Tuesday, J.R. Martinez and his partner Karina Smirnoff held up the crystal ball trophy as the winners of the 13th season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.
At the start of the competition, Martinez said was glad to be on DWTS because it gave him an “unbelieveable” platform to be a source of inspiration to fellow veterans, people with disfigurements, and other viewers. He said he hoped to express his belief that life is precious and “positivity is powerful.”
On the season finale, three couples remained: Ricki Lake/Derek Hough, Rob Kardashian/Cheryl Burke, and Martinez/Smirnoff. Though Lake and Martinez had been the long-standing favorites, judges as well as viewers saw a great deal of improvement in Kardashian’s dancing.
And while everyone assumed the final two would be Lake and Martinez, the former talk show host was sent home with the third place title, leaving Martinez and Kardashian to battle for the title.
Throughout the season, J.R. went from inspirational to just plain impressive. Showing everyone that you are your great obstacle.
Before joining DWTS, he played combat veteran Brot Monroe on ABC’s All My Children. His character on the soap-opera loosely mirrored his real life.
