DWTS Crowns 2011 Winner

JR Martinez takes home mirrorball trophy
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 23, 2011 3:00 AM CST
JR Martinez Wins 'Dancing With the Stars'
JR Martinez and his partner Karina Smirnoff hold their awards after they were crowned champions of the celebrity dance competition series, "Dancing with the Stars," Nov. 22, 2011 in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/ABC-TV, Adam Taylor)

JR Martinez took home the mirrorball trophy last night on the Dancing With the Stars finale—and if you aren’t exactly sure who he is, you’re not the only one. The AP reports that Martinez, who was severely burned in Iraq while serving in the US Army, was the least-known member of the cast when this season began. The audience ultimately was won over by his story—he became an actor and motivational speaker after his injury—and his positive attitude.

It’s also worth noting that you owe Martinez a debt of gratitude for keeping the trophy out of the hands of a Kardashian, Kim’s brother Rob, who came in second. Ricki Lake was the third finalist. Martinez is riding his wave of popularity—he was recently named one of People’s sexiest men, and will serve as grand marshal of the Tournament of Roses parade. As for that trophy, “Right now I'm going to put mine in bed,” he says. “And then after that, once we've kind of grown apart, I'm going to glue it to the hood of my car and drive around Los Angeles and honk my horn and it will be my own parade.” (More Dancing with the Stars stories.)

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