Most Dramatic ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Transformations

Earlier than becoming a member of the solid of “Dancing with the Stars,” Ricki Lake knew that filming the present would impact her body. The star, who was greatest identified for her function in “Hairspray,” and her common ’90s discuss present, was no stranger to weight struggles. Earlier than her “Dancing with the Stars” season began in 2011, she opened as much as US Weekly about her plan for the filming course of, noting that after “having handled weight points” her complete life, she couldn’t depend on her common food regimen methods. “You assume deprivation, ravenous your self, however I can’t try this if I’m dancing six hours a day,” Lake defined. “I’m simply going to be actually acutely aware of it. For the primary time, it gained’t be concerning the kilos, it’ll be about power and my physique.”

Lake was proper that collaborating would imply critical adjustments for her physique — she later informed Folks (by way of The Hollywood Reporter) that she misplaced “12 inches in three weeks” whereas filming the present, and later revealed to Right now that she misplaced greater than 20 kilos total. The actor was partnered with Derek Hough for season 13, and finally got here in third. So, whereas she could not have taken residence the mirror-ball trophy, she did go away with a lighter physique.

“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Whitney Leavitt could have been robbed of the “Dancing with the Stars” trophy throughout season 34 (she was eradicated proper earlier than finale night time and got here in sixth together with her associate Mark Ballas), however her private {and professional} adjustments made her an actual winner. The mom of three, who welcomed her youngest youngster lower than a 12 months earlier than becoming a member of the solid, made waves in the course of the third season of “Secret Lives” when she admitted she solely returned to the MomTok group in order that she may compete on “Dancing with the Stars.” That call paid off, as Leavitt left the fact competitors a brand new lady.

Whereas showing on the Not Skinny However Not Fats podcast previous to filming DWTS, Leavitt revealed that after a nasty expertise on Ozempic, she wasn’t on the drug any longer, however as an alternative was protecting slim by “counting macros.” Whereas filming “Dancing with the Stars,” the fact star confirmed off her slim body, and regardless of being voted off earlier than the finale, she has additionally made a significant profession change because the present ended. In December 2025, it was introduced that the proficient dancer landed the function of Roxy Hart in “Chicago” (by way of Broadway Information).

“Property Brothers” star Drew Scott was a shocking addition to 2017’s season 25 of “Dancing with the Stars.” The HGTV fixture stepped away from his common house-flipping duties to strive his hand at skilled dancing on primetime tv. He was paired with professional Emma Slater and ended up coming in fourth place. And whereas followers had been impressed by his strikes, they had been equally amazed by his new look. Scott misplaced a whopping 34 kilos throughout his time on the present, and even began flashing his new abs.

Scott opened as much as US Weekly about his transformation on the time, explaining, “I simply really feel nice. I’ve extra power, and I’m not stopping dancing. I’m going to be probably the most annoying particular person ever as a result of I’m going to bop in all places I’m going. My brother’s going to be like, “Cease dancing on the present already.”” He additionally revealed that there was one huge fan of his new physique particularly — his then-fiancée Linda Phan, sharing, “She’s like, “Oooh, whats up abs.””

“Fairly Little Liars” magnificence Sasha Pieterse was open about her weight struggles earlier than becoming a member of the solid of 2017’s Season 25 of “Dancing with the Stars.” She revealed on the ABC actuality competitors that she had gained greater than 70 kilos over the earlier two years and realized that the trigger was a well being challenge — a hormonal dysfunction referred to as polycystic ovary syndrome. The actor opened up about her physique adjustments and revealed that it was “one of many hardest issues [she’d] ever been by way of” (by way of E! Information) whereas rehearsing together with her associate, Gleb Savchenko. She additionally informed ABC Information on the time that she was discussing the very private matter to assist others, explaining, “I simply actually need to convey consciousness for that too as a result of there are such a lot of ladies which have that who do not know.”

Early within the season, Pieterse famous she had already misplaced 15 kilos, telling “Leisure Tonight,” “It truly is the most effective exercise. I’ve much more power, I’m feeling nice, I’m shedding pounds, which is superior.” By the point they had been midway by way of the season, the actor informed E! Information that she had misplaced 37 kilos forward of Disney night time, the place she dressed up as Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” (seen above) and referred to as her time on the present “magical.” She and Savchenko in the end got here in fifth.

Joey Fatone of *NSYNC fame was no stranger to dancing on stage — he carried out routines alongside his bandmates for years. However Fatone’s first time on “Dancing with the Stars,” throughout 2007’s Season 4, noticed an enormous transformation for the ex-boy band star. Whereas paired with Kym Johnson, Fatone noticed the burden fall off. He informed TV Information on the time, “Once I began dancing with Kym, the burden actually began coming off. I used to be 235 kilos once I began. Now I’m 216. It’s fairly cool to see my abdomen get smaller.”

He would inform “Entry Hollywood” (by way of Right now) that there was one huge distinction between dancing for the ABC present versus dancing with the band, noting, “My weight used to fluctuate clearly dancing with *NSYNC. It used to drop 10-15 kilos after we had been dancing, however I by no means was maintaining a healthy diet both.” His arduous work on the fact competitors paid off — he got here in second on Season 4, and he was requested again for season 15, “Dancing with the Stars: All Stars,” in 2012. Sadly, he was eradicated throughout week two, so we weren’t capable of watch one other main transformation for the previous boy band star.

Marie Osmond signed on to compete on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2007, at a time when she was actually struggling together with her weight. The singer would later inform Oprah Winfrey on “The Oprah Winfrey Present” in 2009 that she reached her highest weight ever that 12 months, 165 kilos. Ballroom dancing turned out to be a saving grace for Osmond, who was paired with skilled dance associate Jonathan Roberts on the present. Whereas within the midst of competing, the star informed OK! (by way of Right now), “I’m down 31 kilos to this point. I’ve misplaced about 5 inches off my hips and 5 inches off my waist. I’ve added muscle mass, and I’m rather more toned. It’s unimaginable. The present ought to be referred to as “Dancing with the Starved.””

Osmond infamously fainted on dwell tv that season following a samba. Whereas followers immediately assumed it was as a result of her speedy weight reduction, the star really blamed it on current wildfires within the space, telling Entry Hollywood (by way of Right now), “The air high quality is admittedly dangerous and I’ve allergy symptoms actually dangerous so perhaps that was it. I’m a singer. I don’t know why I ought to have been winded. We now have accomplished it six, seven instances in a row, no downside.” When pressed on whether or not it could possibly be as a result of shedding pounds, she adamantly denied it, stating, “Completely not. Actually, I’ve by no means felt higher in my life. I’m in higher form than I ever have been.”

Humorous man Andy Richter threw his hat within the race throughout Season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars,” and rapidly turned a fan favourite in the course of the competitors. Regardless of not having any prior dance expertise and being a significant underdog, Conan O’Brien’s former sidekick from “Late Evening with Conan O’Brien” charmed audiences. Whereas partnering with dance professional Emma Slater, he even finally got here in seventh on the collection.

On Julianne Hough’s podcast, “The Morning After (Present),” Richter referred to as his time on the present “bodily transformative.” The comic shared that he plans on maintaining the wholesome habits sooner or later, too. “When this present is finished, knees prepared, I’m again within the health club,” he defined, including, “I haven’t wanted to do something however dance … I’m curious as to, like, once I get again on an elliptical, like how lengthy I can go and the way a lot larger I can do the resistance and all these things.”

Kelly Osbourne grew up within the highlight, so the world has watched her weight fluctuate over time. She spoke to Form journal about her struggles, sharing (by way of US Weekly), “I used to be referred to as fats and ugly within the press virtually my total life. I perceive that being judged by others comes with the territory, but it surely broke my coronary heart and ruined my shallowness. It units you as much as hate your self in an enormous means. I used to be so offended concerning the issues folks stated about me.”

When she joined the solid of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2009, she turned a brand new web page. Whereas partnered with Louis van Amstel, Osbourne excelled on the present and in the end completed in third place. However she additionally skilled a significant transformation off the dance ground — she misplaced 20 kilos, and would go on to make a significant way of life change after leaving the ballroom. She would later inform In Contact Weekly (by way of the Los Angeles Instances) that she maintained her post-“Dancing with the Stars” body by exercising and dishonest on her food regimen as soon as every week. Her cheat day meals of alternative? Pizza.

In 2010, Disney Channel star Kyle Massey joined the Season 11 solid of “Dancing with the Stars.” The actor was partnered with dance professional Lacey Schwimmer, and the duo turned shocking frontrunners and in the end got here in because the runners-up. When agreeing to do the present, the “That’s So Raven” actor had one fairly huge expectation — that he’d go away with a brand new physique. “It’s loopy to assume you’re going to return into a contest like this and never drop some weight with the hours you’re going to must put in,” Massey informed Folks on the time. “I do know I’m going to maintain shedding pounds so long as I’m doing the present,” he informed the New York Each day Information, as his associate Schwimmer excitedly added, “He’s misplaced eight inches. He’s actually loving it. He appears within the mirror on a regular basis.”

Finally, he misplaced 18 kilos that season. Like most of the different stars who noticed large transformations after competing on the dance competitors collection, he applied huge adjustments after the present ended. He informed US Weekly, “I’m nonetheless working at it, doing push-ups and sit-ups. I’m typically slacking, however dancing has actually put me on a schedule.”

In terms of weight reduction on “Dancing with the Stars,” maybe probably the most spectacular transformation of all belongs to the late Kirstie Alley. The actor, greatest identified for her roles on “Cheers” and “Veronica’s Closet,” appeared on the present in 2011. That season, she partnered with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Alley confirmed off some spectacular dancing expertise, which received her all the best way to second place, however her bodily adjustments had been much more spectacular. The actor misplaced 100 kilos.

Whereas talking to Folks that 12 months, Alley revealed the surprising quantity and shared much more particulars. She famous that previous to becoming a member of the present, she had been weighing in at round 230 kilos and experiencing detrimental well being results from her weight achieve. “My physique had gotten actually weak,” she shared. Dancing helped her slim down, as did making the swap to consuming natural meals. “I really feel again to regular. I’ve my sport once more,” she shared with the outlet, including that she was carrying dimension 6 clothes.

The next 12 months, Alley returned for Season 15, “Dancing with the Stars: All Stars,” the place she reunited with Chmerkovskiy. Sadly, her second run wasn’t as profitable — they had been eradicated in seventh place.

Not each well-known face that indicators up for “Dancing with the Stars” is seeking to drop some weight. Take “The Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei, for instance. When he joined the present, he didn’t have any historical past of weight struggles, however whereas partnering with Jenna Johnson, he ended up being an extremely proficient dancer who took residence the mirror-ball trophy.

Graziadei opened up about his vital weight reduction on the “The Joe Vulpis Podcast.” “I positively received somewhat too skinny rapidly,” the fact star defined. “Initially, you’re doing steps just like the jive. We misplaced a lot weight throughout that week as a result of we had been simply kicking and flicking and doing a lot … Similar factor within the samba. It’s a must to transfer a lot in these dances … I’m shedding a number of weight, and my dimension 32 pants — I would like a 30 abruptly.” He famous that it was his fiancée, Kelsey Anderson, whom he proposed to on “The Bachelor,” who really realized how a lot weight he was shedding throughout filming.

In 2023, actor Alyson Hannigan signed on for Season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars.” Greatest identified for her roles in movies just like the “American Pie” franchise and common TV collection “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “How I Met Your Mom,” Hannigan appeared to be completely new to dancing when she was partnered with Sasha Farber. Regardless of a steep studying curve, the actor made it to finale night time and finally got here in fifth — all whereas displaying off a significantly slimmed-down physique.

Hannigan opened as much as Leisure Tonight concerning the large adjustments, revealing that she misplaced 20 kilos forward of the finale. She additionally took to Instagram to indicate off her transformation as soon as the season ended, posting side-by-side photographs alongside the caption, “The earlier than and after says all of it. I misplaced 20 kilos of each weight and emotional baggage throughout my time on @dancingwiththestars. I can’t thank @sashafarber1 sufficient for serving to me shed my insecurities and getting me to the assured and powerful place I’m at the moment.”