Infomercial queen Suzanne Paul struggled to hold back the tears last night as she was crowned the winner of TVNZ's Dancing With the Stars.
The nail-biting, two-hour grand finale saw Paul and singer and NZ Idol judge Megan Alatini battle it out for the title - but therecould be only one winner.
The two finalists danced three dances each - Paul the cha-cha, tango and a freestyle dance, while Alatini performed the quickstep, rumba and a freestyle dance.
But it came down to the wire with the judges' scores. Just one point separated the two celebrities at the end of their three routines.
The public's vote - which counts for 50 per cent - was then added to the judges' votes and the winner was decided.
Paul looked stunned when her name was read by host Jason Gunn.
She fought back the tears and thanked those who voted for her.
She also thanked her dance partner Stefano Olivieri and her husband.
The comeback queen had achieved her dream.
Before the final she declared that she wanted to show 50-year-old women they could be "hot and sexy".
Paul's win will hearten a group of creditors waiting to be paid for a failed business venture.
She said during the series that she hoped to win to repay thousands owing on a Northcote Point Maori village cabaret, which flopped in 2004.
