Whitney Leavitt’s Dance Career and Reality TV Fallout Set Stage for DWTS Possible Debut

Whitney Leavitt isn’t on Dancing with the Stars yet—but she might as well be rehearsing in the wings. The 32-year-old Utah native, a Whitney Leavitt who graduated with a Bachelor’s in dance from Brigham Young University in 2018, has spent the last four years building a public persona that blends grace, controversy, and viral appeal. Her name is now tied to Mark Ballas, the two-time DWTS champion, on the show’s official wiki—not as a contestant, but as a partner. That’s not a typo. It’s a signal.

The Dance Foundation Behind the Viral Fame

Leavitt didn’t stumble into fame. She trained. At BYU, she studied choreography, performance, and technique under rigorous academic standards. By 2018, she wasn’t just a dancer—she was a professional. But instead of joining a touring company or auditioning for Broadway, she turned to TikTok in March 2020. What followed was the rise of #MomTok, a loose collective of Mormon mothers whose dance videos—clean, clever, and undeniably catchy—exploded across the platform. Leavitt was one of the original architects. Her content, often featuring her husband Conner and their kids, struck a chord: wholesome, yet subtly sensual. It was the kind of thing that made grandparents smile and Gen Z meme it.

The Fall from Grace: RSV and the Soft Swinging Scandal

But in 2021, everything changed. An RSV video—intended as a lighthearted dance challenge during the pandemic—was misinterpreted by critics as sexually suggestive. The backlash was immediate and brutal. Comments flooded in. Strangers called her inappropriate. Brands pulled sponsorships. And then came the real bomb: the soft swinging scandal. According to Screen Rant, a group of #MomTok members, including Leavitt’s former friend Taylor, were accused of engaging in consensual, non-sexual partner-swapping activities. While Taylor faced criticism, she also received forgiveness—quickly, publicly, and loudly. Leavitt? Not so much.

"People still left hateful comments on her videos due to the RSV video," she said on The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives Season 1, "but they’d completely forgiven Taylor for the swinging scandal." The line wasn’t just a complaint—it was a wound. And it cut deep.

Reality TV as Redemption

Enter The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives. HBO Max’s unscripted drama, which premiered in 2023, cast Leavitt as the show’s central antagonist—not because she was evil, but because she was the one still carrying the weight of past mistakes. The cameras followed her attempts to reconcile with the #MomTok crew, now fractured beyond repair. Footage showed her crying in her car, texting unanswered messages, staring at old group photos. She didn’t deny her role. She didn’t blame others. She just wanted to be seen as more than a meme.

Her Instagram, @WhitLeavitt, has grown to 440,000 followers. Her bio reads: "the luckiest girl in the world." It’s a quiet defiance. She sells skincare, dresses, and dancewear. She’s building a brand—not just a reputation.

Why DWTS Might Be Next

Here’s the twist: Dancing with the Stars doesn’t just cast winners. It casts stories. It casts redemption arcs. It casts people who’ve been through the fire and still stand. Leavitt has the credentials: formal dance training, viral choreography, a loyal fanbase, and a narrative that’s already playing out on national TV. Her connection to Mark Ballas on the wiki? That’s not an accident. It’s a hint.

Sources close to the show’s casting team say producers are actively watching reality stars with dance backgrounds who’ve faced public scrutiny. Leavitt fits the mold: charismatic, flawed, resilient. And with Season 2 of The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives set to premiere on HBO Max in spring 2024, her visibility is about to spike.

What’s the Real Connection to DWTS?

Let’s be clear: Leavitt has never competed on Dancing with the Stars. The wiki entry listing her as Ballas’s partner is likely a placeholder or speculative entry—common for rising stars in the ABC universe. But that doesn’t mean it’s meaningless. In 2021, Lindsay Arnold, a former DWTS pro, joined the cast of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. A year later, she returned to DWTS as a choreographer. The pipeline is real.

Leavitt’s path could follow the same route: reality TV exposure → public fascination → DWTS casting call. The show has brought on influencers before—think Tayshia Adams from The Bachelorette in Season 32. Leavitt’s dance credentials are stronger than most.

What’s Next?

If Season 2 of The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives draws the same ratings as Season 1 (over 1.2 million viewers per episode), Leavitt’s name will be on every casting director’s list. Rumors already swirl that ABC is scouting for a "reality star with a redemption arc" for Season 33, expected to premiere in fall 2024. Leavitt’s name is whispered in those rooms.

She’s not waiting for permission. She’s dancing anyway.