Ariana Madix finished in third place on this season’s Dancing with the Stars, finishing her stretch on the series strong, and garnering an emotional response from her Vanderpump Rules costar Lisa Vanderpump.
The 38-year-old reality star, who was paired up with pro partner Pasha Paskhov, 37, finished third to winner, actress Xochitl Gomez, 17, and second-place finisher, singer Jason Mraz, 46.
The Melbourne, Florida native, best known for appearing on Vanderpump Rules, wrapped up a successful stretch in which she helped heal after her high-profile split from longtime partner Tom Sandoval, 40, after he cheated on her with her one-time friend Rachel Leviss, 29.
Vanderpump, 63, had high words of praise for her fellow Bravo star as the 32nd season of the ABC series concluded.
‘I never knew she was capable of anything so magnificent,’ Vanderpump told the show’s Alfonso Ribeiro after watching Madix on Tuesday, and the entire season.
Ariana Madix, 38, finished in third place on this season’s Dancing with the Stars, finishing her stretch on the series strong, and garnering an emotional response from her Vanderpump Rules costar Lisa Vanderpump, 63
The 38-year-old reality star, who was paired up with pro partner Pasha Paskhov, 37, finished third to winner Xochitl Gomez, 17, and second-place finisher, singer Jason Mraz, 46
Vanderpump said, ‘I’ve watched every week and it’s brought tears to my eyes.’
On Tuesday’s episode, Ariana and pro partner Pasha Paskhov got 29 points for their redemption dance to to the Spice Girls song Spice Up Your Life.
She got emotional during rehearsal for their freestyle while looking back on her journey after the so-called Scandoval affair.
‘If it wasn’t for you being partnered with you, I don’t think I ever would have been able to know what I’m capable of. This experience has taught me I can trust my partner, even if it’s just my dance partner.
‘There’s somebody there that when I put my arm out, he’s got it. It’s a bigger lesson, I feel like, for me,’ Ariana said in a confessional.
Ariana performed an empowering freestyle in a sexy red latex outfit to Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce and Level Up by Ciara with Pasha.
Vanderpump clapped while supporting Ariana in the audience and the judges gushed about her performance.
‘Oh, yes. I like a woman who calls the shots! I’m telling you, top of the game. And hot as hell,’ Bruno said.
Judges Derek Hough, 38, Carrie Ann Inaba, 55, and Bruno Tonioli, 68, gave them a perfect 30 out of 30 for their freestyle giving them a total of 117 for the finale.
It was an emotional evening for the Bravo star to cap off her run on the ABC competition
Madix and Paskhov embraced after her place in the standings was revealed
The Vanderpump Rules personality looked stunning in a see-through ensemble
Lisa Vanderpump was in attendance, posting a picture alongside the show’s Derek Hough. The Bravo staple said she was in attendance to pledge her support for Madix in the competition
‘I never knew she was capable of anything so magnificent,’ Vanderpump told the show’s Alfonso Ribeiro after watching Madix on Tuesday, and the entire season
Vanderpump said, ‘I’ve watched every week and it’s brought tears to my eyes’
Gomez and pro partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy won season 32 of Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday during a live, three-hour finale on ABC.
The 17-year-old Disney star and Val, 37, took home the first Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, named in honor of the longtime DWTS head judge who died in April at age 78.
Jason Mraz, 46, and pro partner Daniella Karagach, 30, finished in second place and Ariana Madix, 38, and pro partner Pasha Paskhov, 37, came in third. The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson, 27, and pro partner Artem Chigvintsev, 41, finished in fourth place.
Alyson Hannigan, 49, and pro partner Sasha Farber, 39, came in fifth place. The season finale for the first time in the show’s history featured five couples vying for the championship.
Xochitl and Val after having two perfect scores during the semis topped the leaderboard with 90 points after the redemption dance round as all scores were combined for the finale.
They scored a perfect 30 points for their redemption Foxtrot dance to Unconditionally by Katy Perry after getting 10s from judges Carrie Ann, Derek and Bruno.
Charity and Artem before the final freestyle dance round were in second place with 88 points, followed by Ariana and Pasha and Jason and Daniella, both with 87 points, and Alyson and Sasha with 76 points.
The finale included a performance by season 31 champion Charli D’Amelio, 19, who returned to dance with her pro partner Mark Ballas, 37.
On Tuesday’s episode, Ariana and pro partner Pasha Paskhov got 29 points for their redemption dance to to the Spice Girls song Spice Up Your Life
The Bravo beauty showed incredible resiliency after a year in which she made headlines after her high-profile split from longtime partner Tom Sandoval after he cheated on her with her one-time friend Rachel Leviss
Show co-host Julianne Hough, 35, after their performance congratulated Mark on becoming a dad.
‘We are so, so, so happy for you. It’s great to have both of you back in the ballroom,’ Julianne said.
Julianne and co-host Alfonso Ribeiro, 52, also performed a Christmas song and dance routine that featured past contestants and pros including Witney Carson, Helio Castroneves, Rashad Jennings, Emma Slater and Hannah Brown
Charity was shown in rehearsal taking a tough fall during rehearsal for her freestyle after she vowed to ramp up her performance.
The former competitive cheerleader incorporated tricks into her freestyle routine and stuck the landing as the crowd jumped to their feet with a rousing standing ovation.
‘I feel like you’ve been waiting all season to do that,’ Derek said. ‘That was unbelievable. I don’t think we have seen anything like that on this show in the history of Dancing With The Stars,’ Derek said.
Charity and Artem received a perfect 30 for their routine and their total for the finale was 118 points.
Jason and Daniella after scoring a perfect 30 for their redemption Foxtrot received another perfect 30 for their freestyle bringing their total for the finale to 117.
Ariana performed an empowering freestyle in a sexy red latex outfit to Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce and Level Up by Ciara with Pasha
The reality star showed off her performative skills in the high-powered ensemble
Madix later took to Instagram Stories documenting an emotional moment during the evening
Madix appeared introspective and emotional in an Instagram Stories clip she shared Tuesday, saying it was a change of pace not to have to rehearse tomorrow
Alyson and Sasha after getting 25 for their redemption salsa dance performed a freestyle to Enchanted by Taylor Swift and Papi by Jennifer Lopez.
The actress saved her best performance for last and received her first 10 of the season from Bruno.
They received 28 points for their freestyle and their total for the finale was 104 points.
Xochitl and Val crushed their freestyle dance to Que Calor by District 78 that she dedicated to her Latino heritage and the audience chanted her name at the end.
Derek praised Xochitl and Val for their clear connection throughout the season and Carrie Ann lauded her for being a strong representative of her culture.
Carrie Ann, Derek, and Bruno gave them a perfect score of 30 bringing their total for the finale to 120 points.
Xochitl and Val finished the competition with four straight dances that received perfect scores from the judges.