A Historic Win
Adele Zaikman was crowned the first-ever winner of "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" on Monday night, earning a professional dancer spot on Season 35 of "Dancing with the Stars," as reported by com and Us Weekly. The 24-year-old professional Latin dancer and Blackpool Dance Festival winner beat out AJ Pritchard, a 31-year-old former "Strictly Come Dancing" professional, and Selena Hamilton, a 22-year-old trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and contemporary dance. Hamilton was eliminated in third place before the final showdown between Zaikman and Pritchard.
The finale featured two rounds of performances, including dances with former "Dancing with the Stars" finalists Charli D'Amelio, Nev Schulman, and Adam Rippon, before judges and viewers selected a champion, according to com. Derek Hough joined the finale as a guest judge, while Witney Carson served as co-host alongside Robert Irwin.
Judges' Praise and Final Performances
Throughout the night, the judges offered high praise for all three finalists. Mark Ballas called Selena Hamilton an "electric performer and dancer," Shirley Ballas praised her growth, and Derek Hough told her, "We love you. The camera loves you," as reported by com. Ballas also said, "Let's get this girl in front of a crowd" about Hamilton's freestyle, and Shirley Ballas told her, "You are one of a kind," adding that her routine was finale-worthy. Hough said if Hamilton joined "Dancing with the Stars" as a pro tomorrow, she would immediately become a fan favorite.
For AJ Pritchard, Mark Ballas called him a "fantastic ballroom dancer," while Shirley Ballas said his technique was consistently strong but challenged him to make greater use of Charli D'Amelio's abilities. Shirley Ballas also praised Pritchard for going "big" and said she was thrilled he packed so much into his freestyle performance. Derek Hough said Pritchard would be "absolutely valuable" as a member of the professional cast.
Zaikman drew particular acclaim. Derek Hough told her, "You're that girl," and Mark Ballas said the "Queen Cobra" struck again, a nickname that also appeared in Us Weekly's coverage. Shirley Ballas called Zaikman a "magical teacher" and praised her musicality as "second to none." Hough called her freestyle "on fire" and said she would elevate the "Dancing with the Stars" professional cast. Shirley Ballas told Zaikman she delivered two "excellent" performances on finale night.
Zaikman's Journey and Background
Us Weekly reported that executive producer Conrad Green told Deadline in August 2026: "I think she's one of the best Latin dancers we've had on the show. Full stop." Green added that many of the show's dancers come from ballroom competition but have also done other things, noting that those areas might be more of a challenge for Zaikman. He concluded, "But, in terms of ballroom Latin competition dancing, she's one of the best dancers we've had on the show. She's got an incredible charisma."
During the finale, Zaikman became emotional while discussing a health challenge that shaped her career, as reported by Us Weekly. "It's crazy because dance has always been my therapy. When I was 13, I got scoliosis in my back and I had to wear a brace for 2.5 years for 20 hours every single day," she said. "The doctors said if I wouldn't do it, I would not be able to dance. So these four hours that I was not wearing it, I was dancing. They were the happiest hours of my life. It saved me and I don't know what I would do if I wouldn't have dance."
Zaikman also took to her Instagram Story in August to respond to a user who accused her of showing little emotion during the competition. She wrote, "Just because there are introverted people in this world, doesn't mean they have no personality," and said she would "always advocate for people who are slower to open up or [are] more private."
Zaikman's competitive credentials include winning the Blackpool Dance Festival in 2022 and placing third at the festival in 2019, according to Us Weekly.
What's Next for Season 35
The winner of "The Next Pro" earns a spot in the professional dancer lineup for Season 35 of "Dancing with the Stars," which premieres Sept. 15 on ABC and Disney+, as reported by com. The full celebrity cast is scheduled to be revealed Sept. 2 on "Good Morning America," and Zaikman's professional partner will be announced on that same episode, according to Us Weekly. ABC also confirmed that former Mirrorball champion Sharna Burgess will return to the professional dancer lineup for the first time since Season 30, com reported.