'Dancing with the Stars' Hailey Bills shares throwback photo after being announced as new pro

The newest dance pro on "Dancing with the Stars" may have manifested her dream role.

In an Instagram post Wednesday, Hailey Bills celebrated her big career move with a pair of photos: one, a promotional snapshot for "DWTS" season 35, the other featuring a note she wrote years earlier.

In the note, Bills shares a dream she had about winning the Mirrorball Trophy on the hit competition show, writing that she looks forward to being on "DWTS" someday.

Bills also writes that her aunt is "DWTS" pro Jenna Johnson, saying, "I want to be just like her when I grow up!"

She then shares a few more reasons why she wants to be on the show, including competing with friends, "mak[ing] up dances," and more, but most of all, she writes, "I love to dance!"

In the caption of the Instagram post, Bills wrote, "Man oh man, life has a way -- a dream has become a reality."

Johnson commented on Bills' post, writing, "Actually SOBBING!!!!!!!!! So proud of you 🥹😭🌟."

Bills joined "Dancing with the Stars" as a member of the show's dance troupe in 2025.

In 2018, she competed on "Dancing with the Stars: Juniors" as a professional junior dance partner to Tripp Palin Johnston, the son of Bristol Palin.

Johnson served as Bills and Palin Johnston's mentor on the show.

During the "DWTS" season 35 cast reveal on "GMA" Wednesday, it was revealed that Bills would be partnered with Sarah Jane Nader, marking the third time the show has had a same-sex pairing.

Johnson was the first to compete in a same-sex pairing in 2021 for "DWTS" season 30, when she was partnered with JoJo Siwa.

Pro dancer Gleb Savchenko was paired with drag queen and TV personality Shangela in 2022 for season 31 of the show.

See who else is competing on season 35 here.

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Tune into "DWTS" season 35 on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and streaming the next day on Hulu.

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