Relive The Magic: A Journey Through 'Dancing With The Stars' Winners

Hey there, friends! Get ready for a trip down memory lane because we’re about to dive into the dazzling world of "Dancing With the Stars." This beloved dance competition has been wowing audiences on ABC for a whopping 24 seasons. Now, here's a fun challenge for all you "DWTS" superfans—how many past winners can you name? Let’s see if you’re as much of a dance trivia expert as you think you are!

A Look Back at the First Season

Let’s rewind the clock to the very beginning. The first season of "Dancing With the Stars" wrapped up in July 2005, and guess who walked away with the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy? None other than actress Kelly Monaco, paired with her incredible partner, Alec Mazo. At the time, Kelly couldn’t believe her luck, sharing her excitement with host Tom Bergeron: “It feels great, I’m going to Disneyland! I never thought I’d win… Every week, we were competing against ourselves, trying to do better than we did before.”

Kelly and Alec on Season 1 of DWTS. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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Kelly continued, “All my life, I’ve been the underdog… I’ve never won anything in my life, and this is great, it’s truly amazing!” Years later, in 2012, Kelly returned to the "DWTS" ballroom for a second chance at the trophy during Season 15. While she didn’t win this time, she still dazzled the audience and finished in an impressive third place.

Notable "DWTS" Winners Through the Years

Over the past 24 seasons, "Dancing With the Stars" has crowned some incredible champions. From Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno, who brought his gold medal-winning spirit to the dance floor, to actress Brooke Burke, who proved she could shine both in front of the camera and on the dance floor, the list goes on. Other memorable winners include singer Donny Osmond, "Dirty Dancing" star Jennifer Grey, country sensation Kellie Pickler, and actor Alfonso Ribeiro, who showed off his moves with contagious enthusiasm.

What Does It Take to Win?

In a recent interview, Season 19 champion Alfonso Ribeiro shared his thoughts on what it takes to win the Mirror Ball Trophy. “The show is all about a journey, it’s about improvement, and it’s about personality,” he explained. “There’s a lot of strategy involved, too. The producers are constantly planning which dances you’ll perform each week—are you saving your best routines for later, or are you showing them off early? There’s so much more to winning than just being the best dancer.”

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Take a moment to browse through the gallery and relive the magic of all the past "DWTS" winners, then and now!

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