Dancing with the StarsWinner Xochitl Gomez on Securing the Mirrorball Trophy: ‘I Didn’t See It Coming’

Mar. 15, 2025

Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy onDancing with the Stars.Photo:Eric McCandless/DISNEY via Getty Images

Eric McCandless/DISNEY via Getty Images

Xochitl Gomezcan hardly believe she’s taking theDancing with the Starstrophy home.

Alongside her pro partnerVal Chmerkovskiy, the duo were crowned thewinnersofseason 32of the ABC series and awarded the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, which was officiallyrenamed in Septemberfollowing thedeathof longtime head judgeLen Goodman.

“It’s unbelievable,” the actress, 17, told PEOPLE following Tuesday’s finale. “I didn’t see it coming. I went into this whole competition thing thinking, you know, if I make it to week five, that’d be awesome, and so to be here and to have this trophy is just crazy. I’m really proud of us.”

“It felt really good,” shared Chmerkovskiy, 37. “It’s a little weird, you know, because you put so much work into something and then it’s like here’s a trophy and then it’s over.”

“The feeling is, obviously pride and joy for ourselves, but also a little bit of sadness that it’s over.”

Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy onDancing with the Stars' Disney night.Eric McCandless/Disney via Gett

Eric McCandless/Disney via Gett

Chmerkovskiy added that it’s “really important” that the other finalists “get the recognition that they deserve.”

Gomez and Chmerkovskiy beat runner-up, singerJason Mraz, as well asVanderpump RulesstarAriana Madix, actressAlyson Hannigan, andBachelorettestarCharity Lawson.

As for where they’re each going to keep the coveted trophy, the Marvel star revealed, “I have a little tiny room because I ended up moving places, so I have this little tiny room and I have this stray cat that I sleep with every night, and I have one drawer that lives literally direct center of my bed, so I’m going to put it right there so I can look at it every night with my cat.”

Val Chmerkovskiy and Xochitl Gomez at the BoxLunch Holiday Gala in Los Angeles.Albert L. Ortega/Getty

Albert L. Ortega/Getty

“We have a newborn, and she really held it down for the entire season,” Chmerkovskiy continued of his wife, fellowDWTSproJenna Johnson,with whom hewelcomed son Rome in January. The 29-year-old was partnered with supermodelTyson Beckfordin season 32, but the duo were the third couple to be eliminated.

He and Gomez then went on to open up about how Johnson was crucial in helping them get so far in the competition.

Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy on “Whitney Houston Night”.Willard/Disney via Getty

Willard/Disney via Getty

“She’s a part of every creative, every step, every piece of choreography that we performed this season, she was a part of it,” added Chmerkovskiy.

“And she’s been so encouraging to me sometimes,” said Gomez, who revealed Johnson helped her when she was “scared and nervous” with the freestyle part of her performances.

“Jenna really helped me and said really wonderful encouraging words,” the teenager continued. “I’m just really lucky to have had a partner whose wife is so nice. She was so supportive of me and it takes a person to allow me to be so close with, you know, their family and she’s really allowed me to be close with her family, and I really appreciate that and hopefully, I can continue to be part of their little circle.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“YOUR SEASON 32 WINNERS!!!!!!! 🪩🏆🌟🤩♥️🙌🏻🕺🏻💃🏻,” she captioned the post, which also featured a funny photo of Johnson wrapping her legs around Chmerkovskiy and kissing him as Gomez pulled a shocked face.

source: people.com