Monday, December 12, 2016

And the WINNERS Are …


DWTS, Season 23 

Crowns Its Newest

Mirror Ball Champions!!





DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!


Dancing with the Stars has crowned its newest, Season 23, Mirror Ball Champions, Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!!



DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!

DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!

DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!


A much more than gratifying and exciting outcome for the Show, to say the least, this most recent addition to the Glitter Dome's long and distinctive list of Mirror Ball Champs can be said to have come with little surprise, despite the fact that this latest installment of ABC’s highly popular, biannual Dance Program certainly had MORE than its fair share of possible Trophy Winners!


The Vault to Success!

Front-Runners from the start, the Olympic Gold Medal-winning Gymnast, Laurie, and her Pro Partner, Val, kicked off this Fall’s Ballroom Competition with a BANG, tying as one of only two to take Week 01’s Highest Score in Judges' Points!

Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 01

Only gaining momentum from there, the Weeks flew by – as did the amazing Dances! – while each and every new Performance by what soon became Season 23’s Dynamite Duo effectively lit up the Ballroom, thrilling both Audiences and the DWTS Judges alike!

Taking home the very first Perfect Score of all “10”s in Judges Points for Week 04 of the Show, Laurie & Val then continued on to cap off this, their fantastic dancing venture, with the highest Judges Score Average of the Season!


American Sweetie!

Quickly and aptly dubbed by the Show as being America’s Sweetheart, Laurie’s bubbly personality, unaffected charms, and infectious smile – both on AND off the Studio’s Dance Floor – having been consistently combined with a fierce competitiveness and laser-like focus and attention to detail, made for a potent  and even KILLER  Combo, as patrons of the Reality Show couldn’t help but get caught up in Hernandez’s American drive and need to succeed!


History is Made!

At only 16 years of age, Laurie proudly takes home DWTS' glittering and hard-earned Mirror Ball Trophy as The Youngest Winner in the History of the Show, beating out fellow Olympic Gold Medal-winning Gymnast and DWTS Darling, Shawn Johnson, who took home the Trophy at age 17 for Season 08 of the Show, along with her Pro, Mark Ballas.


Keeping It ALL in the Family!

As a current Member of U.S.A.’s Olympic Gold Medalists Team, “The Final Five” – America’s consistent and highly successful elite grouping of Female Gymnasts (Also previously dubbed as being “The Fab Five” and “The Fierce Five”) – Laurie’s recent victory within the Ballroom has irrefutably proven that it really DOES take one to know one, as her dethroning of S08's Shawn Johnson presents several, striking similarities!

  • Shawn is also a Member of the U.S. Fab, Fierce and Final “Five” (now Retired), taking home Gold and Silver for this Country during the 2008 Summer Olympics.


  • Previous to Laurie's incredible Win on Monday Night, Shawn has long held the proud distinction of reigning as DWTS' youngest Champion, winning the Mirror Ball at age 17.  (Season 21’s Bindi Irwin also won at age 17, along with her Pro, 6-time Mirror Ball Winner, Derek Hough, but just missed beating out Shawn’s Record by a mere 3 Days, according to DWTS, S21 Wikipedia.)  An even further coincidence – both Shawn AND Laurie’s Pro Dancers, Mark Ballas and Valentin Chmerkovskiy, have now Won Twice, with both Second Wins having occurred with each of the Gymnasts, respectively.


  • Capping off their list of amazing distinctions, Laurie Hernandez and Shawn Johnson mark the ONLY Olympic Gymnasts to have ultimately triumphed within the Glitter Dome.  Coming out with a bang and finishing with a bang (as was aptly phrased by DWTS Judge, Julianne Hough, during the last episode of the Season), Laurie’s TERRIFIC and history-making time in the Ballroom is not likely to be soon forgotten by the Show and its viewers.  Her explosive run cemented her as a true success, as she has now OFFICIALLY taken her place among the Glitter Dome’s Greats!



A Look Back.

Taking a brief yet invigorating “Dance” through this last Season, we are once again reminded of what made DWTS' newest Champion so deserving and brilliant!

Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 01


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 02


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 03


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 04


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 05


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 06


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 07


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 08


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 09


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 10


Laurie & Val
DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals


Laurie & Val Freestyle
DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals


Laurie & Val 24hr Fusion
DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals


“I’m just so excited that I was able to have this opportunity and even be on the Show,”

DWTS Season 23 Champions,
Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy!


The Young Mirror Ball Champion has expressed of her emotions to ET, following her Win.

“ ’Cause, I feel like I really sprouted as a person, and I’ve surrounded myself with so many amazing people that I can now call Family!”

When asked just where Laurie might be keeping her newest Trophy – having already both a Gold and a Silver Medal within this year’s Summer Olympics – the grinning Teen, whose long ago stated goal from the get-go had been to qualify and compete within the 2016 Olympics, and immediately follow it up by joining the next Cast of DWTS (A Television Show dearly beloved by herself and her Family), enthusiastically shared,

“… Probably, like, in the middle of my house!”Adds Hernandez, as an endearing afterthought,“As long as my Mom's okay with it!”



Watch video (below) to see the new Champions of Dancing With The Stars, Laurie & Val receive the much sought after and hard earned Mirror Ball Trophy!  Courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!  





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