“I didn’t know what to think,” D’Amelio told ET after the finale. D’Amelio was paired with pro dancer Mark Ballas, who returned to the show this season after a five-year absence.
For a show that often lines its cast with reality-TV personalities, former boy-band members, and stunt- cast Republicans, 18-year-old multi-platform superstar D’Amelio was a very good get, and one the show didn’t squander. The live finale aired on Disney+ and featured D’Amelio and her dance partner Mark Ballas beating out fellow finalists Gabby Windey and Val Chmerkovskiy, Wayne Brady and Witney Carson, and Shangela and Gleb Savchenko. On November 21, Charli D’Amelio took home the Mirrorball Trophy on the finale of Dancing With the Stars season 31. Against all odds, a seasoned competitive dancer at the top of her form with over 100 million followers won a partially audience-vote-based dancing competition.