Ever since Dancing With The Stars judge Derek Hough mentioned in an interview his desire for an all-winners season of the dancing competition show, it’s safe to say that diehards haven’t stopped fan casting their dream picks.
While this list is my personal choices for a dream all-winners season, I was actually surprised by how unexpectedly easy it was to choose. Some were givens from the start while only a few had to fight their way for a spot, but I’d say these mirrorball holders would make the perfect all-winners season.
1. Jordan Fisher (Season 25)
First and foremost, we’d without a doubt need Jordan Fisher on an all-winners season. From Disney kid to Broadway star, that man had already proven he could do it all well before he took the DWTS dance floor in Season 25, and ended the season with a well-deserved win alongside his partner Lindsay Arnold.
While Fisher could easily have chemistry with any pro on the show, it would be an epic reunion to see him back with his original partner together again, despite Arnold’s absence from the show in Season 31.
2. Kelly Monaco (Season 1)
An all-winners season just wouldn’t be right without our OG winner: Kelly Monaco. At the height of her General Hospital fame, Monaco competed on Season 1, during which time only six couples danced during a mere six weeks of competition.
While Monaco most likely couldn’t pair up with her original partner Alec Mazo, who has not competed on the show since Season 9, she could reunite with her All-Stars season partner Val Chmerkovskiy, with whom she placed third back in 2012, or possibly his big bro Maks Chmerkovskiy, whom the actress danced with on GH’s 50th anniversary episode in 2013.
3. Alfonso Ribero (Season 19)
Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson has one of those magical partnerships. And while not all magical pairings secure a mirror ball, this one did when they took to the dance floor in Season 19.
If Ribero competed on the show again, there would be quite the uproar if he wasn’t paired with Carson. After all, who else could perfectly perform The Carlton alongside the man himself?
4. Bindi Irwin (Season 21)
It wouldn’t be an all-winners season without at least one (or three – keeping reading) of Derek Hough’s winning partners, and I think everyone would agree that the first absolute must-have is Bindi Irwin.
These two stole the entire show when Irwin competed – typically in memory of her late father Steve Irwin – and would give any fellow winner a run for their money. Of course, if Hough remained a judge, it would be interesting to see the animal activist paired with a pro like Sasha Farber or Alan Bernsten to shake things up.
5. Nyle DiMarco (Season 22)
The second of three deaf contestants to hit the ballroom, model Nyle DiMarco made history in Season 22 when he became DWTS’ first deaf winner, alongside pro partner Peta Murgatroyd.
While it would be fun to see DiMarco team up with his OG partner again, another option would be for him to dance with pro Britt Stewart, who memorably partnered with deaf actor Daniel Durant in Season 31.
6. Meryl Davis (Season 18)
When Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis paired up with hardcore pro Maks Chmerkovskiy, there was never a doubt these two would take home the mirror ball.
Davis proved to be such a talented ballroom dancer, fans hoped she’d one day become a pro herself. But until then, no pairing would be as magical as Chmerkovskiy returning to compete with his first and only winning partner.
7. Iman Shumpert (Season 30)
Basketball star Iman Shumpert may not have been anyone’s first pick to win the memorable Season 30 – especially when dancers like Jojo Siwa and Jimmie Allen were his competition – but this underdog shined as the season continued on and ultimately proved his place on the dance floor.
Despite their hysterical height difference, it’s hard to imagine Shumpert tossing anyone else around the ballroom but his fellow Season 30 champion Daniella Karagach.
8. Drew Lachey (Season 2)
Whether you voted them to the mirror ball or not, no longtime DWTS viewer can forget the epic duo that was Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke – most notably, their cowboy-themed Freestyle.
Even after all these years, it’s hard to imagine Lachey dancing with anyone but Burke. The pro may have retired from the show in Season 31, but we diehards can dream, can’t we?
9. Amber Riley (Season 17)
Amber Riley has become the queen of reality competition shows over the years after her Season 17 win with Derek Hough and later becoming a Masked Singer champion known as The Harp. But her time on the dance floor was memorable enough to keep us all wanting more.
Hough aside, Riley could have a great partnership with any pro, although Mark Ballas first comes to mind, despite his Season 31 retirement.
10. Jennifer Grey (Season 11)
It took 11 seasons to get the dirty dancer herself on DWTS, and it wasn’t at all a surprise when she was the last one standing with her then-mere-two-time-winner Derek Hough.
While fans would love to see Hough pair up with any of his old partners, Jennifer Grey could easily tackle the ballroom with any pro, but my vote would go to Val Chmerkovskiy.
