Gabby Windey didn't just show up to Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars; she basically took over the ballroom from the first beat of Harry Styles’ "As It Was." Honestly, it’s rare to see a reality star transition from the messy world of The Bachelorette to the technical precision of Latin and ballroom dance without looking a bit, well, out of place. But Gabby was different. She had that "pro-cheerleader energy" in her back pocket, and paired with the intensity of Val Chmerkovskiy, she became the season's most consistent threat.
Most people remember the sparkly outfits and the high scores. However, the real story is about how close she actually came to that Mirrorball Trophy and the weird hurdles—like her partner catching COVID-19 mid-season—that nearly derailed everything.
Why Gabby Dancing with the Stars Was Such a Big Deal
The "Bachelor-to-DWTS" pipeline is a well-worn path. We’ve seen Hannah Brown and Kaitlyn Bristowe take home the gold, so the pressure on Gabby was immense. People expected her to be good. But there’s a difference between "Bachelor good" and "Val Chmerkovskiy good."
Val is known for being a bit of a drill sergeant. He doesn't go easy on his partners, and with Gabby, he found someone who could actually handle the heat. Their chemistry was undeniable, leading to plenty of those classic showmance rumors that usually follow single contestants. But while the tabloids were busy guessing about her love life, Gabby was busy nailing the most technical choreography of the season.
The Perfect Score That Changed Everything
It happened during Prom Night. Week six.
Gabby and Val performed a Tango to "Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship. It was sharp. It was aggressive. It was also the very first perfect score of the season. Getting a 40/40 that early is basically like putting a giant target on your back.
Suddenly, she wasn't just the "funny girl from The Bachelorette." She was the one to beat. Even the legendary Len Goodman, who was notoriously stingy with 10s in his final season, couldn't find a flaw in her footwork.
The Week 7 Curveball: Dancing with a Different Partner
Just as things were heating up, disaster struck. Val Chmerkovskiy tested positive for COVID-19 right before Halloween Night. For most celebrities, losing your pro partner for a week is a death sentence. You’ve spent months building a rhythm with one person, and suddenly, you have to learn an Argentine Tango with someone else.
Enter Alan Bersten.
Alan had just been eliminated with his partner Jessie James Decker, so he stepped in to save the day. The chemistry was... different. It was more "flirty and fun" than the "dark and intense" vibe she had with Val. They danced an Argentine Tango to "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran, and surprisingly, they didn't miss a beat. They scored a 38/40, proving that Gabby wasn't just a product of Val’s teaching—she was a legitimate dancer in her own right.
Why the 90s Night Samba Still Goes Viral
If you haven't rewatched her Samba to "Livin' La Vida Loca," you’re missing out.
Samba is widely considered the hardest dance on the show because of the "bounce" action. It’s exhausting. It’s technical. It’s easy to look like a flailing mess. Gabby, however, looked like she’d been doing it her whole life. The judges gave her another perfect 40, and the internet basically exploded. Even now, years later, fans on Reddit still point to this routine as one of the best Sambas in the history of the show.
The Final Showdown: Gabby vs. Charli D’Amelio
The finale was a total nail-biter. It basically came down to two women: Gabby Windey and TikTok phenom Charli D’Amelio.
Charli had a massive advantage. She was a trained competitive dancer before she ever got famous on social media. Gabby was a former Denver Broncos cheerleader, which is impressive, but it’s not the same as years of elite ballroom training.
In the end, Gabby finished in second place.
It stung. Val admitted in interviews afterward that the loss felt a bit heavy because they had worked so hard to bridge the gap between "reality star" and "pro-level athlete." But second place on a season as stacked as Season 31 is basically a win. She beat out heavyweights like Wayne Brady and Shangela, which is no small feat.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Background
There’s this lingering misconception that Gabby "cheated" because she was a cheerleader. Let's set the record straight: pom-pom routines and NFL sidelines do not prepare you for a Viennese Waltz.
- Cheerleading is about sharp, synchronized movements and projection to a stadium.
- Ballroom is about internal connection, "leading and following," and very specific weight transfers in your feet.
Gabby had to unlearn a lot of her cheerleader habits to make the judges happy. She had to learn how to be soft, how to use her ankles, and how to act out a story that wasn't just "be happy and loud."
Life After the Mirrorball
Gabby didn't just disappear after the finale. She became a staple of the Dancing with the Stars Live Tour, co-hosting and performing across the country.
Fast forward to 2026, and she's completely rebranded. She’s moved away from the "Bachelorette" label, won The Traitors US, and has built a massive media presence with her podcast, Long Winded. She’s also been incredibly open about her personal life, coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and sharing her relationship with her girlfriend, Robby Hoffman.
The discipline she learned in the ballroom clearly stuck. Whether she’s on a stage or behind a microphone, she’s got that "main character energy" that makes it impossible to look away.
How to Apply the "Gabby Method" to Your Own Goals
If you're looking to tackle a new skill—whether it's dance or something totally different—Gabby's run on the show offers some pretty solid blueprints for success.
- Lean into the technical stuff early. Gabby didn't just rely on her personality; she obsessed over the footwork. If you're learning something new, master the boring basics first.
- Adaptability is everything. When Val got sick, she didn't panic. She adjusted to a new partner and a new style in 48 hours. Being flexible is usually more important than being perfect.
- Don't fear the "runt of the litter" status. She was up against a literal professional-grade dancer in Charli D'Amelio. Instead of giving up, she used that competition to push her scores higher than they probably would have been otherwise.
To see the technical breakdown of her most famous routines, you can check out the official Dancing with the Stars YouTube channel, where her Samba and Tango remain some of the most-viewed clips from her season.