But her milking social media on this proves that it’s al she has, and she knows it. She’s milking her “body positivity” brand ( which is actually more about shaking others for speaking the truth) for more votes. She has a HUGE extended social media audience in the many millions (she only has about 300k on IG, but is in an extended group of instafamous and famous dancers that rank in the millions) and if the judges don’t get her off, then the public votes will stack for her. Even though I think the “public voting” is a scam, it’s still in the production’s best interest to Lew the story going for a while.

And I don’t think it was the audience that swayed Howie, it was the producers in his earpiece. There is often a good real world 10min between when an act finished and when they get to the judges’ decisions.