Colton Underwood, the former Bachelor star and current reality TV fixture, has revealed that he would love to compete on Dancing With the Stars — and specifically with a male partner. In recent interviews, Underwood said that if he ever joins the ballroom competition, he hopes to be paired with fan-favorite pro Mark Ballas. The move would mark a groundbreaking moment for the ABC series, which has only featured one same-sex pairing in its history.
Underwood, who came out as gay in 2021, shared that he’d prefer to have a partner who is a professional dancer he already admires. “I think Mark Ballas would be an amazing partner,” he told TV Insider. Ballas, known for his show-stopping choreography, last competed in 2022 when he and Charli D’Amelio won the mirrorball trophy.
Breaking Ground on the Dance Floor
Out Magazine noted that Underwood’s interest highlights the ongoing push for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream reality competitions. JoJo Siwa made history in 2021 when she danced with Jenna Johnson as the first same-sex duo on DWTS. Underwood hopes to follow that trailblazing moment and take it even further by pairing with a male pro for an all-male partnership.
He’s not shy about why this would matter: “It would show a lot of people that two men can dance together and still entertain,” Underwood explained. “And honestly, I think it would be really fun.”
From The Bachelor to The Ballroom
Underwood first rose to fame as a contestant on The Bachelorette before becoming the lead on The Bachelor in 2019. His journey later shifted when he came out as gay, a story documented in the Netflix series Coming Out Colton. He has since appeared on reality shows like The Traitors, but according to Us Weekly, Dancing With the Stars has remained on his bucket list.
Though ABC hasn’t announced casting for the next season, Underwood’s open campaign to join the show — and his request for a same-sex partner — has stirred conversation among fans. Many see it as an opportunity for the franchise to continue its slow but steady evolution in embracing diverse contestants and partnerships.
What’s Next for Colton Underwood?
While nothing is confirmed for the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars, Underwood’s comments put the ball in ABC’s court. If producers were to cast him and agree to his request for Mark Ballas, it could deliver both ratings buzz and a landmark cultural moment. For now, fans will have to wait and see whether his dream pairing ever makes it to the ballroom floor.
Whether or not it happens, Colton Underwood’s candid wish to dance alongside Mark Ballas has already reignited conversations around representation, progress, and the future of Dancing With the Stars.
Dancing With the Stars, Colton Underwood would certainly be a partnership to watch if ABC decides to make it happen.
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