Hannah Brown looked completely dumbfounded when she and Alan Bersten were announced as the winners of “Dancing with the Stars” — and that’s not because she didn’t think they could win, but she thought they had finished in second place.
“I’m in complete shock. When they said our names, I thought it was for the runners-up, so I don’t think I even know how to process how I feel right now,” Brown told “Entertainment Tonight” (watch below).
Brown and Bersten beat out Kel Mitchell and Witney Carson for the Mirrorball, while Ally Brooke and Sasha Farber finished in third, and Lauren Alaina and Gleb Savchenko came in fourth. The former Bachelorette was the only contestant this season to never fall into the bottom two.
“I’m super thankful and filled with gratitude for the experience. Even the hard times, but the fans just stuck it out with us,” she said. “I cried a lot earlier today, but I just felt a sense of peace come over me, and it didn’t really matter because I knew that I gave it my all. … I’ll probably cry later when it actually sinks in.”
“Oh, I cried. I cried like a baby,” Bersten laughed. “I can’t help but smile! I don’t even know what happened, I blacked out.”
SEE ‘Dancing with the Stars’ recap: Hannah Brown wins the Mirrorball
Brown didn’t have the easiest road to victory, falling into a self-described “slump” and receiving harsh critiques from the judges, culminating in an awkward confrontation with Carrie Ann Inaba in rehearsal last week that the two hashed out in the episode. Now, the former beauty queen says she’s grateful Inaba pushed her. “She knew I had more in me and I think that I really showed that tonight,” she explained.
Brown also gave a shout-out to all of Bachelor Nation for following her along for almost an entire year. “I am so thankful for the fans that have been along on this journey. It’s been crazy, it’s been heartbreaking, it’s been exciting, it’s been adventurous, but it’s all been worth it. I just thank you so much for supporting me, Bachelor Nation, for coming on this journey with me to ‘Dancing with the Stars,'” she gushed.
“All the fans that just found me great and supported me on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ too. I’m just so thankful, and let’s just keep on the up and up, OK? I think I learned that I can be confident and I could feel so empowered on this journey. I sometimes don’t understand why this has happened to me, but the fans and the people who have loved me around this whole experience have made me feel like I do deserve it. Thank you guys. I love you all!”
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