When Dancing With The Stars season 31 announced its stellar lineup of contestants, one name stood out among the rest: Selma Blair. The actress is best known for her roles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, appearing in films like Cruel Intentions, The Sweetest Thing, and Legally Blonde. Who knew she would be making her triumphant return to the limelight to win the Mirror Ball Trophy? With so many names attached to this season, such as Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino, The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa Giudice, RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Shangela, and TikToker Charli D’Amelio, Selma was the one contestant everyone was rooting for.
Selma, who’s groundbreaking on DWTS, has been very open with her multiple sclerosis diagnosis since 2018 and expanded on that when she released her documentary on Discovery+ in 2021 entitled Introducing, Selma Blair, in which she takes viewers with her as she receives treatments for her disease. Her ability to smile through the pain and push forward is what has made her a force to be reckoned with, as she shows no signs of letting her diagnosis control her. However, after five episodes, the dancing took a toll on her limbs, and she was forced to withdraw from DWTS; however, that does not mean she lost.
The End On Dancing With The Stars Is Just the Beginning for Selma Blair
Even though she was unable to dance for the coming weeks, Selma already made an impact on DWTS viewers with the little time she had on the show. She has become an advocate for people with hidden disabilities, which is why her agreeing to compete on DWTS is so monumental for individuals living with MS. Considering her doctors urged her to compete as it would be good for her muscle memory and to gain strength back in her limbs, Selma jumped at the opportunity, knowing that it would be beneficial in the long run. Not only would it be good for her health, but it would allow people living with the disease to know that the diagnosis is not the end for them.
DWTS’s Selma Blair’s A Beacon Of Hope For The MS Community
As Selma said her goodbyes in her practice clip before her final dance, viewers were upset but knew it was the best decision for her. Selma, who shared a gratitude message after DWTS, didn’t have the easiest time on the show, as she had fainting spells during practice and danced blindfolded at one point, yet she never stopped persevering. She was met with an outpouring of love, a standing ovation, and a perfect 40 out of 40 score from the judges, proving to the world that just because she has a disease, it does not mean she is powerless.
In Selma Blair’s memoir Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up via Goodreads, she states, “Every person on this earth needs just one person who sees them and roots for them. Deeply, truly. One person. It’s what we all need to get through. The more, the merrier but let’s start with one.” For many people across the country, when Selma, who inspired DWTS fans, accepted the opportunity to compete, she was dancing for people living with the same illness. Her heart is full of love, gratitude, and hope, plus her ability to strive and grow when facing obstacles makes her the true winner of Dancing with the Stars season 31.
Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on Disney+.
