‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 27: Who’s the Favorite to Win the Mirrorball Trophy?
As soon as the new cast of Dancing with the Stars was announced on Good Morning America, fans of the show started to ponder about who could win the Mirrorball trophy this season.
On Sept. 12, 2018, the Season 27 celebrities and their pro partners were revealed but before they even step into the ballroom they’re being sized up based on their past experience and professions. Here’s who will be competing on this season and who many think could be crowned champion.
Tinashe and Brandon Armstrong
This season Tinashe will be paired with longtime troupe member Brandon Armstrong.
The Zimbabwean singer-songwriter is expected to be a fierce competitor and some even think she has an unfair advantage. On every season there’s always that someone who is thought to have a leg up on the rest of the competition because of their previous dance experience and this time it is Tinashe. The R&B artist has trained in various styles of dance including ballet, tap, and jazz.
However, just because she has that background doesn’t mean she’ll run away with the Mirrorball. At times, Dancing with the Stars is a popularity contest as much as it is a dance competition and viewers will need to like her enough to vote and keep her around week after week.
Milo Manheim and Witney Carson
Another name thrown around as the favorite this season is Milo Manheim.
The Disney Channel star is paired with pro Witney Carson and has already proved he has some dance moves when he starred in the film Zombies. He’s 17 years old and is this season’s youngest competitor. A lot of the younger stars have done very well in past seasons so his age, dance experience, and the fact that Carson knows what it takes to win the Mirrorball give Manheim a pretty good shot.
During an interview on GMA, Carson couldn’t contain her excitement about working with the actor and sounded confident about their chances saying, “I’m really excited. This is my tenth season on the show and that’s a lucky number for me. He’s got the personality, he’s got some rhythm and that’s all we really need.”
DeMarcus Ware and Lindsay Arnold
Retired NFL linebacker and defensive end DeMarcus Ware will be strutting his stuff in the ballroom with pro dancer Lindsay Arnold. Ware joins a long list of football stars to compete on the show including former wide receiver Calvin Johnson Jr. who Arnold was partnered with in Season 23 when they placed third.
Most NFL players to appear on the competition have gone pretty far while others like Emmit Smith, Hines Ward, Donald Driver, and Rashad Jennings have won it all. Therefore, fans expect to see Ware in the finale.
Mary Lou Retton and Sasha Farber
Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton will be paired with pro partner Sasha Farber this season and she will be the second gymnast and third Olympian he has worked with. During Season 24, Farber was paired with Simone Biles and the two ended up placing fourth. Last season, he worked with Tonya Harding and placed third.
Olympic athletes always go far on the show but this season fans think Farber may be able to place even higher with Retton who is often considered the greatest American gymnast of all time.
Other stars competing this season
The other stars competing this season include comedian Nikki Glaser, radio host Bobby Bones, Paralympian Danelle Umstead, model Alexis Ren, Bachelor in Paradise‘s Joe Amabile, and actors John Schneider, Juan Pablo di Pace, Evanna Lynch, and Nancy McKeon.
Season 27 premieres Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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