In the Pokémon TV series, Dawn’s main rival in Pokémon Contests is Zoey.
Zoey is a skilled Pokémon Coordinator from the Sinnoh region who first meets Dawn during Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl. Although they compete directly, Zoey generally acts as a supportive rival and frequently offers Dawn advice about Contest strategy. Their rivalry develops through several performance competitions and battles rather than through hostility.
Zoey ultimately wins the Sinnoh Grand Festival, defeating Dawn in the final round. This result is sometimes mixed up with Dawn’s other rivals: Kenny is a childhood acquaintance and Contest competitor, while Ursula is a more antagonistic rival. Nando also competes in both Gym battles and Contests, but he is not Dawn’s principal Contest rival. Zoey’s contrasting approach—coordinating both single Pokémon and Double Performance routines—helps define her role in Dawn’s story.