Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas brought their A-game to the dance floor, week after week. Despite consistently earning top scores on Dancing With the Stars, the dynamic duo was unexpectedly eliminated during the November 18 semifinals, becoming the last couple to be voted off before the season's grand finale—a fate they had anticipated.
As Mark shared with Will Marfuggi of E! News after filming, "We knew it, we felt it. I think we just had a gut feeling." Whitney echoed the sentiment, saying, "We had a strong sense that it would be us." Yet, despite their preparedness, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star was still mourning her spot in the competition.
"It's sad, it feels like a breakup," she confessed. "You build long-lasting friendships here with production, crew—and obviously with Mark. You spend so much time with these people every day that it does feel like a separation. It's like I'm sad, but I'm also leaving with a grateful heart for having experienced this."
Moreover, the 32-year-old wouldn't change a thing about her journey on the show. "I wanted to give it my all every single dance," she said. "There are some things out of your control, but I'm leaving knowing that I gave it my all."
After their elimination was announced during the episode—confirming the progression of couples Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, as well as Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy to the finals—Whitney expressed her profound gratitude for her time on the competition series. "I already feel like a winner," she declared onstage. "This show has meant the absolute world to me. It's changed my life, and I'll forever be grateful for this experience."
Mark, who returned to the ballroom after a few years away for season 34, added, "I had the best time. I love this show." And Whitney isn't the only eliminated contestant who feels transformed by their time on the series. Andy Richter, who was eliminated with partner Emma Slater one week earlier, also spoke of the impact Dancing With the Stars had on him. "It's changed my life," Andy said after his elimination, adding of Emma, "I'm a different person because of this show and because of this woman right here. None of this would have happened without her. She knew how to use me."
