The ballroom belongs to the influencers

My favorite reality show has always been “Dancing With the Stars”. When I started dancing at age three, I would be glued to the show dancing along with the celebrities and marveling over their costumes. I even dreamed about one day being on the show, pro or celebrity. 

Now, every Tuesday night, I’m still glued to my TV watching “Dancing With the Stars”. It’s become a mid-week ritual, even if I had plans Tuesday, I still have my Disney+ open and my phone ready to text for my favorite celebrities. 

However, something has changed with “Dancing with the Stars” the last couple years. The audience is louder and the internet can’t stop talking about it. 

I don’t think it's a coincidence, though. I think it’s the influencer effect. 

Trust me, I know more than anyone. The first true influencer on “Dancing With the Stars” was youtuber Bethany Mota, known on YouTube as Macbarbie07 in season 19, who partnered with professional dancer Derek Hough. Still, the influencers of 2014 are a bit different from 2025. 

According to ABC, “Dancing With the Stars” pulled 5.82 million total viewers in its second week this season, rising for a second week straight for the first time since the show’s first three weeks on air. It also saw its strongest showing with young viewers in over eight years. 

It is also noticeable that it has become one of the most interactive televised programs, having over 39 million fan votes, according to ABC, showing that people are participating. 

When someone like Charli D’Amelio came on “Dancing With the Stars” on season 31, followed by other popular influencers, they brought loyal fans who were ready to tune in, vote and post about every dance.

When she was on the show in 2022, she had over 140 million followers on TikTok according to The Howler. 

In the past, the show relied more on athletes, retired singers and reality stars. Influencers though, they’re different. Their fans are always deeply connected, posting edits and reactions in real time.

Though I have always loved watching the show, I have seen that after the rise of influencers since 2022, people have become more enthralled in the show and want their favorite to win the most. Millions of fans who follow those creators daily are now about to make their Tuesday nights a full-fledged event. 

The influencers aren’t just contestants though, they have brought a new edge in between episodes. They keep the show alive online. They clip moments, show behind-the-scenes and help get people talking to the point where now all of the celebrities are posting on social media to make sure they’re still in the competition.

Some other longtime fans may want to roll their eyes at the fact that influencers are celebrities, but celebrity culture has evolved. Fame today isn’t just Hollywood, and if millions of people care enough to vote 39 million times in one week, that’s a strong influence. 

Every Tuesday, I am reminded that “Dancing With the Stars” is not falling like it was before 2022. It's not just surviving, it's thriving. 

Influencers have breathed new life into “Dancing With the Stars” proving that the future of television is dependent on how they can bring the internet for a ride.