“Winning Would’ve Held Me Back”: DWTS Runner-Up Says Finishing Second Was a Blessing in Disguise

Winning isn’t everything, and in the case of one “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up, he’s actually glad he didn’t take home the Mirrorball Trophy. Find out why “DWTS” season 27 contestant Milo Manheim is fine with second place.

Milo Manheim Explains Why He’s Glad He Didn’t Win ‘DWTS’

Manheim and his “DWTS” season 27 dance pro partner Witney Carson came in second, but he wasn’t too torn up about losing.

During a July 2025 appearance on “The Zach Sang Show,” Manheim was asked if he’s “haunted” by the loss. “To be honest, I feel like getting second place worked out in my favor because I’m reminded to this day that I was robbed,” he shared.

The “Zombie” star continued, “People come up all the time now and they’re just like, ‘You killed ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ And I don’t think I would be getting that validation had I won.”

Manheim added, “So it’s really nice.”

He also addressed how the “DWTS” voting system changed after his loss to Bobby Bones, who scored lower than Manheim.

“I will say that I was grateful that they changed the voting system after that year,” the actor noted. “So the fact that I was able to make them look at the system a little bit, that’s the best thing I could have possibly hoped for.”

Is There a ‘Zombies’ Curse on ‘DWTS’?

 

 

 

 

 

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Manheim has discussed his “Zombies” co-star Chandler Kinney coming in third place during “DWTS” season 33.

“I wasn’t even worried for Chandler. I was like, ‘All right, she’s going to avenge me.’ And then, same thing happened to her. I mean, I don’t want to say rigged ’cause it’s not rigged. I’m not saying that.”

He added, “But I will say, I don’t know, maybe it’s just bias, but Chandler killed that thing and we just know how amazing she is at dancing.”

In a July 2025 interview with Us Weekly, Manheim gave his take on a possible curse. “You know the ‘Zombies’ curse on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is we’re always going to be runner-up,” he said.

As for the “Zombies” co-stars he would love to see take a spin on “DWTS,” the actor shared, “I would either send Meg [Donnelly] if she wanted to do it because [she] would redeem it for all of us and go win, or I would love to see Trevor [Tordjman]. Not even because he’s a good dancer — because he is a fantastic dancer — but because of who he is. I think he would just kill.”