Several solid performances by Cotton Candy have fans of The Masked Dancer split on whether she is a professional dancer or a professional athlete. We've had the answer since her first performance, and the clues confirm our prediction.
This colorful, sugary dancer made a serious impression when she performed a risky aerial dance as her first number. She even fell from the suspended Lyra during rehearsal. It was this fall that made many realize she was no novice. Not only did she get right back up, but it was also telling that she knew how to fall properly. This made many believe she was a professional athlete. While names like Olympic gymnast Simone Biles were thrown around due to Cotton Candy's tiny stature, we instead focused our prediction on her fellow gymnast, Gabby Douglas.
Last week, Cotton Candy confirmed she was no stranger to competition. Along with this, there were visual clues of a sign that said practice three times with a series of intertwined rings and five gold balloons, which clearly pointed to an Olympic athlete. The Olympic logo is made up of five rings, and Douglas has won three Olympic gold medals. She said there are a lot of tights in her home and that ice plays a role in her life. Douglas has an older sister who is a figure skater. She also said she cannot do what she's known for in heels, and she is known for being physically fit. Both of those clues also fit the star gymnast.
A recent clue package had a book titled The Cotton Candy Story. The Olympic gymnast has written three books about her experiences. One visual clue was a set of balancing scales and the roman numeral XII. In the 2012 Olympics, Douglas won the all-around Gold and one of her events was the balance beam. During her balance beam performance, she slipped and fell. Cotton Candy mentioned that the Lyra fall wasn't her first time falling on national TV, and she said it was hard to balance. The clue that showed two fingers being held up fits as well, as Douglas won gold medals at two different Olympics.
Other clues were given to Douglas's professional life, like an English breakfast pointing to the London location of the 2012 Olympics, and a bowl of Cornflakes. The young gymnast appeared on a box of the famous cereal. An eagle with an American flag further referenced her being on Team USA, as well as the word up clue, "team player." Douglas's collaboration with makeup company Beauty Bakerie took front and center with a lipstick clue and a cupcake that had lips and eyelashes.
Plenty of clues were given about Cotton Candy's personal life, which also align with Douglas's personal life. One clue specifically said she spent a vacation on the water for the holidays. After her 2012 win, Douglas spoke of plans to spend Christmas on a Caribbean cruise with her family. She spoke early on of having to leave her home and move in with others to follow her dream. Travis and Missy Parton, whose own daughter was training in Iowa, took in a 14-year-old Douglas, whose family stayed back in Virginia. All in all, there's overwhelming evidence that Cotton Candy is Gabby Douglas.
The Masked Dancer airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on Fox.