Who won ‘Dancing With the Stars?’ Season 33’s champions shine with ‘consistency’ and remarkable growth

Joey Graziadei, pro Jenna Johnson, Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten were the final two pairs on the season finale of 'Dancing With the Stars.' (Disney/Eric McCandless)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

After 10 grueling rounds of sweat, tears and leg lifts, the five remaining couples delivered their final two performances on Tuesday night’s Dancing with the Stars season finale: a redemption dance, handpicked by the judges to revisit a previous style, and a freestyle routine showcasing their personal journeys and growth.

It’s a journey that deeply resonates with dancer Chris Hernandez, who underscored the importance of trust in the preparation.

“It’s important to just be in the moment,” he told Yahoo Entertainment. Best known for his work in In the Heights and Tick, Tick… Boom!, Hernandez added, “When you step into the performance space, you have to let go of that perfectionist mindset and allow yourself to be free.”

With scores from last week’s semifinals rolling over, combined with the votes collected from live TV viewers, it was anyone’s guess who would take home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

The evening saw the return of Season 32 champions Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy, who gave a vibrant performance to Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” setting a high bar for the new winners.

Tori Spelling and Anna Delvey, the season's first eliminated contestants, also returned for a dance set to Whitney Houston’s “Nothing” — a subtle nod to Delvey’s viral moment, where she famously quipped she was taking “nothing” away from her experience on the show. Past contestant Reginald VelJohnson also returned to the ballroom with a sweet routine to the theme song of his 1990s sitcom Family Matters.

In the end, Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson triumphed, earning the coveted prize. Reflecting on their win, Graziadei praised his partner: “I feel like Jenna deserves this fully, and this is all for her,” adding that “his whole experience has been unbelievable.”

The pair’s cha cha to Justin Timberlake’s “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!” earlier in the night saw judge Carrie Ann Inaba praising Graziadei’s “consistency” from week to week. They kept the momentum with a freestyle to “Canned Heat” by District 78 ft. Jake Simpson.

Graziadei and Johnson took home the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, becoming Season 33's champions. (Disney/Eric McCandless)

__________________________________________________________________________

Stephen Nedoroscik and pro Rylee Arnold delivered an energetic quickstep to The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There for You.” Their freestyle to Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” turned into a heartfelt tribute to Nedoroscik’s Olympic journey.

Inaba said Nedoroscik’s quickstep was “absolutely the best I’ve ever seen you [do],” adding, “Well done, Superman!”

Danny Amendola and pro Witney Carson kicked off the redemption round with a fierce tango to Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” showcasing technique and strong emotion. They followed up with an electric freestyle to Lizzo’s “Pink” and Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken,” earning a standing ovation.