Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins crowned Dancing with the Stars champion
Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins with professional dancer Leonardo Lini
Katelyn Cummins has been crowned this year’s winner of
The current lifted the glitterball trophy with partner Leonardo Lini.
She had scored a perfect 40 for both of her routines on Sunday and had consistently been one of the season’s highest scorers.
"Life is just not real," the 21-year-old said following the announcement. "What a year, what a past seven months I've had... two massive wins in one year. I could have never imagined that this would be my life."
During Sunday’s Grand Finale, each couple performed a new showdance and reprised a dance from the previous ten weeks of ballroom, Latin, and contemporary routines, as chosen by the judges.
The apprentice electrician had first reprised her Movie Week role of Snow White with an American Smooth to
Head judge Oti Mabuse called it "absolute perfection".
“You can take any style of dance and embrace it; you have elevated beyond belief,” judge Arthur Gourounlian added.
Her showdance to by Alex Warren, however, was the moment it seemed inevitable she would lift the glitterball trophy.
The freestyle performance included an emotional moment where the music became muffled and unclear, used to represent Cummins’ own difficulty with hearing.
It earned a standing ovation from each of the four judges, and another perfect 40.
“That was so much more than the final, the show,” judge Karen Byrne commented.
“With this dance, you let us into your world," an emotional Mabuse added. "It was a privilege to get to know you.”
“You took my breath away, you are a true representative of what dance is,” Gourounlian remarked.
“The thing I love about you most is you’re true to yourself," judge Brian Redmond said. "You’re the Rose of Tralee, an electrician, a fabulous dancer.
The other contestants all proved their mettle on Sunday night too.
Ireland AM presenter Eric Roberts opened the show with his ‘Fright Night’ Charleston. The only judge who had not awarded it a 10 on its first outing was Brian Redmond. On Sunday, however, he called it “phenomenal”.
Roberts began the evening with a perfect score of 40 and matched it again with his Showdance.
“I am lost for words,” judge Mabuse said. “You threw everything at that."
Singer-songwriter Tolü Makay breathed new life into her American Smooth, revisiting the routine from week two. Two months after the original performance, judge Gourounlian said she had “refined” herself, calling the dance “mesmerising.”
Judge Redmond said “an ease, a flow, a sense of belonging” was evident in the reprise, something he said “comes from hard work”.
Her showdance was “a pure bundle of joy,” according to Byrne. Makay received a perfect score of 40 for her first routine and 37 for her showdance.
star Paudie Moloney revisited his Quickstep to by Declan Nerney.
“You’ve continued to improve,” judge Redmond acknowledged, while Mabuse admitted: “I’ve been hard on you… but it’s been a pleasure.” He received 7s across the board.
His showdance to the Andy Williams classic included eight lifts — something Mabuse was quick to acknowledge after previously complaining that his professional partner had been “doing all the heavy lifting”.
“That is a testament to who you are… You come back fighting,” she said.
“You might not be the best dancer, but you’ve proved that this show is about so much more than dancing,” Redmond added.
Moloney scored his highest mark of the season — 29 — to complete his journey in the competition.
