The Absolute Worst-Dressed Moments In Dancing With The Stars History

"Dancing with the Stars" has been a cultural phenomenon since its first season hit the airwaves in 2005. In the over two decades that followed, major celebrities like Zendaya, Kim Kardashian, and Mark Cuban competed alongside the show's cast of professional dancers for a chance at the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy (now named after the show's former judge Len Goodman, who passed away in 2023). Naturally, with so many competitors having stepped into the ballroom, "DWTS" has seen some strange outfits. While the show's co-host Julianne Hough's "DWTS" transformation had heads turning ahead of Season 34, many contestants over the years have turned heads for all the wrong reasons. 

Ballroom dancing does require a flashy costume for both visual and storytelling purposes, but some of these contestants went a little overboard in their attempt to meet the brief. From wild patterns to overly-risqué hemlines and garish color combinations, some of the looks on "DWTS" have emerged as especially over-the-top. The worst-dressed moments saw contestants manage to overshadow the dances they'd worked hard to pull off — which, for some, was a major feat. Whether you're a long-time "DWTS" fanatic or a newcomer to the show, these ensembles are sure to shock you.

CEO of Big Cat Rescue and "Tiger King" breakout star Carole Baskin competed on Season 29 of "Dancing with the Stars." While she didn't last long on the series — being eliminated after week three — her dance costumes certainly made an impression. All of her costumes reflected her love of exotic "big cats." The worst of which was the hot-pink tiger-striped dress that Baskin wore during her week one dance. The over-the-top outfit suited Baskin's eccentric personality, but not so much the performance. 

Sadie Robertson rose to reality television prominence as a teenager on A&E's "Duck Dynasty." She later went on to compete on Season 19 of "Dancing with the Stars," where she was crowned the runner-up. Robertson wore an assortment of interesting costumes during her time on the show, but the worst was an asymmetric teal dress covered in black lace adornments. While the high-low trend of the 2010s came back with the twee renaissance, the garish color combination of her dress is still firmly out of style.

Country star Wynonna Judd may not have remained on Season 16 of "Dancing with the Stars" very long, but her week-three outfit made a lasting impression (though not in a good way). Judd donned a black lace top, black corset, and flouncy pink skirt. Combined with her black leggings and sneakers, the entire look resembled a discount Halloween costume rather than a high-class dance outfit. Not every DWTS costume has to be sophisticated, but there's a thin line between fun and tacky — and Judd crossed it entirely.

Before Julianne Hough was the co-host of "Dancing with the Stars," she was among the pro dancers competing for a chance at the Mirrorball trophy. During a Season 7 dance, Hough donned a gold asymmetrical dress, which she paired with a thick chain necklace and an elaborately curled hairstyle. The disco-themed look wasn't a success; the over-the-top bling weighed down the entire ensemble, and the dress' uneven hemline wasn't flattering as a dance costume.

Xochitl Gomez may be the "Dancing with the Stars" winner whose red-carpet outfits are as iconic as a Mirrorball trophy, but some of her "DWTS" costumes were pretty lackluster. For her week one cha-cha, the Marvel actor donned a bright-purple fringe miniskirt and sculpted bra top that resembled a strange, futuristic cheerleader's uniform. Gomez made a great first impression with her powerful performance, but her disjointed costume fought for the audience's attention.

As one of the most iconic professional dancers on "Dancing with the Stars," Burke guided telenovela star William Levy to third place on the show's 14th Season. During their electrifying salsa, Burke gave it her all (as usual), but her dress distracted somewhat from the fabulous performance. The dress featured a blue-and-yellow color scheme, with a bra top and voluminous ruffled skirt. Combined with her plain mauve dance shoes, this ensemble was certainly one of Burke's worst during her "DWTS" tenure.