It *is* a popularity contest. It always has been. Most of the past winners have had a big fan base. Brandy didn’t have a big enough fan base to support her. Jennifer Gray doesn’t have the fan base that Kyle and Bristol (through mom fame) have. And don’t forget - Vote for the Worst has a big following and all of those people have been voting for Bristol.
See Donny Osmond. He has a huge fan base all over the world. Fans set up tons of new email addresses and voted him the winner. But with Donny, the judges basically let the fans decide. With Bristol, I am not so sure. Their scores count 50%, so they could score her low enough where it is impossible for her to win. Bristol and her family should be proud she has done so well. She came from knowing nothing about dance and having no stage presence.