Olympians Stephen Nedoroscik and Ilona Maher are through to the finals of Dancing With The Stars. But the toughest part is far from over. For them, clinching the mirrorball trophy will hardly be a walk in the park considering the tall competition that stands ahead. In fact, one of the fiercest challengers for these sports stars is going to be a young gun who is a known face on celluloid— Chandler Kinney, aka Tabby Haworthe from the show Pretty Little Liars.

Among the five finalist couples of the show, Chandler Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong are undoubtedly strong contenders for the title. Why, you ask? Their final dance sequence promises to be nothing short of dreamlike, beginning with a jive set to the ‘APT’ duet, followed by a freestyle performance to a mashup of “Hellzapoppin” by Eyal Vilner Big Band and “Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield. But for now, let’s dive deeper into the star in contention.

All about Chandler Kinney’s journey leading up to the DWTS finale

Chandler Kinney is an American actress and singer, who debuted on season 33 of Dancing With The Stars. But neither dance nor the glitz and glam of the camera are new to this youngling, who holds an extensive resume on-screen. Acting since she was 9, Kinney is best known for her work with Disney, say in their musical film Zombies or Girl Meets World and K.C. Undercover.

Naturally, on DWTS, she had a soft corner for her Disney Night performance, the Paso Double, which probably gave her the butterflies. “I think it’s such a rare opportunity that you get to a, be on Dancing with the Stars in any form, but b, to be able to reprise a character and revamp her to introduce to a new medium and then, also dance to a song that you sang from a movie that you starred in. It felt like the stars aligned and it was just a really cool synergy moment…”

However, if you ask her, the DWTS experience as a whole was nothing she’s experienced ever before. As an actor, she’s accustomed to getting multiple chances to do what needs to be done. But on the show, she says, “If you stumble, if you fumble, there’s no calling cut.” But the satisfaction that comes after the performance is sky-high. Thus, she agrees, “I think the thrill of it is there’s a specific magic to it that can’t be replicated. It is what it is, and that’s exciting and also terrifying.”

Nonetheless, she’s been owning it from the start. She topped the leaderboard during the first week with 23 points, thereby making an impactful entry into the show. And eventually, she etched history with pro partner Brandon. How you ask? Well, the DWTS duo Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong have officially become the first black couple in the history of the show to reach the finals. Whether she wins or not, she’s surely a force to be reckoned with for her competitors, including Ilona Maher. Also, here’s a little something about her personal life and career.

Who are Chandler Kinney’s Parents? Learn all about the singer’s family

Chandler Kinney grew up very close to her parents. She even accredits them for identifying little Kinney’s knack for dancing at three and enrolling her in a dance academy. However, growing up, her fairytale endured an expected twist when her parents filed for a divorce when the actress was barely a teenager. Still, mature beyond her years, she took it in very well and did not let distance creep in.

Kinney is particularly close to her mother Taryn, who raised her and her sons as a single mom after separating from her husband. In fact, Kinney agrees that her mother has played a key role in her success. Thus, she dedicated one of her DWTS performances to her mother saying, “This is a celebration of my mom’s unconditional love for me. My goal was to emulate the warmth, tenderness, and light she radiates every day.” The two even shared an emotional moment backstage.

To date, Chandler Kinney agrees, “I most look up to my mom. She is such a strong, intelligent woman and she inspires me to work harder and be better every single day.” And not just her. The young actress agrees that the whole family has played a major role in keeping her sane on her craziest days. Thus, she’s truly grateful for them, who helped her stay true to herself through all the ups and downs. Now, last but not least, here’s a look at all the work Kinney has done in the industry.

The DWTS finalist’s career highlights and major achievements

Apart from her roles with Disney, Chandler Kinney is best known for her work in FOX’s Lethal Weapon, Amazon’s Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum, and The Haunted Hathaways for Nickelodeon. Moreover, In terms of achievements, she’s been nominated for 3 awards across 2 categories in her career.

In 2016, she was nominated for Best Recurring Young Actress for her role in Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street. This was followed by 2 nominations in 2022, at the Just Jared Jr Fan Awards. One for for Favorite Young Actress, given her role in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, and the other was for Favorite TV Ensemble Cast for the same show.

Thus, it’s safe to say that Chandler Kinney is neither short of talent nor the motivation to win the DWTS finals. But can she perform better than Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik, the sports favorites? Share your thoughts below!