Who Won Dancing With Stars 2025

Alright, pull up a chair and order something with caffeine—or a stiff drink, no judgment here—because we need to talk about the craziest, most glitter-bombed event of the year: who won Dancing With the Stars in 2025?

If you missed it (busy rewatching Bridgerton, I get it), the finale was less a dance competition and more a psychedelic fever dream sponsored by sequin factories. I’m talking feathers, lifts that defied physics, and at least one contestant who looked like a flamingo that ate a disco ball.

So, who took home the Mirrorball Trophy—that overpriced disco ball on a stick that celebrities have literally cried, fainted, and personally negotiated custody over? Drumroll, please.

The winner of DWTS 2025 is… Regina “The Rocket” Rodriguez, a former Olympic gymnast turned TikTok chef who can do a rumba while whisking a bechamel sauce. Yes, that actually happened.

Regina was paired with pro dancer Dmitry “The Human Sproing” Volkov, a man whose torso seems to be made of rubber bands and pure ambition. Their journey was, to quote one judge, “like watching a caffeinated squirrel and a ballet giraffe fall in love.”

But Wait, the Runner-Up Was a Surprise

Second place went to Kenji “The Dad” Murakami, a 68-year-old retired plumber from Ohio who only signed up because his granddaughter dared him. Kenji became an overnight folk hero by doing the cha-cha in work boots and cargo shorts.

His signature move? The “Pipe Wrench Pivot,” where he’d fix an imaginary leak while spinning. The internet lost its collective mind. People printed T-shirts. He got a standing ovation from a plumber’s union in Cleveland.

So how did a former gymnast beat a grandpa with a wrench? She had what we call “the full package.” I mean, Regina literally opened her finale with a backflip into a tango while holding a glass of wine. She didn’t spill a drop. The crowd screamed. The wine didn’t.

The Secret Weapon: The “Mindset” Episode

Here’s a surprising fact: DWTS 2025 introduced a “Mental Health Monday” episode, where couples danced to songs about therapy. Regina chose “Expresso” by Sabrina Carpenter—because, as she explained, “I survive on caffeine and repressed emotions.” The dance went viral. It also won her a perfect score.

Kenji, on the other hand, danced to “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story, but in a performance so emotional he cried on live TV. Then his wife yelled from the audience, “You forgot the garbage disposal, Kenji!” Romantic tension: shattered.

Another shocker: third place went to a literal AI chatbot. No, I’m kidding. But I’m not kidding—it was a hologram projection of a 1980s pop star named Zara Vibe, who died in 1999. The show used deepfake technology, and she danced with a human pro.

It was incredibly creepy but also mesmerizing. She did a waltz, then glitched mid-spin and started singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in binary. The judges gave her an 8. “For artistry and innovation,” said Carrie Ann Inaba, “but minus two points for making me question reality.”

Back to Regina: her finale was a freestyle to a mashup of Lady Gaga and polka. Yes, polka. I know what you’re thinking, and no, it wasn’t a joke. Dmitry wore lederhosen covered in Swarovski crystals.

They incorporated the “Polka Hop,” a move where Regina jumped onto his shoulders while he accordion-ed his arms. It worked. It absolutely worked. The audience gave a standing ovation that lasted nearly four minutes.

The Real Winner: The Audience

Let’s be honest: the real winner of DWTS 2025 was us. We got to see a plumber nearly win a dance competition, a hologram haunt our dreams, and Regina Rodriguez prove that gymnasts can do anything—including crying while holding a perfect posture.

Regina’s victory speech was pure gold. She said, “I’d like to thank my parents, my coach, and the two expresso shots I took before the paso doble.” She then lifted the Mirrorball over her head and accidentally bopped Dmitry in the nose. He bled glitter. I am not making this up.

So, what’s next for Queen Regina? A food network show, a dance tour, and—according to her Instagram—a bid to do the samba on the moon. With Elon Musk watching, probably. And winning.

But remember, folks: in 2025, a hologram came third, a plumber nearly won, and a woman who can twerk while doing a plié is your champion. Dancing With the Stars is officially unhinged. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to practice the “Pipe Wrench Pivot” in my living room. Kenji for president 2028!