The 34th season of “Dancing with the Stars” is set to conclude with an exciting three-hour finale on Tuesday night, but one standout contestant will not be vying for the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Whitney Leavitt, known for her role in “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” and her partner Mark Ballas, faced a surprising elimination during the semifinals, preventing them from competing in the finale.
Leavitt had a remarkable season, topping the DWTS leaderboard seven times and achieving an impressive average score of 26.9, the highest among all contestants. However, she struggled with the fan vote, which may have been influenced by her candid admission in a confessional where she revealed that her motivation for returning to the show was to audition for DWTS.
In an emotional reflection shared via Instagram, Leavitt expressed her gratitude for her time on the show but admitted that her elimination felt akin to a breakup. “When you’re [cast] on Dancing with the Stars, you are seeing these people hours every single day. Then it just stops,” she shared. The connections formed during the competition were evident as she described the bonding experience with her fellow competitors, especially with Ballas, whom she described as a supportive friend who believed in her dreams.
Leavitt’s heartfelt comments underscore the deep personal connections and the transformative experience that DWTS provides its contestants. Despite the disappointment of elimination, her journey has fostered valuable friendships and personal growth.
As the finale approaches, several competitors will be aiming for the title, including Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, and Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. The show will air on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with live streaming also available on Disney+. Fans of the show can expect an exhilarating conclusion to this season, one that highlights talent, hard work, and the power of camaraderie.