The Stars of the Show
The Stars of the Show
By Cianna Rivera — October 19 2026
Dancing with the Stars has become much more than a ballroom dancing competition. Between the elaborate costumes, celebrity partnerships, and viral performances, the long-running television series has found a new generation of devoted viewers.
Season 34 was especially popular, with fans tuning in each week to watch their favorite celebrities compete for the coveted mirrorball trophy. Social media played a major role in the show's popularity, with performances, behind-the-scenes videos, and memorable moments circulating across TikTok and Instagram. Contestants Robert Irwin and Alix Earle quickly became fan favorites. From the dances themselves to the contestants' relationships with their professional partners, viewers had plenty to talk about long after each episode ended.
Fashion has also become an important part of the show's appeal. Each week brings a new collection of sparkling dresses, elaborate costumes, and dramatic transformations as contestants embrace everything from classic ballroom elegance to more modern, unconventional styles.
Now, Dancing with the Stars is back for Season 35, which premiered in September. This season features a diverse lineup of celebrities, including actors, athletes, reality television personalities, and social media stars, all hoping to take home the mirrorball trophy.
With the competition already underway, some partnerships have begun to stand out, while others have said goodbye to the ballroom. Here is everything to know about this season's contestants, their professional partners, and their journeys on the dance floor.
Amber Glenn
Amber Glenn is a 26-year-old American figure skater. Glenn is an Olympic gold medalist with Team USA and a three-time U.S. national champion. She is also one of the few American women to successfully land a triple Axel in international competition. Glenn is currently paired with Pasha Pashkov, who has been on the show for eight seasons and has yet to win a mirrorball trophy.
Ciara Miller
Ciara Miller is a model and reality television personality best known for appearing on Summer House. Before finding fame, Miller worked as an ICU nurse. She joined Summer House in 2021 during Season 5, and her career quickly took off. Her relationship and subsequent breakup with co-star West Wilson brought her even more attention. Miller is paired with Brandon Armstrong, who joined Dancing with the Stars as a troupe member in Season 24 before becoming a professional dancer in Season 27. The couple was eliminated in Week 4.
Connor Leavitt
Connor Leavitt appears alongside his wife, Whitney Leavitt, on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Before the show premiered on Hulu in 2024, Leavitt worked in finance before becoming a full-time content creator. His wife competed on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars alongside Mark Ballas, making it to the semifinals. Leavitt was paired with Adele Zaikman, the winner of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. The pair competed on premiere night but became the first couple eliminated from the season.
Connor Wood
Connor Wood gained popularity on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic, posting comedic videos about everyday life in quarantine. After gaining a large following, Wood turned content creation into a full-time career and launched a successful podcast with Brooke Averick. Wood is paired with Rylee Arnold, who is competing in her fourth season of Dancing with the Stars.
Ezra Frech
Ezra Frech is an American Paralympic track and field athlete. Frech had his left leg amputated as a toddler and went on to become the youngest member of the U.S. Paralympic team at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, he won two gold medals in the high jump and 100-meter dash. He is currently a student-athlete at the University of Southern California. Frech is paired with Daniella Karagach, who won the mirrorball trophy in Season 30.
Giada De Laurentiis
Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian American celebrity chef best known for her Food Network series Everyday Italian. After earning a degree in anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles, she studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Her television career earned her an Emmy Award, and she has since written several cookbooks. De Laurentiis is paired with Alan Bersten, who won the mirrorball trophy in Season 28. The pair was eliminated on Week 2 of the season.
Guillermo Rodriguez
Guillermo Rodriguez is a comedian and television personality best known for his appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Rodriguez originally worked as a security guard for the show before becoming a regular on-screen personality. He is known for his celebrity interviews, including his popular Guillermo's Hollywood Roundup segments. Rodriguez is paired with Witney Carson, who won the previous season of Dancing with the Stars.
Harry Shum Jr.
Harry Shum Jr. is an actor and dancer best known for his role in the musical television series Glee. He has also appeared in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Grey's Anatomy, and Crazy Rich Asians. Before his acting career, Shum worked as a backup dancer for artists including Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. He is paired with Jenna Johnson, a two-time mirrorball champion who won Seasons 26 and 33.
Jackson Olson
Jackson Olson is a baseball player and social media personality best known for playing with the Savannah Bananas. After going undrafted by Major League Baseball, Olson began creating baseball-related content on TikTok and Instagram, where he gained a large following. His popularity eventually led him to join the Savannah Bananas, a team known for combining baseball with dancing and entertainment. Olson is paired with Emma Slater, who won the mirrorball trophy in Season 24.
Jenna Dewan
Jenna Dewan is an actress and dancer best known for her role in the 2006 dance film Step Up. Before pursuing acting, Dewan worked as a backup dancer for artists including Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, and Pink. She has since appeared in several television series, including The Rookie and American Horror Story, and hosted the reality dance competition World of Dance. Dewan is paired with professional dancer, fan favorite, and three-time mirrorball winner Val Chmerkovskiy.
Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles is an actress and director best known for her roles in popular films from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Originally from New York City, Stiles graduated from Columbia University with a degree in English literature. She has appeared in several films, including 10 Things I Hate About You and Save the Last Dance. Stiles is paired with Ezra Sosa, who is competing in his third season as a professional dancer and has yet to win a mirrorball trophy.
Maura Higgins
Maura Higgins is an Irish television personality and model who rose to fame as a finalist on Love Island UK. Since appearing on the reality series, Higgins has continued modeling and working in television, including hosting Love Island USA: Aftersun. She also competed on Season 4 of The Traitors. Higgins is paired with her Traitors co-star Mark Ballas, a three-time mirrorball champion.
Sarah Jane Nader
Sarah Jane Nader is a model and reality television personality who appeared alongside her family on Love Thy Nader. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Nader moved to New York City to pursue modeling. Her older sister, Brooks Nader, competed on Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars. Nader was paired with professional dancer Hailey Bills in the show’s third-ever same-sex partnership, but the pair was eliminated during the second episode.
Tatyana Ali
Tatyana Ali is an actress and singer best known for her role on the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Ali began acting at just 4 years old, appearing on Sesame Street before landing several other roles. She also pursued a music career, releasing her gold-certified album Kiss the Sky in 1998. Ali is paired with Jan Ravnik, who is competing in his second season as a professional dancer.
Taylor Hanson
Taylor Hanson is a singer and founding member of the pop-rock band Hanson, which he formed with his two brothers. The group rose to fame in the 1990s with its hit single "MMMBop" and has received multiple Grammy nominations. Hanson is paired with Britt Stewart, who has been involved with Dancing with the Stars for several seasons. The couple was eliminated after “Yacht Rock Night” on Week 3.
Tyler Cameron
Tyler Cameron is a reality television personality best known for finishing as the runner-up on Season 15 of The Bachelorette. Since appearing on the show, Cameron has pursued several opportunities in television and entertainment, including hosting a series on Prime Video, writing a book, and launching his podcast, Everybody But Me. He is paired with Sharna Burgess, who returned to Dancing with the Stars this season and has previously won one mirrorball trophy.
As Season 35 continues, the competition is only heating up. With celebrities from so many different backgrounds, each week brings new performances, unexpected surprises, and plenty of memorable moments. From sparkling ballroom gowns to elaborate themed costumes, fashion remains an essential part of bringing each performance to life. Whether fans are watching for their favorite celebrity, the impressive choreography, or the glamorous costumes, Dancing with the Stars continues to give audiences a reason to tune in each week.
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