Top 20 Best Dancing with the Stars Winners

An NBA champion, Iman Shumpert was also the first basketball player to win “Dancing with the Stars,” conquering season 30 with his partner Daniella Karagach. The duo had good competition in runners-up JoJo Siwa & Jenna Johnson but managed to sneak in the win, owing no doubt to a very strong finish. Iman and Daniella were the second duo to score a perfect 40, which they did on their horror night contemporary dance. They also performed admirably in the finale with a freestyle and cha-cha-cha/foxtrot fusion. Those brilliant performances allowed Shumpert to make “Dancing with the Stars” history and add another trophy to his wall.

Having dominated both the television and music industries, Donny Osmond thought he would conquer a reality competition program. And that’s exactly what he did in 2009, winning season 9 with Kym Johnson. Osmond had a very strong week five, scoring two tens with his Argentine tango and attaining the highest scores of the week. He would repeat this feat in the finale, as his combined score tied with Mýa & Dmitry Chaplin for the highest. However, Osmond was the only dancer to score a perfect 30 on night two, which likely helped secure him the win. It was a remarkable feat considering his age, and to this day he remains the oldest winner in the show’s history.

There’s no question about it - season 31 was Charli D’Amelio’s to lose. D’Amelio absolutely dominated the competition, attaining the highest score in all ten weeks. It was obvious from the very first episode that D’Amelio was the best dancer, as she was the only one to score above 30. And she started strong, and she ended strong. D’Amelio danced five perfect 40s in a row in the final three weeks, finishing strong with a great freestyle to “Us Again.” If that’s not all, D’Amelio also set a “Dancing with the Stars” record; she is the first dancer to score a perfect 50, owing to the presence of four judges plus guest judge Michael Bublé.

It’s no secret that athletes often make the best contestants on “Dancing with the Stars,” and this eight-time short-track speed skating medalist was no exception. Ohno appeared in the show’s fourth season and was partnered with Julianne Hough. While they scored unanimous 7s in their first week, they really picked it up with their second week quickstep, scoring two 9s and an 8. However, they solidified their place in DWTS history with their fifth week samba, becoming the first couple to score three 10s. They would accomplish this feat four more times throughout the season, so it’s no surprise that they were crowned the victors. Add the trophy to his list. Oh Yes.

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#16: J.R. Martinez

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J.R. Martinez is a former US Army soldier who suffered burns on roughly a third of his body and was forced to undergo more than thirty plastic surgeries. But, incredibly, he has not let this immense tragedy stop him, and has pursued a career as a motivational speaker and actor; he appeared in the show’s thirteenth season alongside Karina Smirnoff. The two would score unanimous 10s on four separate occasions, leading to Smirnoff’s first victory as a choreographer. Martinez was not only a fantastic dancer, but a terrific personality who proved the virtues of motivation and persistence, to say the least.

Emmitt Smith certainly had a reputation going into season 3 of DWTS. Smith was an all-star football running back who won three Super Bowls and became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. So he could run, but could he shimmy? Well, he was the man to beat, and fortunately, he did not disappoint. Smith was a great dancer who worked well with Cheryl Burke, and his numerous improvisations were praised by both Burke and the judges. While other dancers may have received better scores, Smith’s personality and focus ensured his victory, and he became the first athlete to win the competition.

Before her own TV hosting career, Nicole Scherzinger was the lead vocalist for the Pussycat Dolls, one of the most successful groups of the 2000s. She appeared in the show’s tenth season alongside Derek Hough. The two received the highest score on twelve occasions and received four perfect scores, including two in the finale. They also received the season’s highest score average of 27.5, beating out runners-up Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya, who scored 26.3. While Nicole was the favorite to win, Evan and Anna certainly made it a battle, and it was exciting to watch the two super couples battle it out week after week.

Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi achieved incredible athletic success in 1992, winning both the World Championships and an Olympic gold medal. The Mirrorball Trophy was added to her collection in 2008 after winning season six with Mark Ballas. Like Charli D’Amelio, Yamaguchi was the obvious standout, attaining the highest score in eight of the ten weeks. She was also the first celebrity to score a perfect 30, having done so in week six with an accomplished jive. And speaking of perfect 30s, Yamaguchi would finish with three straight in the finale, winning the group cha-cha-cha and repeating her perfect jive from week six. Yamaguchi was the first Olympic skater in the show’s history, and she set the bar extraordinarily high for all who followed.

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#12: Melissa Rycroft

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If you win an All Stars season, does that make you the best winner of all time? Maybe, and Melissa Rycroft certainly makes a good argument for herself! Rycroft first competed on season eight and placed third with partner Tony Dovolani. They reunited for the All Star season and Rycroft completed her revenge arc, beating season eight winner Shawn Johnson. Rycroft started slow but ended strong, scoring perfect 30s on five of her last seven dances. She also narrowly defeated Johnson in the finale, combining for a score of 88.5 to Johnson’s 87. They were neck and neck the whole season, but the strong finish likely secured Rycroft’s win.

The eldest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, Rumer Willis has followed in her parents’ showbiz footsteps and has secured herself a nice career as an actress and singer. And, as it turns out, she’s also an incredible dancer. Willis defeated Riker Lynch to win season 20 with partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy. She was strong from the very beginning, earning the highest score in week one with a great foxtrot. But Willis truly came into her own in the final three weeks, with six of her last seven dances earning perfect scores. In fact, this feat tied the record for most perfect scores in a single season, joining the esteemed ranks of Meryl Davis and Jennifer Grey.

Alfonso Ribeiro, aka Carlton from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” was not only one of the most famous contestants on “Dancing with the Stars,” he was also, unsurprisingly given his b-boy past, one of the best dancers. During the show’s nineteenth season, Ribeiro earned five perfect scores, including three in the finale alone. You know you’ve got the trophy in the bag when you score three perfect scores in the finale. And while his dancing with Witney Carson was certainly great, his fun and infectious personality ensured that he became a judge, host! - and fan favorite. He remains, without a doubt, one of the show’s most memorable contestants.

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#9: Jennifer Grey

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We aren’t saying that “Dirty Dancing” made Jennifer Grey a terrific dancer, but it certainly didn’t hurt. Grey was a fan favorite going into the show’s eleventh season due to her star power and previous dancing experience, and she did not disappoint. She and Derek earned the highest score on an incredible thirteen dances and earned six perfect scores, ensuring Jennifer’s win over her main competitors, Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin. Despite some injuries and setbacks, she was sexy, she was cool, and she proved that she could dance with the best of them. You could almost say that she . . . had the time of her life dancing on this show. Yeah, we said it.

A contestant on the fifth season of “American Idol,” Kellie Pickler launched a successful career in country music. She was paired with Derek Hough for Dancing with the Stars’ 16th season and emerged victorious, somewhat surprisingly, over Zendaya. Zendaya & Val were arguably a more technical couple, but it was Kellie & Derek who won over fans and voters. Pickler improved dramatically over the season, and everyone loves a good underdog story. This, combined with her lack of dance experience and stunning freestyle, allowed Pickler to eke out a victory. To this day, Pickler’s freestyle to Labrinth’s “Beneath Your Beautiful” is a beloved fan favorite.

An esteemed Broadway performer, Jordan Fisher is used to dancing for a crowd. And his talents were on full display throughout the show’s 25th season. Fisher emerged victorious over Frankie Muniz and Lindsey Stirling, a fact that didn’t come as much of a surprise. Fisher was strong right out of the gate, landing the highest score of week one with a tango to Shawn Mendes. It was a sign of things to come, as Fisher dominated the rest of the season with partner Lindsay Arnold, and finished with four perfect dances in the finale. That made nine overall, setting a “Dancing with the Stars” record for most perfect scores in a single season. While his victory was somewhat predictable, it was definitely deserved.

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#6: Laurie Hernandez

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Some backgrounds are particularly better for dancing, and being a gymnast is certainly one of them. Hernandez won gold in the women's team at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and soon after she was in L.A. competing on season 23 of “Dancing with the Stars.” And, well, let’s just say she showed them how it was done. Just 16 years old at the time, Hernandez dominated the season and tied the record for most perfect scores with eight. Seven of those came in her last eight dances, with the first occurring back in week four. Hernandez set all types of “Dancing with the Stars” records with her impeccable performance, including first Latina and youngest celebrity to win.

Bindi Irwin, the late Steve Irwin’s daughter, starred in an Australian reality show and has had multiple showbiz gigs. However, she truly made a name for herself during season 21 of “Dancing with the Stars,” where she was partnered with veteran Derek Hough. To say that they made a terrific couple would be an understatement. They took off right out of the gate, scoring unanimous 8s in their first week with a great jive. They would then make DWTS history by scoring unanimous 10s on eight separate occasions, a record for the show. They scored three perfect scores in the finale alone, which was more than enough to ensure their predicted victory.

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#4: Shawn Johnson East

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The trophy was Shawn Johnson East’s to lose. She went into the show’s eighth season as an Olympic balance beam gold medalist, three-time Olympic silver medalist, and five-time Pan American Games gold medalist. That is a hella impressive résumé, and she fully used her incredible athleticism to her advantage. While she only earned the highest score on four of her sixteen dances (and two lowest scores to boot), that athleticism, her chemistry with Mark Ballas, and her infectious personality ensured that she became a season favorite. While East definitely faced stiff competition, her persistent hard work and skill eventually won out in the end.

A natural performer, Amber Riley rose to prominence on “Glee” before winning the Laurence Olivier Award for the West End production of “Dreamgirls.” She also happened to crush season 17, and became the first African American female winner. Riley’s dominance was obvious from the very first dance when she scored three nines for her cha-cha-cha. By doing so, she tied the record for the highest score in the first week. And she never let off the gas, earning multiple week-high scores and being the only finalist to achieve three perfect dances in the finale. That saloon freestyle is a thing of pure beauty and we will hear no different.

Meryl Davis is a highly acclaimed ice dancer who has won an Olympic gold medal, two World Championships, three Four Continents Championships, and five Grand Prix Finals. Whew. Both viewers and judges had high expectations for her in the show’s 18th season. Luckily for her, and our expectations, Davis proved to be one of, if not the best dancer in the show’s history. She (and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy) wowed us all, dance after dance, earning six perfect scores and the highest score on eleven of her fifteen dances. While some debated the fairness of her inclusion, Davis nevertheless set the bar for future contestants. As Len Goodman said, “There’s good, there’s great, and there’s Meryl.”

This model, actor, and activist had an amazing two-year run in 2015 and 2016. First, he became only the second man to win “America’s Next Top Model”; then he became the second Deaf contestant ever on “Dancing with the Stars,” after Marlee Matlin, who was the sixth person eliminated in her season. Nyle and partner Peta Murgatroyd were instant fan favorites due to the couple’s obvious chemistry and persistence, and the two earned 10s week after week, including three perfect scores. Nyle was a great dancer, but it was also his charming and inspiring personality which won over viewers.