As America Chavez, Xochitl Gomez is able to travel through the ever-expanding Marvel multiverse. Sure, that’s cool, but could Chavez ever perfect the paso doble, samba or Viennese waltz?
Well, in this equally chaotic universe, Gomez mastered all three and added salsa and the foxtrot to boot as a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars.”
The “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” star’s dancing efforts were rewarded as she took home the inaugural Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy on Tuesday night after winning the program’s 32nd season. The winner’s trophy was renamed this season following the death of longtime series judge Len Goodman in April.
Five couples will compete in the 32nd season finale of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ including Latina actress Xochitl Gomez.
Dec. 5, 2023
Dancing the foxtrot to Katy Perry’s “Unconditionally” and a freestyle dance to District 78’s “Que Calor,” Gomez and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, got perfect scores to secure the top prize. Gomez bested singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, “Vanderpump Rules” star Ariana Madix, former “Bachelorette” Charity Lawson and actor Alyson Hannigan in the finale.
At 17, Gomez is surprisingly not the youngest winner of the dancing competition show. That title belongs to gold medal-winning gymnast Laurie Hernandez, who won the Mirrorball Trophy at age 16 in 2016. Gomez, who is of Mexican descent, is now the second woman of Latino descent to win the competition, after Hernandez, who has Puerto Rican heritage. Chmerkovskiy was also the dance partner to Hernandez.
The up-and-coming Marvel star noted that she wanted to emphasize her Mexican heritage in her ballroom dances.
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“Representation is really huge for me. Mainly in Latin ballroom dances, I want to really focus on the Latino portion of it and making it as accurate as I can,” she told “Good Morning America” on Wednesday. “[Representation] has been a huge priority for me, especially in costumes and designing and just the background.
“[Set designers] did a wonderful, wonderful job with the background for our freestyle. It’s funny. I took Val to his first Día de los Muertos dinner and that’s where he saw the ofrenda and he was inspired by that aesthetic and that look. I was like, ‘If we could actually do this and execute it well with all the things, it’s just gonna be so perfect.’”
In 2022, Gomez joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the queer Latina superhero America Chavez. She also has starred in “The Baby-Sitters Club,” “Gentefied” and “Ursa Major.”
FAQs
“Dancing With the Stars” has officially crowned the winner of Season 32! The season came to an end on Tuesday night, with the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy being awarded to Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy.
Who is the 17 year old on Dancing with the Stars? ›
Xochitl Gomez became the second-youngest winner of “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesday night. (Eric McCandless / The Walt Disney Co.) As America Chavez, Xochitl Gomez is able to travel through the ever-expanding Marvel multiverse.
Who is the youngest person to ever be on Dancing with the Stars? ›
Willow Shields is the youngest contestant to be announced to be competing on the show, at the age of 14. Cloris Leachman is the oldest at the age of 82.
What has Xochitl Gomez done? ›
She starred in the first season of the Netflix comedy series The Baby-Sitters Club (2020), and gained wider recognition for playing America Chavez in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). In 2023, she became the winner on season 32 of Dancing with the Stars.
Who won the latest Dancing with the Stars? ›
'Dancing with the Stars' season 32 finale: Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy take home the Mirrorball - ABC News.
Who was Xochitl Gomez's partner on Dancing with the Stars? ›
Gomez said representing her Mexican heritage was "really huge" for her. Xochitl Gomez is reflecting on her big "Dancing with the Stars" win with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
Who is the oldest dancer on DWTS? ›
At 82, Cloris Leachman proves no one is too old to be Dancing With the Stars! The stunning senior still has an incredibly evident sparkle in her eye, and now she wants to prove to the world she's still got a whole lot of livelihood in her limbs too!
How old is the girl that won Dancing with the Stars? ›
Xochitl Gomez wins 'Dancing with the Stars' season 32 with her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy. The 17-year-old actress took home the season's Mirrorball Trophy after a finale dance that included a moving tribute to her Mexican American roots. “Dancing With the Stars” has officially crowned the winner of season 32.
Is 13 too old to start dancing? ›
The answer is simply never! Dance is universal and ageless. It can provide benefits to dancers of all ages and levels. Let's take a look at just a few dancers that did not start their journey until their teens and after.
Who had a baby on DWTS? ›
Mark Ballas' baby is here! The former “Dancing With the Stars” pro became a dad on Tuesday when his wife, BC Jean, gave birth to their first child, a son.
The show celebrates the joy of fair competition, the benefits of determination, and the self-affirming nature of conquering fear. Parents may want need to explain to kids why the female dancers wear skimpy outfits and get judged on their sex appeal, and there is some mild language ("ass," "suck," etc.)
Has Xochitl Gomez had dance training? ›
It's quite the accomplishment considering she's never really had any formal dance training. “My early dance experience was doing children's musicals from age 5-12,” she tells Parade in this exclusive interview.
Did Xochitl win Dancing With the Stars? ›
Krystie Lee Yandoli. Dancing With the Stars Season 32 officially came to an end on Tuesday night with Xochitl Gomez winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy along with her veteran dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
Why is Xochitl Gomez famous? ›
Xochitl Gomez is a Mexican-American actress born and raised in Los Angeles, California to Mexican parents. She is best known for her portrayal of the heroine America Chavez in 'Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness' as well as Dawn Schafer on the Netflix series 'The Babysitter's Club.
Who was the first Latina to win Dancing with the Stars? ›
| Laurie Hernandez |
|---|
| Celebrity Profile |
| Birth Date | 9 June 2000 (2000-06-09) (age 24) |
| Hometown | Old Bridge, New Jersey |
| Known For | Olympic artistic gymnast |
7 more rowsOn November 27, 2007, Indy 500 driver Hélio Castroneves and Julianne Hough were crowned the champions, while Spice Girls singer Mel B and Maksim Chmerkovskiy finished in second place, and entertainer Marie Osmond and Jonathan Roberts finished third.
Who won Dancing with the Stars twice? ›
Cheryl Burke -- 2 Mirrorballs
Burke won "DWTS" twice, in the show's second and third seasons, both in 2006.
