Rumer Willis is on cloud nine after her "awesome" Dancing With the Stars win — but she wants to dedicate her coveted gold Mirrorball to any of her fans out there who don't believe in themselves. Because she used to be that person, and she isn't any more.
Talking to Us Weekly after her momentous win on Tuesday, May 19, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's daughter revealed how the experience of appearing on the hit dance show and the public's undying support have changed the person that she is. And she wants anybody watching who has suffered from low self esteem or faced bullying to know that they can do it, too.
"Other than for Val and myself, that is who this mirrorball is for," an elated Rumer told Us of the people now looking to her as a role model for how to overcome insecurity. "You know, I hope that it stands for all of that and for anyone who didn't think that they deserved to do something, or couldn't do something, or wasn't capable," she added. "That is who I think that [this trophy] is for.
The 26-year-old soul singer also revealed that the DWTS experience has been life-defining for her, and that her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, met someone completely different when the adventure started months ago.
"I feel like I'm a completely different person than the person that he met," she told Us. "He kept asking if I really wanted to do this. [But now, to be] able to stand proudly and put your whole self on the dance floor, and just show who you are and have such a positive response. To see how many people came up to us and were so excited for us — that we won — I think speaks volumes," she added.
Chmerkovskiy agrees: "I don't think anybody looked at Rumer and thought this a future mirrorball champion until she came out here and proved everybody wrong,” he gushed. “And I feel like everybody has that power in them – just find the courage to go out there and do it,” he added.
Of course it's not just the public who have been supporting Rumer in her quest for victory. Her famous family has been behind her every step of the way, and dad Bruce was even brought to tears as his daughter was announced the winner.
"We've always been really close," Rumer said of her her mom, dad and two sisters Scout and Tallulah. "That's one of the beautiful things. They're incredibly supportive and so wonderful, and they are willing to come and support me and cheer me on in whatever crazy endeavors I decide to do!"
"But I get to see that all the time because I have an incredibly supportive family,” she added. “It might be new for other people to see, but to be honest the person I'm most excited about celebrating with is Val, because he is the person that I did this with. I love my family and I love their support, but I'm proud and I want to celebrate with him," she said.
