Joey Graziadei did it. He actually did it. After months of grueling rehearsals, spray tans, and more sequins than a Vegas showroom, the former Bachelor lead hoisted the Mirrorball Trophy alongside his partner Jenna Johnson. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars wrapped up with a finale that felt less like a competition and more like a high-stakes emotional rollercoaster, leaving fans both exhausted and exhilarated.
Honestly, if you watched the premiere back in September, you might not have put your house on Joey. Sure, he had the "Bachelor Nation" voting block behind him—that’s a massive advantage in this show’s ecosystem—but he started out a bit stiff. He had the "athlete" frame but lacked the fluid hip motion required for a convincing Latin routine. But by the time the finale rolled around, he wasn't just a reality star trying to keep time. He was a dancer. He outperformed Danny Amendola, Dwight Howard, and even the technically gifted Chandler Kinney to secure the title. It was a classic "growth arc" victory that the judges, especially Carrie Ann Inaba, absolutely live for.
Why Joey Graziadei Won Dancing with the Stars
Winning this show isn't just about who has the best footwork. If it were, Chandler Kinney might have walked away with the trophy in a landslide. Chandler was, by almost every objective metric, the best technical dancer of the season. Her lines were cleaner. Her extensions were more professional. But Dancing with the Stars is a popularity contest disguised as a ballroom competition. To understand who won Dancing with the Stars and why, you have to look at the chemistry and the narrative.
Joey and Jenna had "it." There was a palpable trust between them that translated into their performances. When Joey fumbled a bit in the early weeks, he didn't get defensive; he got better. Fans love a trier. They love someone who looks like they’re having the time of their life while also being terrified of messing up a Jive. His Freestyle—the most important dance of the entire season—was a masterclass in showmanship. It didn't just showcase what he learned; it celebrated his personality.
Then there’s the "Bachelor" factor. Let's be real. The crossover between the Bachelor fan base and the DWTS audience is basically a circle. Charity Lawson, Gabby Windey, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Hannah Brown—the show has a long history of Bachelor alumni doing exceptionally well because their fans are disciplined voters. Joey tapped into that, but he also won over the casual viewers who didn't care about his search for love on ABC. They just liked the guy who worked hard and stayed humble.
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The Final Standings and the Fierce Competition
The finale wasn't a one-man show. Not even close. The leaderboard was incredibly tight.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong were the "perfect score" magnets all season. Watching them was like watching a professional touring company. Their contemporary pieces were hauntingly beautiful, and Chandler's ability to pick up choreography was, frankly, terrifying. She finished as the runner-up, and while some fans were outraged that the best dancer didn't win, that’s just the nature of the beast. History is full of technical wizards who lost to the "most improved" celebrity. Think back to Season 2 when Jerry Rice almost beat Drew Lachey, or more recently, when Bobby Bones won despite being... well, not the best dancer.
Danny Amendola also put up a hell of a fight. NFL players usually do well on this show because they understand footwork and discipline, and Danny was no exception. He brought a certain grit to the ballroom. He and Witney Carson had a fantastic dynamic, and his "dad dancing" transformed into something genuinely impressive by the semi-finals. He took third place, proving that you don't need a dance background to make it to the end; you just need to be a professional athlete with a massive competitive streak.
Dwight Howard was the wildcard. Seeing a 6'10" man try to do a Samba is a surreal experience. He defied physics half the time. While he didn't win, his presence changed the energy of the season. He brought a level of joy and humor that the show sometimes lacks when everyone is taking the "Art of the Waltz" too seriously.
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How the Voting Actually Works (The Secret Sauce)
People always ask how the winner is actually decided. It's a 50/50 split between the judges' scores and the live viewer votes. This is why you can be at the top of the leaderboard and still go home. If the audience isn't connecting with you, the scores won't save you.
- The Judges' Role: Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough provide the technical foundation. They look for "lifts" where they shouldn't be, heel leads in the ballroom dances, and overall performance quality.
- The Fan Vote: This happens in real-time. You have to vote during the broadcast window. This favors celebrities with massive social media followings or those on current hit shows on the same network.
- The "Storyline": Producers love a narrative. Joey’s narrative was the "Bachelor who finally found his footing." It’s a compelling story that keeps people texting in their ten votes per method every Tuesday night.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Win
A common misconception is that the finale is the only thing that matters. In reality, the win is built over ten weeks of television. Joey won because he never had a "bad" week that alienated his fans. He stayed consistent. He stayed in the middle-to-top of the pack, avoiding the "danger zone" that often sees favorites get eliminated in shock double-evictions.
Another thing? The pro partner matters more than people realize. Jenna Johnson is a powerhouse. She knows how to choreograph for a man who has never danced before. She knows how to hide their weaknesses and highlight their strengths. If Joey had been paired with a different pro, the result might have been totally different. Jenna’s ability to weave a story into their routines made Joey relatable.
The Impact of the Season 33 Victory
Joey Graziadei’s win cements his place in the Dancing with the Stars hall of fame, but it also does something for the show itself. After a few years of transition—moving to Disney+ and then back to ABC, changing hosts—Season 33 felt like a return to form. The ratings were solid, the talent was high, and the winner felt earned.
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For Joey, this is a massive career pivot. Most Bachelor leads fade into the world of Instagram sourdough starters and Vitamin C serum ads. Winning the Mirrorball gives him a different kind of longevity in the industry. He’s now part of an elite club that includes Olympians, legendary actors, and pop stars.
Actionable Steps for the DWTS Super-Fan
If you’re already missing the Tuesday night sparkle, there are a few things you should do to stay in the loop before Season 34 kicks off.
First, follow the pros on social media. The "off-season" is where you see the real behind-the-scenes content. Most of the pros, like Jenna Johnson, Val Chmerkovskiy, and Alan Bersten, go on tour. The Dancing with the Stars Live tour is where you can actually see these routines in person, and often, the season's winner or finalists will join for a few dates.
Second, watch the "Best Of" packages on YouTube. If you want to actually learn something about dance, re-watch Joey’s journey and pay attention to the judges' critiques from week two versus the finale. You’ll start to see the nuances—the way his frame stabilized and how he stopped looking at his feet.
Lastly, keep an eye on the casting rumors for next season. They usually start swirling in late summer. Usually, the producers look for whoever is trending in the news at that moment. Expect a mix of Olympic athletes from the most recent games, a controversial reality star, and at least one "nostalgia" pick from a 90s sitcom.
Joey Graziadei won because he mastered the balance of technique and charisma. He wasn't the best dancer on day one, but he was the best contestant by the final curtain call. That’s the magic of the show. It’s not about perfection; it’s about the hustle.