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DWTS' Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas React to Earning First 10s of Season 34

After Dancing With the Stars' Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas took home the first 10s of season 34, the duo reflected on the major achievement during an exclusive E! News interview.

By Brahmjot Kaur Oct 22, 2025 1:53 PM
| Updated Oct 22, 2025 3:52 PM
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Watch: 'DWTS' Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas React to Earning First 10s of Season 34

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas are rejoicifying in their Dancing With the Stars win.

After all, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and dance pro couldn't help but gush over scoring the first 10s of season 34 with their dance to "Popular" for the show's Wicked-themed night.

"It felt great—amazing feelings, super grateful, but also, just very proud of Whitney 'cause it's a lot," Mark exclusively told E! News after their week six performance on Oct. 21. "It's a lot in that dance and there are a lot of things to think about."

The dancer, however, emphasized, "10s or not, it felt very good at the end. I was proud."

Meanwhile, Whitney echoed her partner's feelings, simply adding, "Same."

The reality star ultimately dazzled the judges, earning 39 points on the leaderboard, three 10s and a nine from the judges. (The pair tied for first with Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa.)

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It was especially exciting for Whitney to bring her favorite Wicked character to life at Shiz University: Glinda.

"I'm going to be honest with you, I feel like it wasn't that hard to go into character," she teased. "It just felt like me, so it was easy to just put on a show for it."

For the 32-year-old, defying gravity with the quickstep routine was much easier thanks to the foxtrot she and Mark performed to Hamilton's "The Room Where It Happens" for Disney Night in week four.

"There are a lot of similarities with the quickstep, so it felt a little familiar," she reflected. "That's what I was most excited about, like technically, there were some things I was at least familiar with."

Disney/Eric McCandless

Whitney and Mark weren't the only team to leave the ballroom with their first 10. Indeed, Jordan and Ezra, who performed the rumba to "For Good," also scored three 10s and a nine. Luckily, it didn't take any magical spells for Ezra to earn a long-awaited achievement with their moves.

"I've never had a 10 before on the show in my life," the 24-year-old told E!. "That's always been the absolute dream of mine. So, just the fact that I get to experience it with someone I absolutely love and adore just makes it that much more special."

Meanwhile, Jordan reflected on how much she and Ezra have grown as partners on the dancefloor.

Disney/Eric McCandless

"It's been a remarkable experience," the 24-year-old explained. "Knowing that we're halfway done and we just got our first 10s of the season means everything. It means everybody is seeing the progress and the progression that we're trying to give."

"In the ballroom, all we do is leave everything on the floor," she continued. "That's how I feel when I go into an Olympic Games. I just leave everything on the floor and whatever happens, happens." 

As fans wait for the stars to enter the ballroom for the Halloween-themed night next week, keep reading to see who is competing for the mirrorball trophy in season 34.

—Reporting by Carly Shihadeh

Baron Davis

Partnered with Britt Stewart

Jennifer Affleck 

Partnered with Jan Ravnik

Alix Earle 

Partnered with Valentin Chmerkovski

Dylan Efron

Partnered with Daniella Karagach 

Corey Feldman

Partnered with Jenna Johnson

Elaine Hendrix 

Partnered with Alan Bersten

Robert Irwin 

Partnered with Witney Carson

Jordan Chiles 

Partnered with Ezra Sosa

Scott Hoying 

Partnered with Rylee Arnold

Whitney Leavitt

Partnered with Mark Ballas

Hilaria Baldwin

Partnered with Gleb Savchenko 

Andy Richter

Partnered with Emma Slater

Danielle Fishel

Partnered with Pasha Pashkov 

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