The Should-Be Winner of DWTS Season 34: An Opinion Piece

When social media star Alix Earle joined season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, fans expected her to just be a silly social media presence, not a championship-level contender. However, week after week, she continued to climb the leaderboard and prove that she wasn’t there to mess around. As the season progressed, she demonstrated great improvement not only in technique and style but also in confidence and showmanship. She was there to compete and to win, and arguably, she should have. Obviously, one major factor that goes into the contender's fate is judges' scores and fan voting. Alix Earle undeniably brought one of the biggest fan bases of the season, but it wasn’t just about her popularity, as Alix consistently placed among the top contenders. Another reason that gave Alix an award-winning performance was multiple of her dances going viral and getting worldwide attention, such as her intense finale freestyle to a mashup of “Sports Car” and “Maneater”, Viennese Waltz to “Purple Rain”, and her Halloween night Tango to “Bury a Friend”. But not only did she demonstrate physical improvement and skill, but emotional vulnerability, allowing the audience to connect with her. Winning Dancing with the Stars isn’t just about perfection, it is about growth, performance, and connection. Alix embodied all three. She didn’t just dance for scores and clicks, she danced for an entire generation watching and looking up to her. Although she didn’t take home the Mirrorball trophy, Alix Earle redefined what winning looks like during her time on the show.

By: Kinsley Tabor