struggled more in the instant dance challenge of the second round. The quickstep’s fast-paced style seemed to have gotten the best of Hendrix, and the judges noticed, giving her a 27/30. 

Hendrix put on a show for her freestyle. Not only that, she was also able to tell a story of auditioning for a show, getting the part and nailing opening night all in her dance. Bersten really let Hendrix shine and be the leading woman and the center of the dance. 

In the end, Hendrix had a combined total of 87/90 and came in fifth place. Her story of resilience is nothing short of inspirational, and she proved the importance of chasing after your dreams.

Fourth place: Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach

Efron entered the finale as the previous week’s lowest scorer. His first dance reflected the results of last week’s leaderboard, as his paso doble was not perfect. He had some stumbles, and as one of the judges pointed out, his hands were “flat” during the dance. His issues in shaping his frame earned him a 28/30. His technical mistakes showcased just how nitpicky the judges can be.

However, in his second round foxtrot, Efron danced with such elegance and grace that it was surprising to know he had only had five minutes to prepare. His perfect score was redeeming after his first performance.

Efron and Karagach performed an emotional and slow-paced freestyle. It was a breath of fresh air and arguably Efron’s best performance. The chemistry of the pair was on full display during the dance and contributed to his excellent performance, which also led to a perfect score.

Efron ended the show in fourth place, and it was well deserved as he improved tremendously from week one. He was a true performer by the end of his journey.

Third place: Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa

Chiles delivered a powerful paso doble to end the first round of the finale. While Sosa was the male pro who typically leads in this style of dance, Chiles was the dominating performer. Her near-perfect score of 29/30 was well earned as the dance was essentially flawless to viewers and showcased her powerful athleticism.

After their song was announced, the pair seemed confused, and they were not familiar with it. However, that was not evident during their exquisite tango. They had a technical tango and executed the frame properly to earn a 30/30.

Chiles ended the freestyle competition with a powerful and electric freestyle. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba even said that it was the best freestyle she had ever seen. The combination of “Bow Down” by Beyoncé and “Motivation” by Normani was the perfect combo for Chiles to dance to. She even brought out Normani, and they danced like two professionals on the stage. After that performance, there was no doubt that Chiles earned another perfect score.

Chiles and Sosa finished in third place after their valiant performances, breaking boundaries all season long. Their finish was also redeeming for Sosa. He was the first pro eliminated last season and made it to the finale in his second season, so making it this far was quite the accomplishment.

Second place: Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy

Earle’s first dance was a samba that highlighted her growth and improvement on the show. Earle noted how she was shy at first, but she put on an electric and outstanding samba performance in the finale. Chmerkovskiy didn’t steal the spotlight away from Earle one bit. She shone brighter than her sparkly outfit and displayed amazing technique that led her to a perfect score for her first performance. 

To kick off the instant dance round, Earle and Chmerkovskiy did yet another upbeat, fun-filled cha-cha style dance. The judges were impressed with her performance and awarded her another perfect score. 

Earle’s freestyle started with a bang, and she commanded the stage. It was filled with dance sequences and even a paso doble section to tie the freestyle back into a ballroom style while still being flawless. The freestyle highlighted Earle’s ability to be a leading star and performer on the stage.

Earle was the only contestant to earn a perfect 90/90 after three rounds of dances. It was truly a toss-up for first place, but Earle and Chmerkovskiy came out in second place. The hosts even mentioned how it was the closest margin of points between first and second place, proving that it was up in the air until the final moments.

First place: Robert Irwin and Witney Carson

Irwin has made it clear this season that he is more than a zookeeper. The judges chose a quickstep that was the perfect choice for Irwin and Carson to show off their energetic and bubbly personalities through their dance. However, with such a quick dance that relies so heavily on footwork, mistakes are bound to happen, and a judge pointed out some of his missteps. 

After earning a 29/30, Irwin and his cha-cha earned him a perfect score in the second round. Irwin showcased his abilities to be a leading man on the ballroom floor. He led Carson throughout the dance, showing how far he’s come during his journey on the show.

Irwin’s freestyle was golden. Irwin and Carson showcased their tremendous talents throughout the dance with impressive lifts, flips and turns. The freestyle ended with a more upbeat section that truly highlighted Irwin’s joyous personality. The golden performance also earned him a golden perfect score of 30/30 once again.

Irwin’s win was important for him and his pro, Carson. Tuesday marked exactly 11 years after Carson won her very first Mirrorball Trophy. To have her second win be on the same day is special. Additionally, it was 10 years ago that Irwin’s sister, Bindi, won her Mirrorball Trophy. 

Irwin accepted his trophy and quoted his sister by saying, “Thank you for changing my life!”

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