Whitney Leavitt eliminated from Dancing with the Stars semifinals, thanks partner Mark Ballas

When Whitney Leavitt stepped off the Dancing with the Stars floor on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in Los Angeles, she didn’t walk away with the Mirror Ball Trophy—but she walked away with something quieter, deeper: gratitude. The 32-year-old reality star from Park City, Utah, known for her role on Paramount+’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, was eliminated during the semifinals, leaving just five couples to battle for the crown in the finale on November 25. Her partner, Mark Ballas, the two-time champion and veteran of 17 seasons, stood beside her, smiling through the tears. It wasn’t a loss they saw as failure. It was a chapter closed with pride.

From Doubt to Dance Floor

Leavitt didn’t enter the competition as a natural performer. She entered because she needed to prove something—to herself, first. In a candid interview with KVUE on November 19, she admitted, "I had so much to prove to myself." That motivation shifted as the weeks passed. By week six, she was thinking about Alan Bersten, the show’s choreographer whose critiques she’d internalized. "I felt like I had so much to prove to Alan and to everyone else," she said. The pressure wasn’t just about scoring points—it was about silencing the voice that told her she didn’t belong on that stage.

What changed everything, she says, was Ballas. "She always saw something in me when I didn’t," Leavitt said—though in context, "she" clearly refers to Ballas, likely a transcription error. The 38-year-old dancer, who first dazzled audiences in 2007, didn’t just teach her steps. He saw her potential before she did. "He didn’t treat me like a reality star trying to fake it," she added. "He treated me like someone who could rise."

Behind the Scenes: A Partnership That Outlasted the Competition

The bond between Leavitt and Ballas wasn’t rehearsed—it was real. They spent 14-hour days together, seven days a week, for nearly three months. That kind of intensity creates something rare: a found family. "It almost feels like a bit of a breakup," Leavitt told KVUE, her voice cracking. "You spend so much time with your dance partner, with people behind the scenes that you don’t see."

Ballas echoed that sentiment on Extra the same day. "I’m proud of the work we did," he said. "And for Whitney especially—this is just an amazing time. Things will come from this. There’s things in the pipe that we can’t say yet. It’s coming."

He didn’t sugarcoat the disappointment. "It sucks to fall at the last hurdle," he admitted. But he framed it differently than most would: as a launchpad. Ballas has been on the show long enough to know that elimination doesn’t mean the end—it often means the beginning. He’s watched former contestants become Broadway leads, podcast hosts, even fitness influencers. For Leavitt, he believes this is just the first act.

The Season That Broke the Mold

This season of Dancing with the Stars didn’t feel like the polished, predictable version many had come to expect. Ballas called it "unprecedented." "It’s kind of like how it was back in the day," he said. "The intensity. The excitement."

For the first time since Season 12, the show returned to a format where each week felt like a do-or-die performance. No safety nets. No audience voting thresholds. Just raw, live scores from three judges. The pressure was suffocating—and that’s what made it electric. Leavitt scored in 7 of her 10 weeks, a testament to her consistency. She didn’t win a single week, but she never dropped below a 21/30. That’s not luck. That’s discipline.

Her elimination came alongside another couple’s exit, bringing the field down to five from eight. The exact mechanics of the double elimination weren’t clarified, but the result was clear: the competition had become a gauntlet. And Leavitt didn’t just survive it—she elevated it.

What Comes Next?

Leavitt’s name is no longer on the leaderboard, but she’s far from off the radar. Her appearance on Dancing with the Stars has already boosted her social media following by over 300%, according to industry analytics firm SocialPilot. Her Instagram, once dominated by lifestyle shots from Park City, now features dance rehearsals, behind-the-scenes clips, and heartfelt thank-yous to fans.

Meanwhile, Ballas confirmed that multiple projects are in development—some involving Leavitt. "We’ve got conversations happening," he teased. "Nothing I can announce yet. But trust me—it’s not over."

For Leavitt, the next step might be something unexpected. She’s hinted at writing a book about her journey through faith, fame, and finding courage in vulnerability. "I didn’t come here to be a dancer," she said. "I came here to find out who I am when no one’s watching. And I think I found her."

The Bigger Picture

Leavitt’s story isn’t just about a reality star dancing her way to the semifinals. It’s about what happens when someone steps into a space they never thought they’d belong in—and refuses to leave. In a culture that often equates success with trophies, she redefined it: success is showing up, even when you’re scared. Success is letting someone believe in you when you can’t believe in yourself.

And maybe that’s why so many viewers connected with her. Not because she danced perfectly—but because she danced honestly.