Auburn grad Charity Lawson takes fourth place on âDancing with the Starsâ
Charity Lawson, the “Bachelorette” star with Alabama ties, took fourth place on Season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars.”
Lawson, 27, a graduate of Auburn University, excelled on the ABC reality series, dancing with skill alongside her pro partner, Artem Chigvintsev. Although she emerged as one of the top five contenders — and competed in Tuesday’s season finale — it wasn’t enough for Lawson to earn the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Xochitl Gomez took the title and the trophy on the three-hour episode, dancing with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy. The actress, 17, earned fame for her roles in Netflix’s “The Baby-Sitters Club” and Marvel’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
Three other couples were featured in the finals:
- Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz and pro Daniella Karagach. Mraz, a Grammy winner with eight studio albums to his credit, took second place.
- Reality star Ariana Madix of “Vanderpump Rules” and pro Pasha Pashkov. Madix took third place.
- Actress Alyson Hannigan and pro Sasha Farber. Hannigan, a fan favorite on DWTS, is famed for her work in the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” TV series and the “American Pie” movie franchise. She took fifth place.
Viewer votes were combined with judges’ scores to determine the outcome.
Lawson was one of 14 celebrities who competed on “Dancing with the Stars” during Season 32. An early front-runner, Lawson had some ups and downs as the season progressed. However, she continued to earn praise from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
Lawson distinguished herself by the precision and grace of her performances, earning mostly high scores throughout the season. She also received constructive criticism from the judges, who urged her to increase the strength of her movements and display more emotion on stage.
On the finale, Lawson performed two dances with Chigvintsev.: a tango to “Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla and a freestyle routine to “Lose My Breath” by Destiny’s Child and “Suéltate” by Sam i & Jarina De Marco featuring Anitta & BIA. Lawson’s freestyle was a showstopper, showcasing her background as a cheerleader. The routine included several high-flying stunts that had the judges on their feet and cheering. (”That was insane!” Tonioli said.)
Lawson said preparing for the finale was a bittersweet experience, as she celebrated her achievements as a dancer while realizing that she would miss the competition.
Lawson, a child and family therapist, earned two degrees at Auburn University, a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and disability in 2018, and a master’s in clinical mental health counseling in 2022. The Georgia native has expressed great affection and respect for her alma mater, and her fandom for the Auburn Tigers runs deep.
Lawson found love on Season 20 of “The Bachelorette” and is engaged to Dotun Olubeko, one of her suitors on the show. Olubeko was a constant presence in the ballroom as Lawson competed on DWTS, cheering for her alongside family and friends. Lawson was named as the Bachelorette after appearing as a contestant on Season 27 of “The Bachelor.”
As a “Dancing with the Stars” contestant, Lawson followed in the footsteps of former “Bachelorette” stars Hannah Brown and Kaitlyn Bristowe, both of whom won the Mirrorball trophy during their seasons. Brown, a Tuscaloosa native and former Miss Alabama USA, took the title in 2019 with partner Alan Bersten.
Other celebrities with Alabama ties have distinguished themselves on “Dancing with the Stars” in previous seasons. Among them are Birmingham’s Jordan Fisher, an actor and singer who took the Mirrorball trophy with his pro partner, Lindsay Arnold, on Season 25 in 2017.
Noah Galloway, an Army veteran and double amputee from Shelby County, came in third place with his partner, Sharna Burgess, in 2015. Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, a former Auburn student, placed in the top five in 2021. NFL star Terrell Owens, born and raised in Alexander City, took sixth place in 2017.
Alabama also can claim one professional dancer on the show: Fabian Sanchez, owner of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Hoover. He teamed with actress Marlee Matlin in 2008 on Season Six, finishing in seventh place.
READ: 5 Alabama celebrities who sparkled in the ballroom on ‘Dancing with the Stars’