The November 21, 2022 season finale of Dancing with the Stars boiled down to contestants Charli D’Amelio, Gabby Windey, Shangela, and Wayne Brady. The night was full of surprises for both participants and judges. On the topic of judges, head judge Len Goodman announced his departure from the show after his 17-year career.
He was met with many unexpected tributes congratulating his role on the show. As for the actual dancers, freestyle routines, lyrical dances, and jazz made the finale that much more exciting and highly competitive. Ultimately, TikTok sensation Charlie D’Amelio and partner Mark Ballas took home the prize and title for season 31.
The victor’s routine included music from Little Mix’s “Grown,” which contributed to the couple earning a perfect score. The various types of dance and style benefited also their performance, making it that much more memorable and exhilarating. Although Charli took home the prize, many fans praised competitor and drag queen star Shangela for her performance of RuPaul’s “Call Me Mother,” which featured several impressive stunts.
At the end of the night, both Charlie and Mark were tied with competitors Gabby Windey and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy, who also earned two perfect scores for their routines. Luckily for the two, their leaderboard scores combined with their fan vote made them victorious. After the finale, D’Amelio told ET, “I didn’t know what to think, it happened so fast!”
In the first episode of the season, Charlie and Mark earned 32 points and gradually improved as the weeks went on. In the final week, they earned an outstanding 80 points. Additionally, this made the 2022 season finale of Dancing with the Stars that much more special because it made partner Mark Ballas a three-time Mirrorball trophy champion.
New episodes from this season premiered on Disney+ on September 19. This truly was a season of ups, downs, and unforgettable moments!
