Alix Earle Dancing with the Stars became one of the most talked-about storylines of Season 34, as the social media personality traded her usual beauty and lifestyle content for weeks of ballroom training. Earle entered the competition with previous dance experience, but the show still demanded a very different level of discipline, technique, and performance under pressure.
She ultimately reached the Season 34 finale with professional partner Valentin “Val” Chmerkovskiy and finished as the runner-up, while Robert Irwin and Witney Carson won the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. The result made Earle one of the season’s strongest competitors and gave her a major television platform beyond social media.
Alix Earle Dancing with the Stars: How It Started
Earle was announced as a Season 34 celebrity contestant in May 2025. At the time, ABC described her as a major social media personality and model with a large TikTok following and a growing profile in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle media.
Her casting was not entirely surprising to longtime followers. Earle had already spoken about being a fan of the show and had attended the taping of the 500th episode in 2024. She also revealed that she had danced competitively through her junior or senior year of high school, giving her some experience to build upon when rehearsals began.
That background gave her an advantage in performance confidence, but competitive ballroom dancing presented a much broader technical challenge.
Who was Alix Earle’s professional partner?
Earle was paired with Valentin Chmerkovskiy, one of the show’s best-known professional dancers. Their partnership quickly became a central part of her Season 34 story.
Chmerkovskiy brought extensive competitive and television experience, while Earle contributed a recognizable personality and a willingness to embrace choreography that sometimes demanded considerable physical control.
Their chemistry also became part of the appeal. By the finale, the pair had developed a performance style that combined technical choreography with Earle’s highly expressive stage presence.
How Did Alix Earle Perform on DWTS?
The Alix Earle Dancing with the Stars run began with a cha-cha-cha to Britney Spears’ “Circus.” She then moved through a wide range of styles, including jive, quickstep, Viennese waltz, contemporary, jazz, tango, paso doble, foxtrot, Argentine tango, samba, and freestyle.
Her scores generally improved as the season progressed. That progression mattered because the competition was not simply about learning choreography; contestants also had to adapt to different dance styles, judges’ critiques, live television pressure, and audience voting.
| Stage | Dance highlights | What stood out |
|---|---|---|
| Early weeks | Cha-cha-cha, jive, quickstep | Adaptation to ballroom technique |
| Middle of season | Viennese waltz, contemporary, jazz, tango | Greater control and confidence |
| Late competition | Paso doble, foxtrot, Argentine tango | Stronger technical execution |
| Finale | Samba, instant dance, freestyle | Three high-pressure performances |
By the latter part of the competition, Earle was consistently earning high marks. Her tango in particular became one of her standout routines, earning top scores from the judging panel. Her improvement was a key reason she remained in contention deep into the season.
💡 Pro Tip: If you are watching old performances to understand Earle’s progress, compare one of her first two dances with her finale routines. The contrast makes her improvement in timing, posture, confidence, and movement quality much easier to see.
What Happened in the Finale?
The Alix Earle Dancing with the Stars finale took place on November 25, 2025, with five couples competing for the Mirrorball Trophy. The finalists were Earle and Chmerkovskiy, Irwin and Carson, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten.
Each finalist had three opportunities to make an impression: a Judges’ Choice routine, an Instant Dance Challenge, and a freestyle performance. Earle’s Judges’ Choice dance was a samba to “Hip Hip Chin Chin,” while her freestyle combined Nelly Furtado’s “Maneater” with Tate McRae’s “Sports Car.”
She delivered an especially strong finale. Earle received perfect scores for her samba, instant dance, and freestyle, giving her a perfect 30 in each of those rounds. Entertainment coverage highlighted the confidence and performance quality she had developed throughout the season.
Despite that performance, Robert Irwin ultimately won. Earle finished second, with Jordan Chiles placing third, Dylan Efron fourth, and Elaine Hendrix fifth.
Why Did Alix Earle Finish Second?
The Alix Earle Dancing with the Stars result was particularly notable because the finale was extremely close. According to Entertainment Weekly, the show received more than 72 million votes during the finale, and the top two couples generated more votes than any previous top-two pairing in the show’s history.
That makes Earle’s runner-up finish more significant than simply being the celebrity who came second. She had transformed from a social media personality into a genuine late-season contender.
Her strength was not limited to one dance style. She demonstrated versatility across ballroom and Latin routines and became increasingly comfortable performing demanding choreography in front of a live audience and judging panel.
📌 Key Takeaway: Alix Earle did not win Season 34, but she finished as the runner-up after reaching the finale and earning perfect scores in all three of her final dances. Her season was defined by visible growth, strong audience support, and a successful partnership with Val Chmerkovskiy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Alix Earle win Dancing with the Stars?
No. Earle finished second on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson won the Mirrorball Trophy. Earle and Chmerkovskiy were the runners-up after a finale that reportedly produced exceptionally close voting between the top two couples.
Who was Alix Earle’s partner on DWTS?
Alix Earle’s professional partner was Valentin Chmerkovskiy, commonly known as Val. The pair competed together throughout Season 34 and reached the finale. Their partnership continued beyond the competition, including appearances connected to the 2026 Dancing with the Stars Live! tour.
Did Alix Earle have dance experience before DWTS?
Yes. Before joining the show, Earle said she had danced competitively until her junior or senior year of high school. She was also already a fan of Dancing with the Stars and had attended the show’s 500th-episode taping.
What was Alix Earle’s best DWTS performance?
There is no single official “best performance,” but her finale routines were among her strongest. She earned perfect 30s for her samba, Instant Dance, and freestyle. Her tango earlier in the season was another standout, earning top marks from the judges.
Did Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy reunite after DWTS?
Yes. Earle and Chmerkovskiy reunited for the 2026 Sports Illustrated Runway Show during Miami Swim Week, where they performed together before Earle walked the runway. They had also appeared together during the 2026 Dancing with the Stars Live! tour.
The Lasting Impact of Alix Earle’s DWTS Run
The Alix Earle Dancing with the Stars story ultimately goes beyond the final leaderboard. She entered the competition as a creator already known to millions of followers and left as one of Season 34’s most memorable finalists.
Her second-place finish showed how quickly a contestant with some previous dance experience could develop under professional coaching. More importantly, the season introduced Earle to a television audience through a format that required discipline and consistency rather than short-form social media charisma alone.
For viewers searching for Alix Earle Dancing with the Stars today, the essential answer is simple: she competed on Season 34 with Val Chmerkovskiy, reached the finale, earned three perfect scores on the final night, and finished second behind Robert Irwin and Witney Carson.
