Season 31 champion versus season 31 winner: what the difference means
On Dancing with the Stars 2022, the title dynamics were nuanced: the season champion was Charli D’Amelio, while the competition winner, as crowned during the finale in November 2022, was Kym Johnson. These designations are not interchangeable on the show; they reflect separate parts of the competition structure. This evergreen explainer clarifies who won Dancing with the Stars in 2022, how season 31 played out, and why understanding both roles matters for interpreting results.
Quick results reference for season 31 in 2022
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Season aired | Spring–Fall 2022 (season 31) | Network schedule |
| Charli D’Amelio role | Season champion (highest average score across the season) | Official show announcements |
| Kym Johnson role | Winner (earned the most viewer votes in the finale) | Show finale recap |
| Finale date | November 22, 2022 | ABC press materials |
| Professional partner for winner | Artem Chigvintsev (partner) | Season recap coverage |
Definitions: champion vs winner
On DWTS, the season champion is the dancer with the highest cumulative average score across all weeks, reflecting consistency. The winner is the finalist who receives the most viewer votes during the finale vote window. Because voting occurs after the final performances, a different outcome is possible, and in 2022 it produced this distinction.
Breaking down the 2022 season 31 finalists and results
The 2022 season featured a mix of celebrities returning and first-time competitors, with a format that emphasized both live judges scores and at-home viewer votes. The finale paired the top two couples and opened voting for a defined window before the results show. Understanding the finalist progression helps explain how Kym Johnson prevailed despite Charli D’Amelio’s season-long dominance.
Finalist progression overview
- Top finalists reached the finale after multiple rounds of elimination
- Weekly scores determined advancement but did not decide the champion
- The finale vote window was the decisive factor in the 2022 outcome
How the 2022 finale vote played out
During the finale, viewers could vote for their preferred couple in set time windows. The votes were tallied after the final performances and announced live, producing the result that Kym Johnson’s couple secured more votes than the alternative. This outcome underscored the impact of fan mobilization on the show’s format in 2022.
Implications of having both a champion and a winner
The coexistence of a season champion and a competition winner illustrates how DWTS balances judged performance with audience participation. For 2022, this meant Charli D’Amelio represented the highest average excellence across the season, while Kym Johnson captured the public vote in the decisive moment. The distinction is useful for comparing consistency with peak engagement in any given season.
What this means for future seasons
Viewers and analysts can use the champion versus winner framework to evaluate how live performance quality aligns with fan preference. In 2022, the split highlighted that high average scores do not guarantee a finale vote victory, and that strategic campaigning and narrative momentum can influence DWTS outcomes. The 2022 result remains a reference point for understanding how the show balances sport-like scoring with entertainment voting.