Rylee Arnold Praises Harry Jowsey for Being ‘Resilient’ After DWTS Elimination: He’s ‘Just the Best’ (Exclusive)

Rylee Arnold is celebrating her Dancing with the Stars partner, Harry Jowsey.

Following their elimination from the show on Tuesday night, the professional dancer, 18, praised the reality star for taking a chance in the competition and powering through each week despite negative comments on social media.

“He's never done something like this before, and he's never danced before,” Arnold exclusively tells PEOPLE. “He's never danced in front of a live crowd, [and] ultimately, he gets judged every single week."

"There's hate comments, and I feel like he really just learned how to push past that and just go for it and still be vulnerable and just try his best,” she continues. “He was super resilient the whole entire season.”

Arnold says that Jowsey — who ended his time on the show with a rumba to Taylor Swift's “August” earning him a judge’s score of 30 — “worked hard” each week and she had so much “fun” dancing with him this season and watching him grow.

“He's just such a special person. I love that people are getting to see a side of him that he hasn't shown,” Arnold says. “He's so special and kind and genuine and just the best.”

As for her dance partner, he tells PEOPLE that he won’t be returning to the ballroom anytime soon as he doesn’t think he’s “got any skills when it comes to dancing." But he says he will take away several other life lessons from the competition.

“I think the biggest takeaway for me is don't be scared to be vulnerable, even if it's scary and even if people hate you,” Jowsey, 26, says. “Just do it because there's so much growth that happens in that.” 

“I learned so much about myself and the person I want to become,” he explains. “I couldn't be more grateful for this whole experience because it's not what I expected. I thought I was going to dance two weeks [and] be gone, but the fact that we did it this far... Just so much gratitude.”

The Too Hot To Handle star also thanked his partner for having “put up with me, especially when I’m hungry,” and for inspiring him to challenge himself each week.

He adds that the Dancing with the Stars team is "incredible."

"Everyone's so incredible. It's such a special team and thing to be a part of."

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Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.