There isn’t one objectively “correct” answer for who should have won Dancing with the Stars, because winners are decided by a mix of judges’ scores and public votes, so it always reflects both dance quality and popularity. Many fans, though, feel certain contestants were “robbed” and like to debate who should have taken the Mirrorball.
Depends what you mean
If the question is about pure dancing ability, then in many seasons the technically strongest dancer did not win, because viewer votes favored someone more famous, more likable, or with a better story arc. If the question is about who deserved it “all things considered” (growth, personality, entertainment, fan support), then the official winners are defending their titles on those grounds.
Fan-favorite “should’ve won” names
Across fan discussions and articles, a lot of the same names come up as people who many viewers feel should have won their seasons instead of finishing lower:
- Zendaya
- Corbin Bleu
- Riker Lynch
- James Hinchcliffe
- Paige VanZant
- Milo Manheim
Fans often argue these contestants had stronger or more consistent dancing than the eventual champions, or delivered more memorable routines, but were edged out by voting dynamics.
How to answer it for yourself
To decide who you think should have won, a simple way is:
- Pick a season you watched closely.
- Re‑watch the finalists’ best routines.
- Ask: who was the most technically strong, who improved the most, and who you were most excited to watch.
- If your pick differs from the actual winner, that’s your personal “should’ve won” for that season.
If you meant a specific season (like the newest one or a particular year), say which one, and the answer can be narrowed down to the likely “robbed” favorite from that finale.
