Colton Underwood Eyes “Dancing With the Stars”—Hoping for Same-Sex Partner

Colton Underwood, best known for his time as The Bachelor and for coming out as gay in 2021, has set his sights on a new challenge: Dancing With the Stars. In a recent interview with US Weekly, Underwood revealed both excitement and nerves about the possibility of joining the beloved ABC dance competition, a show that has increasingly opened its stage to LGBTQ+ contestants and same-sex dance pairings in recent seasons .

Underwood, who has previously starred on The Bachelor, The Traitors, and Coming Out Colton, spoke candidly about his reality TV journey and the personal growth that has accompanied his public coming out. When asked which reality show would most terrify him, he didn’t hesitate: “Dancing With the Stars,” he said, citing the vulnerability and skill required to compete .

Underwood’s interest in Dancing With the Stars is more than just a personal challenge; it is also inspired by his recent experience filming Season 4 of The Traitors. There, he developed a strong friendship with professional dancer Mark Ballas, who is himself a multi-season veteran of Dancing With the Stars. The two have reportedly discussed the possibility of collaborating on the dance competition, with Underwood expressing admiration for Ballas’s talent and mentorship .

“My greatest takeaway from The Traitors was my friendship with Mark Ballas,” Underwood told Entertainment Weekly. “We’re already trying to find ways to work together again” .

Colton Underwood’s hope to compete with a same-sex partner is not just personally significant—it also represents a broader shift in the television landscape. Dancing With the Stars first introduced same-sex dance pairings in 2021, when JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson made history as the first all-female duo to compete on the show. That season was hailed as a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream entertainment .

If Underwood were to partner with a male professional like Mark Ballas, it would mark another notable step for visibility and inclusion. “I would love to be paired with a man,” Underwood said in the interview, emphasizing the importance of authentic LGBTQ+ storytelling in reality TV .

Underwood’s public journey, from professional athlete to Bachelor lead to out gay man, has made him a visible figure for LGBTQ+ viewers navigating their own paths. His willingness to discuss his fears and ambitions—especially around participating as his authentic self on another high-profile reality show—highlights the ongoing evolution of television’s approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion .

ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, a fixture of American television since 2005, has in recent years made deliberate moves toward greater representation. While same-sex pairings are still relatively rare, the positive reception to previous LGBTQ+ contestants suggests audiences are eager for more diverse stories and partnerships .

For Underwood, joining the competition would not only test his dance skills, but also provide a platform to showcase same-sex partnership in a celebratory, mainstream context. It’s a step he hopes will inspire viewers—and perhaps even the next generation of LGBTQ+ reality stars.

As Underwood awaits confirmation about whether he’ll get the chance to swap roses for dancing shoes, his openness about his hopes and anxieties continues to foster important conversations about LGBTQ+ visibility, inclusion, and the power of authenticity in entertainment .