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Since its 2005 premiere, Dancing With The Stars has capitvated audiences by pairing celebrities with professional dancers to compete for the title and mirrorball trophy. Combining dazzling dances with technical skill and entertainment value, those who bring the most heart and soul to the competition often come away with the win on Dancing With The Stars, despite others' opinions on the outcome. Over the past 33 seasons of Dancing With The Stars, there have been great winners who come from all sorts of backgrounds. From Olympic athletes to actors, DWTS has seen winners across the board, proving that truly anyone can find their way to becoming a wonderful dancer with the right level of instruction and a fanbase who are ready to vote for them. While every Dancing With The Stars winner works hard to get to a point where they have a chance at winning the competition, it's no secret that some winners are more popular with fans than others. There are some DWTS winners who dominate from day one of the competition and find themselves fan-favorites, and others who take some time to get up to par. With the DWTS winner being chosen between a mix of judge's votes and viewer support, it can be tricky to see who's going to take the mirrorball home as the season continues on. There are competitors who have tremendous personal journeys alongside their progress as Dancing With The Stars continues on, which contribute to the viewer support as a whole throughout the season. Occasionally, a contestant with massive fan support but lower technical marks takes the mirrorball trophy over technically superior dancers. This is a phenomenon that has sparked debate about whether the show crowns the best dancer or whether the winner is more of a complete package. Taking both into consideration, some Dancing With The Stars winners are ultimately better than others overall. 20 J.R. Martinez DWTS Season 13 Dancing With The Stars season 13's winner, J.R. Martinez, was partnered with long-time pro Karina Smirnoff. Martinez, a veteran of the Iraq war, was a burn survivor who delivered emotionally powerful dances consistently throughout the season. After appearing on All My Children, Martinez joined Dancing With The Stars and demonstrated extraordinary perseverance through adversity. Even so, his journey was more about the emotional weight than his skills. 19 Drew Lachey DWTS Season 2 As the second DWTS winner, Drew Lachey and his partner Cheryl Burke were a sight to be seen throughout the season. A boy-bander who'd always felt like he was in his brother's shadow during their time in 98 Degrees, Lachey was ready to show the world that he had his own set of talents. Setting himself apart with his legitimate dance skills, Lachey was a memorable winner. 18 Apolo Anton Ohno DWTS Season 4 Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno was the winner of DWTS season 4, marking now co-host Julianne Hough's first mirrorball trophy. At 25 and 18 respectively, the team were known for their fast-paced youthful routines throughout the season. Ohno's speed skating background was a distinct advantage in the competition, but his dancing skills improved with Hough's teaching as the weeks went on. 17 Rumer Willis DWTS Season 20 Rumer Willis, daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, was looking to pave her own path throughout Dancing With The Stars season 20. Partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy, she felt ready to step into her own skin as she consistently improved week after week, hopeful that her story of self-acceptance and hard work would resonate with fans. Her emotional vulnerability made her a fascinating winner. 16 Brooke Burke DWTS Season 7 As the first partner to win with future judge Derek Hough as their partner, Dancing With The Stars' Brooke Burke won season 7. Burke's natural grace and ability was record-setting during her time on DWTS, but her transformation with help from Hough was enough to bring her to the end of the competition. Burke then took on the role of DWTS co-host for years. 15 Kellie Pickler DWTS Season 16 Country star Kellie Pickler was another partner of Derek Hough, and took home the mirrorball trophy during Dancing With The Stars season 16. Bringing her biggest emotions to the DWTS stage, Pickler was a vulnerable performer who worked tremendously hard to ensure that she was better week after week. Her genuine personality and overall skill made her a fantastic winner to watch. 14 Nyle DiMarco DWTS Season 22 Actor and model Nyle DiMarco made history with his partner Peta Murgatroyd as the first deaf contestant to win the competition during Dancing With The Stars season 22. DiMarco, who was able to keep the dance counts down by feeling the vibrations on stage and during practice, was consistently upfront about wanting to learn. His win was, as he wanted it to be, based on skill. 13 Shawn Johnson DWTS Season 8 Olympian Shawn Johnson became one of the youngest Dancing With The Stars winners during her season at 17, taking the mirrorball trophy with her partner Mark Ballas. As one of the first gymnasts to take the mirrorball, Johnson navigated the line between gymnastics and dance with Ballas, and her likability made her a fan favorite. Her hard work and determination made her a DWTS favorite. 12 Xochitl Gomez DWTS Season 32 Dancing With The Stars season 32's Xochitl Gomez wasn't well known when she came into the season, but by the time she and Valentin Chmerkovskiy finished with the mirrorball trophy, fans were excited to know her name. Gomez was another young DWTS contestant at just 17 years old, and her skills were ready to be honed throughout the season as she found her way to becoming a better dancer. 11 Jennifer Grey DWTS Season 11 Dancing With The Stars season 11's Jennifer Grey came into the competition with high expectations on her shoulders as the star of Dirty Dancing, and partnering with Derek Hough, she found her way through the competition. Despite a neck injury that required careful management throughout the season, Grey and Hough were able to make it to the end and perform at their best for the mirrorball trophy.
