Reality TV star Melissa Rycroft had never before hoisted the mirror ball trophy in victory, but that all changed tonight when she won this all-star season of ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
Reality TV star Melissa Rycroft had never before hoisted the mirror ball trophy in victory, but that all changed tonight when she won this all-star season of ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
Rycroft and her partner Tony Dovolani took a big risk Monday night by performing a lyrical freestyle routine that showcased Rycroft’s tender side and her stunning lines.
The pair earned perfect scores for that dance and a samba, but the question remained if she had done enough to steal some votes from popular contestant and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson.
'Dancing with the Stars' winner Melissa Rycroft performs with her partner Tony Dovolani
She had.
The win is also significant for Dovolani, a veteran professional dancer who has never danced a contestant to a championship before. And the victory is special for Dovolani and Rycroft as a couple because both were badly injured this season and pressed forward anyway.
What judge Bruno Tonioli told her Monday night proved true:
“That was the perfect setting to showcase all your extraordinary qualities,” Tonioli said. “It had fantastic extension, beautiful lines, sculpted positions, musicality and lyricism. You were a gem.”
Contestants and Scores: Repeat, Freestyle and Instant Dances:
Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough 9, 8.5, 9.5 (27) + 10, 10, 10 (30) +10, 10, 10 (30) = 87
Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy 9.5, 10, 10 (29.5) + 10, 9.5, 10 (29.5) + 9.5, 9.5, 9.5 (28.5) = 87.5
Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani 10, 10, 10 (30 ) + 10, 10 10 (30) + 9.5, 9.5, 9.5 (28.5) = 88.5
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