‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 1 Celebrities and Professional Dancers: Where Are They Now?

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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 1 Celebrities and Professional Dancers: Where Are They Now?

Ballroom dance was brought to our TV screen when Dancing With the Stars season 1 kicked off in 2005. Launched as the U.S. version of the U.K. series Strictly Come Dancing, DWTS saw three people sitting behind the judges table: Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman — and Inaba and Tonioli have remained in their posts throughout the entire series. (Goodman died in 2023 after a battle with prostate cancer.) After six episodes, General Hospital’s Kelly Monaco and pro Alec Mazo were crowned the first-ever champions of the Mirrorball Trophy. Actor John O’Hurley and pro Charlotte Jørgensen placed second. “The first season was only six episodes. It was a test run, and I was like, ‘I’m not going to tell anyone I’m doing it and hopefully I get voted off first and no one will ever see it,’” Monaco recalled to Entertainment Weekly in July 2025. “After the first episode, I was horrified by the comments from the judges, and I got the lowest score, I think, ever in the history of Dancing With the Stars. So, I was like, ‘OK, it’s on. We’re going in and we’re doing this.’ Then I took it seriously, and I was all in at that point.” Scroll down to see where the season 1 celebrities and pros are now:

Credit: Getty Images (3)

'Dancing With the Stars' Season 1 Celebrities and Professional Dancers: Where Are They Now?

Ballroom dance was brought to our TV screen when Dancing With the Stars season 1 kicked off in 2005. Launched as the U.S. version of the U.K. series Strictly Come Dancing, DWTS saw three people sitting behind the judges table: Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman — and Inaba and Tonioli have remained in their posts throughout the entire series. (Goodman died in 2023 after a battle with prostate cancer.) After six episodes, General Hospital’s Kelly Monaco and pro Alec Mazo were crowned the first-ever champions of the Mirrorball Trophy. Actor John O’Hurley and pro Charlotte Jørgensen placed second. “The first season was only six episodes. It was a test run, and I was like, ‘I’m not going to tell anyone I’m doing it and hopefully I get voted off first and no one will ever see it,’” Monaco recalled to Entertainment Weekly in July 2025. “After the first episode, I was horrified by the comments from the judges, and I got the lowest score, I think, ever in the history of Dancing With the Stars. So, I was like, ‘OK, it’s on. We’re going in and we’re doing this.’ Then I took it seriously, and I was all in at that point.” Scroll down to see where the season 1 celebrities and pros are now:

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Trista Sutter: Celebrity

After Trista Sutter — who was partnered with Louis van Amstel on season 1 — found love on season 1 of The Bachelorette with now-husband Ryan Sutter, the pair welcomed son Max and daughter Blakesley in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Trista returned to reality TV when she competed on season 3 of Special Forces.

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Louis van Amstel: Pro

Louis Van Amstel, who paired up with Trista Sutter on season 1, left the show after season 21 and went on to create LaBlast Fitness. He married Joshua Lancaster in 2017 and the couple adopted son Daniel two years later. Van Amstel returned to DWTS for season 31 with partner Cheryl Ladd.

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Evander Holyfield: Celebrity

After trying his hand at ballroom with partner Edyta Śliwińska, Evander Holyfield continued his professional boxing career until his retirement in 2014. Holyfield, who had a career record of 44 wins, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.

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Edyta Sliwinksa: Pro

Edyta Śliwińska, who was paired with Evander Holyfield, departed from the show after season 22. She exchanged vows with former pro Alec Mazo in 2007 and the pair welcomed son Michael and daughter Leia in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

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Rachel Hunter: Celebrity

Rachel Hunter was partnered with Jonathan Roberts on season 1 of DWTS. After being a contestant on 2008’s Celebrity Circus and being a judge for New Zealand's Got Talent from 2012 to 2013, Hunter starred on her own series — Rachel Hunter's Tour of Beauty — in 2015.

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Jonathan Roberts: Pro

Jonathan Roberts, who was paired with Rachel Hunter on season 1, left the show after season 9. He was married to former pro Anna Trebunskaya for nine years, until the pair announced their split in 2012.

“We have enjoyed more than a decade of a very loving, loyal and happy relationship, but after much soul searching, we have decided to end our marriage,” Roberts and Trrebunskaya shared in a statement with Us at the time. “We are committed to staying friends and dance partners. We have immense respect for each other as people and performers.”

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Joey McIntyre: Celebrity

Joey McIntyre was paired with Ashly DelGrosso on season 1, earning third place. After New Kids on the Block split in 1994, the band — which includes McIntyre, brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood reunited in 2008. He’s since appeared in 2013’s The Heat and 2024’s Jingle Bell Love. McIntyre married Barrett Williams in 2003 and the pair share three children.

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Ashly DelGrosso: Pro

Ashly DelGrosso, who received third place on season 1 with Joey McIntyre, remained on the series until season 10. She tied the knot with DWTS producer Mike Costa in 2006 and the couple share five children.

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John O’Hurley: Celebrity

Seinfeld actor John O’Hurley, who was paired with Charlotte Jørgensen on season 1 and placed second, went on to be the host of Family Feud in 2006. He remained on the show for four years until he left and was replaced by Steve Harvey. O’Hurley has since lended his voice in Phineas and Ferb and made appearances on All My Children. He tied the knot in 2004 with Lisa Mesloh, with whom he shares son William.

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Charlotte Jorgensen: Pro

Charlotte Jørgensen left the DWTS ballroom after season 1, where she placed second with John O’Hurley. She is a board member for Dance 4 Health.

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Kelly Monaco: Celebrity

After winning the first season with Alec Mazo, Kelly Monaco continued to star on General Hospital. The actress returned to the ballroom for DWTS’ season 15 all-stars season, where she placed third with partner Val Chmerkovskiy.

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Alec Mazo: Pro

Following his season 1 win with Kelly Monaco, Alec Mazo remained on the series until season 9 and went on to earn his MBA from Stanford University. Mazo is married to Śliwińska, with whom he shares two children.