DWTS Juniors Flashback: Inside the Short-Lived Spinoff That Made Rylee Arnold a Star

Before Rylee Arnold became a household name on the main *Dancing With the Stars* stage, she was paying her dues in the mini-ballroom. Back in 2018, ABC tested the reality TV waters with *Dancing With the Stars: Juniors*, a pint-sized spinoff that paired kid influencers and celebrity offspring with talented preteen dancers. While the kid-focused competition only lasted for a single season, it quietly served as a launchpad for today's top ballroom talents. Current fan-favorite dancers like Rylee Arnold and Hailey Bills both cut their teeth as junior professionals long before making their official debuts on the flagship adult series.

The 2018 series brought plenty of recognizable young talent to the dance floor. The roster of preteen contestants included *Black-ish* star Miles Brown, future Hollywood starlet Ariana Greenblatt, dance sensation Mackenzie Ziegler, and Olympic skateboarder Sky Brown. Each duo was paired with a junior professional and guided by an established adult mentor from the main franchise. Season 25 champion Lindsay Arnold stepped into the mentor role to coach her younger sister Rylee, who was matched with actor Miles Brown. At the time, Lindsay praised Rylee's work ethic and maturity during the intense filming schedule, admitting she was blown away by getting to work alongside her youngest sibling every day.

BUZZBEAT

Rylee was just 13 years old when she competed in the junior ballroom, but her trajectory on the dance floor did not stop there. In 2023, at the age of 18, she officially graduated to the main *Dancing With the Stars* pro lineup for season 32. Her seamless transition from junior standout to main-stage staple solidified her place in the franchise's ongoing legacy. Hailey Bills has similarly kept her momentum going, joining the broader *Dancing With the Stars* ecosystem following her early exposure on the junior edition. The spinoff proved that talent runs deep in these dance families, laying the foundation for fresh faces to step into the spotlight once they came of age. Looking back, the kid-centric experiment gave fans an early glimpse at the future of ballroom dancing. While viewers initially tuned in for the adorable routines and mini mirrorball trophy, they were actually watching the origin stories of tomorrow's prime-time fan favorites.