Just about everything onDancing with the Stars(DWTS) seems glamorous.
But what happens when the cameras stop rolling and it is time to go back to real life?
The winners of the hit show can’t sit around basking in their mirror trophy glory forever.
Here are just a few of the untold truths of winningDancing with the Stars.
You may just go back to your old job
Here’s an anticlimactic secret for you.
Many of the winners just go back to what they were doing before the show.
Actress Kelly Monaco won the first season ofDancing with the Starsand immediately went back to her role onGeneral Hospital.
During the fifth season of the show, INDY 500 winner Helio Castroneves won the title.
He also went back to his day job and is still racing cars and living in Florida.
“I don’t think I would be a good actor!
“But if I had the chance, I would have to prepare myself well.
AfterDancing With the Stars, I would never say never!”
In fact, Castroneves believed that being onDWTSactually made him a better driver when he returned to the sport.
“I think it was a win-win situation,” he toldUSA Today.
“The Indy car series as a group ended up earning a lot of new fans.
I believe it also improves (you personally).
“He’s very macho,” Burke-Charvetadmitted toThe Atlantic.
“And he’s not the most cooperative guy.”
Another reality show lover is Melissa Rycroft.
She went from appearing onThe BachelortoDancing with the Starsto starring inCMT’s Melissa and Tye: A New Reality.
Well it’s definitely not a bad deal for them.
Agreeing to appear in the season premiere earns you a cool$125,000 right from the start.
After the second week, the contestants are essentially on a sliding pay scale depending how well they do.
The crazy thing is that the winners don’t get a bonus.
They will make the same amount of money as the runners up.
They do get to take home bragging rights and a mirror ball trophy though.
Winning takes serious commitment
Part of the fun of watchingDWTSis seeing the contestants' transformations.
They practice all day, and that dedication shows.
When winner and pro football player Rashad Jennings joined the show, he truly committed to being the best.
“It’s a lot of work.
“We put in five hours, five to six hours on average a day.
And it was every day.
Didn’t miss one rehearsal, didn’t leave early.
We were fighting for more (rehearsal time).
When they told us we had 150 more hours or so than everyone else we were like ‘what?’
because we were begging for more.”
This came as a shock for many at the show.
“It’s like your brother or your sister leaving,” professional dancer and contestant Cheryl BurketoldE News.
“It was hard for me to take it all in.
It still is, a little bit.”
“I think once a partner always a partner.”
Actress, singer, andDWTSfan favorite Amber Riley toldPeoplethat being on the show completely transformed her body and mind.
“I’m a lot stronger,” she said.
“I have muscles and aches in places I didn’t know existed.
My clothes definitely fit differently.
I feel better as a person.
My energy is better.”
“I’m in the best shape of my life,” he toldPeople.
So it’s no surprise that he’s ready to get back to football.
Model Nyle DiMarco wonseason 22ofDancing with the Starsand was the first deaf contestant to win.
“When I signed up forDancing with the StarsI was nervous,” DiMarcotoldTIME.
I didn’t want to screw it up.”
“I surprise myself every day,” he said.
“Sometimes I pick up the moves so quickly, a lot faster than I thought I would.
Sometimes I have to back up and say to myself, ‘am I doing this wrong?'”
Athletes may have an edge
WinningDancing with the Starsclearly requires discipline.
Sound like anyone else?DWTScontestants sound a lot like professional athletes.
Perhaps that is why so many athletes go on to win the competition.
The judges seem to love them too.
When Laurie Hernandez competed, judge Bruno Tonioli couldn’t help but gush.
“My darling, you really are a spectacular dancer,” hesaid on the show.
“Right on the money, honey!”
WinningDWTSmay be just as thrilling as competing in their sports as well.
“It felt amazing,” Hernandeztold the audience onGood Morning America.
“I had that same joy as I had at the Olympics.
It was such an accomplishing moment.
It was exciting.”
“We’ve got a mirror-ball!
“When you want something for so long, it’s just unbelievable when you finally get it.
And then I got the phone call, and then four months later I got a mirror-ball!”
Another fan favorite who had no dancing background was Bindi Irwin.
Her energy was contagious, and the judges could not get enough of her.
“Thank you so much.”
It seems that Irwin thought the experience was just as exciting.
“This has been such a special experience.
I can’t believe this has happened,” Irwin toldPeople.
Winner and reality star Melissa Rycroft toldShapethat she likes to keep her meals light and fresh.
She eats the same meal of Greek yogurt with blueberries every morning.
She also keeps lunch light with a salad.
DWTSprofessional dancer, winner, and judgeJulianne Houghis also careful to eat a healthy meal before dancing.
They literally cannot win alone, and so community is everything for them.
When asked how his life has changed since winning the show, professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy was humble.
“It hasn’t really changed that much.
“The victory itself was a long time in the making.”
The contestants are also supported by the amazing fans who vote for them.
“I don’t necessarily feel like, I won, and everybody else lost.
It feels like our efforts were validated with the Mirrorball trophy and it feels amazing,” shared Chmerkovskiy.
“I’d much rather… the trophy without people’s support does not really mean much.
The people’s support without the trophy leaves you kind of empty sometimes as well.
