Karen Carney’s journey has ended exactly where few predicted it would — with the Glitterball Trophy raised high above her head.
After weeks of steadily defying expectations, the former England Lioness was crowned the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 on Saturday night, completing one of the most powerful comeback stories the show has seen in years.
Once written off as a long shot, Karen Carney, 38, stunned audiences and judges alike as she transformed from early underdog into the season’s most emotionally backed contestant. Dancing alongside professional partner Carlos Gu, Karen beat fellow finalists George Stark and Amber Davies to lift the Glitterball.
As she accepted the trophy, Karen admitted she never imagined standing in that moment. She told viewers she came into the competition simply wanting to rebuild her confidence, not to win — and described the journey as life-changing.
Behind the triumph lies a story far bigger than dance scores.
Throughout the series, Karen opened up about living with Scheuermann’s disease, a spinal condition she has carried since childhood. During one of the most emotional weeks of the competition, she spoke about how the condition affected both her football career and her posture on the dancefloor, explaining she knew she would never be technically perfect but promised to give everything she had.
Her partner Carlos revealed during the live show that Karen repeatedly pushed herself in training, despite knowing her body had limits. He recalled her saying she wanted to improve, even if only a little — a mindset that became the defining theme of her Strictly run.
Karen also reflected on darker chapters from her past, including periods when injury and pressure left her struggling mentally earlier in her career. She has credited friends, teammates and returning to England as key moments that helped her regain stability and purpose.
After retiring from football in 2019, Karen moved into punditry — only to face intense sexist abuse online. She later admitted that the negativity shattered her self-belief and led her to step away from social media entirely. Speaking during Strictly interviews, Karen said the show gave her the chance to feel confident again in front of the public.
That honesty struck a chord with viewers.
By the final, Karen had become the bookies’ favourite, with Ladbrokes backing her to win — and the public delivered. Since joining the show, she has gained more than 71,000 Instagram followers, with fans praising her resilience and authenticity.
As the confetti fell and Karen clutched the Glitterball, many watching felt the victory represented more than a dance competition win. It marked the moment a woman who had been underestimated, criticised and pushed to the margins finally received the celebration she deserved.
