While many were sure Hannah Brown and Alan Bersten were taking the winning title during the season finale of Dancing With the Stars on Monday, November 25, some were surprised, including Carrie Ann Inaba. The 51-year-old admitted she didn’t see their victory coming. Nonetheless, she’s happy about the outcome.

“It’s not what I expected,” Carrie Ann told Us Weekly, referring to the winners. “But this whole season has been filled with ups and downs and unexpected twists and turns. I think, always, the right person wins on Dancing With the Stars because it’s a collaborative vote between the judges’ scores and the audience. And what the audience says is very important and we honor it.”

Carire Ann wasn’t the only one shocked by the results. According to the energy she felt, their win came as a surprise to many. “I’ve never felt that from the ballroom when a winner was announced like tonight,” she revealed. “I think Hannah has had a really challenging journey, but I think in the end she rose, and I’m really proud of her.”

HANNAH BROWN, ALAN BERSTEN Hug and Cry After Winning DwTS
ABC/Eric McCandless

Who did the brunette beauty see taking the mirror ball home? It turns out, she didn’t have any specific couple in mind. “To be honest, I don’t know if I had a specific idea [of] who I thought was going to win,” she continued. “I just knew that all four — and even all five, actually, even James [Van Der Beek] — could have been up here and it would’ve been great to see anybody win. It was just, for some reason, I don’t know why that was shocking.” The TV personality also divulged that she’s “excited to see where [Hannah is] going to go from here.”

She continued, “This is a bittersweet moment for the season to end ‘cause it was such a great season. I’ll miss season 28.” So will we!

So what’s next for Hannah and Alan? They’re planning a mini getaway. “We are going to New York!” Alan told Life & Style and other reporters at the live taping of the finale episode. “We are going to celebrate in New York and take some time and enjoy this. It has been 11 weeks of nonstop work and fun and I am just … I can’t even put into words the feeling!” Well deserved!