Ilona Maher is considered the real champion of “Dancing with the Stars” — at least by her loyal fans.

The rugby player, who gained a massive social media following during the show’s 33rd season, and her partner Alan Bersten ended up as the runners-up in Tuesday’s finale. They were bested by Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, who took home the prestigious Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy.

Maher’s fans expressed their disappointment over her second-place finish, yet many took the time to celebrate her impressive journey throughout the season.

“Ilona Maher truly represented this season, in my opinion,” one user on X noted. “She kept getting better, showed her vulnerability, and gained tremendous confidence. She inspired countless young girls and captured many hearts. I wish she’d won, but she deserves all the accolades.”

“Watching a woman on television proudly affirming her self-worth. Thank you, Ilona,” another user commented.

Given her strong online following, one observer asked, “If this is about popularity, how did Joey win over Ilona???“

However, for many, finishing second was still a notable achievement worth celebrating.

“Ilona finishing in second is fantastic!” a supporter said on Reddit. “She perfectly embodies what this show represents — showcasing a celebrity who starts with no dance experience and progresses.”

Some fans believed that Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong, who finished third, should have been the runners-up instead.

“I’m a fan of Ilona, but I was rooting for Chandler to win,” one Reddit user shared, to which another replied, “I almost regret my votes for Ilona (though I still adore her) because Chandler is clearly the superior dancer.”

“Joey absolutely did not deserve to win over either Chandler or ILONA,” one fan remarked on X, while another said, “I honestly think Joey should have done the noble thing and forfeited the trophy to ILONA.”

Despite the criticism, Maher’s supporters defended her achievement.

“Claiming Ilona shouldn’t have come in second: Ilona has been incredible, continually improving, heeding the judges’ feedback, and coming back stronger every time. She entered with NO dance experience. SHE embodies the essence of this show! SHE EARNED that second place,” a post on X declared.

The athlete has gained millions of followers on social media thanks to her humorous posts, with one fan dubbing her the “queen of memes” for the season.

In one memorable episode, when judge Carrie Ann Inaba asked Maher about her emotional state, she replied, “I’ve been better, Carrie Ann.” Fans also enjoyed a moment during the finale when Maher humorously pretended to faint right before the announcement of the winners.

Ultimately, could Maher not winning the Mirrorball trophy turn out to be a blessing in disguise? “Ilona not winning may actually be beneficial for her,” a Reddit user suggested. “She would face a lot of backlash from both Joey and Chandler’s fans! I doubt it would be worth it.”

After the show, Maher told Extra that she learned this season that there’s always room for growth. “I faced some difficult episodes this season, but I always felt like I came back stronger, and I’m really proud of myself, honestly,” she mentioned.

“Everyone knows first is the worst, second is the best,” Bersten humorously commented.

How to view the ‘DWTS’ finale

You can stream “Dancing with the Stars” on Disney+.