Before Hollywood Stardom and Billion-Dollar Empires, These 9 Celebrities Tested Their Moves on Dancing With the Stars

Walking away with the Mirrorball Trophy is optional, but turning ballroom exposure into an entertainment empire has become a proven Hollywood formula. Since ABC premiered Dancing With the Stars in 2005, the prime-time stage has functioned as an unexpected launchpad for future blockbuster leads, chart-topping recording artists, and media moguls.

While mainstream perception often views the competition as a final curtain call for veteran talent, the opposite holds true for ambitious performers. A brief or near-winning run on national television regularly provides the exact visibility needed to break into broader markets.

From Disney Channel standouts to reality television royalty, these nine high-profile stars utilized the live dance floor to catapult their post-show careers into massive cultural dominance.

Zendaya: From Teen Disney Performer to Box-Office Royalty

Zendaya during her season 16 run on Dancing With the Stars in 2013.

Long before earning back-to-back Emmy Awards for HBO’s Euphoria, Zendaya was best recognized by tweens as Rocky Blue on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up. In 2013, she joined season 16 of Dancing With the Stars at just 16 years old.

Paired with professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy, Zendaya consistently dominated the leaderboards. She finished as the runner-up behind country artist and American Idol alum Kellie Pickler.

“I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful. Being on live television every week? It’s so scary. I took it very seriously, which, in retrospect, I wish I didn’t. I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’”

The intense spotlight paid dividends. Zendaya quickly transitioned into global film franchises, starring in The Greatest Showman, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man series, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune saga, and 2024’s tennis drama Challengers.

Kim Kardashian: An Early Reality TV Pivot

Kim Kardashian on the set of Dancing With the Stars during season 7 in 2008.

When Kim Kardashian entered the ballroom for season 7 in 2008, E!’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians had only completed its freshman run. Partnered with Mark Ballas, her run proved brief, ending with an 11th-place elimination.

Despite the early exit, the national network exposure expanded her presence outside cable reality TV. Kardashian continued fronting her family’s flagship show through 20 seasons, eventually migrating to Hulu with The Kardashians in 2022.

Outside broadcasting, she founded shapewear brand SKIMS, established herself as a global business powerhouse, and shares four children—North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm—with ex-husband Kanye West.

Chris Hemsworth: The Pre-Marvel Ballroom Experience

Chris Hemsworth and dance partner Abbey Ross attending a Dancing With the Stars event in September 2006.

Years before wielding Thor’s hammer across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Hemsworth was a soap actor looking to make his mark. In 2006, he took to the floor on Australia’s iteration of the dance competition.

Hemsworth and professional partner Abbey Ross demonstrated solid footwork, finishing in fifth place overall. That prime-time charisma soon carried him to major cinematic projects.

He went on to headline The Cabin in the Woods, lead high-octane action franchises like Extraction 2, and star in 2024’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, while raising three children with wife Elsa Pataky.

Normani: Building Solo Stardom Beyond Girl Groups

Normani during season 24 of Dancing With the Stars in 2017.

When Normani joined season 24 in 2017 alongside Val Chmerkovskiy, she was best known as one-fifth of the pop group Fifth Harmony. Entering the competition as a frontrunner, she delivered technical precision before shocking audiences with a third-place finish in week 10.

The solo stage experience served as a direct transition when Fifth Harmony announced their indefinite hiatus in March 2018. Normani quickly secured high-profile tours, opened for Khalid, and released her breakout solo single “Motivation” in 2019.

Her momentum led to advising on The Voice, making her feature acting debut in Freaky Tales, dropping her studio album Dopamine, and getting engaged to NFL wide receiver DK Metcalf in March 2025.

Tinashe: Bouncing Back After an Unexpected Early Exit

Tinashe performing on Dancing With the Stars in 2018.

Recording artist Tinashe had already established critical respect with albums like Joyride when she signed on for season 27 in 2018. Partnered with Brandon Armstrong, she stunned viewers by facing elimination in week 4.

Instead of halting her career, the visibility fed right into subsequent milestones. In 2019, she landed a starring role in Fox’s production of Rent: Live and expanded her independent discography.

After collaborating on major tracks with Calvin Harris and Offset, she took the stage at Coachella in 2024, ignited a massive viral trend with her single “Nasty,” and released her critically acclaimed album Popstar.

Wendy Williams: Leveraging National Airtime for Daytime Television Dominance

Wendy Williams competing on season 12 of Dancing With the Stars in 2011.

Talk show host Wendy Williams openly treated her season 12 appearance as a strategic media campaign. Paired with Tony Dovolani in 2011, her stint lasted only until week 3.

“Yeah, I went on Dancing With the Stars to gain more nationwide recognition, which seems to have worked, so thank you, Dancing With the Stars.”

The tactic paid off immediately. The Wendy Williams Show secured major national syndication gains, running for 13 seasons until 2022. During that run, Williams appeared in the Think Like a Man film series and authored books including Ask Wendy and Hold Me in Contempt.

Lisa Rinna: Rekindling Mainstream Television Prominence

Lisa Rinna competing during season 2 of Dancing With the Stars in 2006.

Veteran soap actress Lisa Rinna stepped into the ballroom during the series’ infancy, securing fourth place alongside Louis Van Amstel on season 2 in 2006.

Re-establishing her television presence during the live broadcasts positioned Rinna perfectly for an extended reality TV renaissance. In 2014, she joined Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

She remained a focal cast member for eight seasons until 2023, turning her reality presence into one of the most visible eras of her multi-decade career.

JoJo Siwa: Breaking Ground and Pivoting Audiences

JoJo Siwa on season 30 of Dancing With the Stars in 2021.

Former Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa commanded an enormous youth demographic, but her season 30 run in 2021 broadened her mainstream adult reach. Partnered with Jenna Johnson, they made franchise history as the show’s first same-sex pairing, ultimately finishing in second place.

Siwa credited the intense training with reshaping her personal confidence. That platform laid the groundwork for an adult career transition.

She later entered the cast of season 24 of Celebrity Big Brother UK, where she met boyfriend Chris Hughes, while launching North American tours and new creative projects.

Jordan Fisher: Dominating the Ballroom and Broadway

Jordan Fisher competing during season 25 of Dancing With the Stars in 2017.

After appearances on The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie, triple-threat performer Jordan Fisher entered season 25 in 2017. Alongside Lindsay Arnold, he won the competition outright, hoisting the Mirrorball Trophy.

Winning solidified his standing as an elite live entertainer. Fisher immediately translated his stage acclaim into major theatrical roles.

He performed on Broadway in Hamilton, Hadestown, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, while starring in films like To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, Work It, and seasonal Hallmark features.

Balancing Ballroom Placement and Career Acceleration

Securing first place on national television offers no guarantee of sustained fame, just as early eliminations do not derail marketability. The true measurement is how effectively an artist leverages weekly broadcast visibility into their long-term professional portfolio.

Celebrity	Competition Finish & Career Trajectory
Zendaya	Season 16 Runner-Up; achieved dual Emmy wins, blockbuster film franchises, and Met Gala acclaim
Kim Kardashian	Season 7 11th Place; launched SKIMS, sustained multi-decade television dominance across E! and Hulu
Chris Hemsworth	Australian Season 5th Place; transitioned into Marvel Cinematic Universe leading roles and action films
Normani	Season 24 3rd Place; established solo recording career, released debut album Dopamine, acted in Freaky Tales
Tinashe	Season 27 Week 4 Exit; starred in Rent: Live, landed viral hit “Nasty”, performed at Coachella
Wendy Williams	Season 12 Week 3 Exit; elevated daytime talk show into 13-season nationally syndicated success
Lisa Rinna	Season 2 4th Place; leveraged renewed popularity into an 8-season run on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
JoJo Siwa	Season 30 Runner-Up; executed mainstream adult rebrand and joined Celebrity Big Brother UK
Jordan Fisher	Season 25 Winner; headlined Broadway productions of Hamilton, Hadestown, and Moulin Rouge!

💬 Who had the most surprising post-show career run after their time in the ballroom?

✨ From early exits to Mirrorball champions, these stories prove that performance exposure outlasts the final scoreboard.

📱 Drop your thoughts in the comments below and share your favorite ballroom routines with fellow fans!