Breaks from classes are the best times to binge-watch new shows, or, in my case, to continue dwelling on my emotional attachments to old ones. November brought what felt like yet another devastating loss for women across the country as season 34 of Dancing With the Stars concluded. Once again, the votes were tallied, and another man won. Robert Irwin won the latest season of DWTS and took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Having watched the entire season, I knew it would be a close call between Irwin and Alix Earle, as both were fan favorites and placed at the top of the score leaderboard each week. So, I spent weeks convincing myself that either way, someone great would win. I tried to emotionally prepare myself for the possibility that my favorite contestant would not win — but push came to shove, and Irwin’s name was called. Somewhere along the way, I became too attached to the show.
I tuned in this season as an Alix Earle fan. She’s the only star I already followed before watching the show. While we live very different lives, I always enjoy her chaotic “Get Ready With Me” videos, and her podcast episodes make the perfect addition to my sometimes mundane afternoons. She’s simply someone I love watching succeed.
Earle may have started as a social media influencer, but she’s more than an ordinary TikToker. She offers a scholarship at the University of Miami and founded Serving in Heels, an initiative that brings people together to cook meals for those in need. In fact, amidst the show’s season, she hosted a Serving in Heels event with fellow DWTS cast members and friends to provide 3,000 Thanksgiving meals to the city of Los Angeles.
Her authenticity is what keeps me as an Earle girl. Her podcast — and now “vlogcast” — can make you feel like you know her. She embraces her messy lifestyle, openly discusses her struggles, and shares her eventful life. That is why it felt impossible not to become deeply invested in her DWTS journey.
Watching her dedication each week felt empowering. She constantly pushed herself beyond her comfort zone to grow as both a person and a dancer – all of which showed. So when I woke up on Nov. 26 to a TikTok For You Page flooded with videos of other people’s live reactions to the previous night’s winner, I couldn’t help but cry. I saw at least 20 videos of rooms full of girls holding hands, fingers crossed, then jaws dropping in shock as they called Irwin’s name. I was not alone in my devastation, but knowing that somehow made the heartbreak even deeper.
Earle’s loss reminded me of every time I lost to a man. Irwin was undoubtedly a strong contestant, but I do not believe he was the most improved or the best dancer. Earle pushed herself relentlessly in the studio. She asked her partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, to bring back the “old mean Val.” She wanted him to push her further and hold her to a higher standard of excellence. She put her life on pause, flew across the country, and relocated to L.A. — all for the show.
At the same time, all the contestants relocated to join the show and made many other similar sacrifices, so why am I so invested in her loss? I think it’s because I can’t help but view her loss as a friend’s heartbreak. Her podcast episode for the season’s semifinale wrapped by showing a most genuine group hug among her, Val, and DWTS pro, Ezra Sosa – jumping, cheering, and celebrating that they were heading to the finale. I felt her excitement as if it were my own. Given she’s only 25 years old, I felt like I was watching a girl with a dream give it her all, only for it to still not be enough.
To me, she’s just a girl. We can feel collective losses. We can care for things that do not alter our lives in the slightest way as human beings, and I think that is perfectly okay. I’m not mad that I am still mourning the DWTS finale in 2026; I’m simply someone who may always care a little too much.