Maura Higgins is stepping up her training ahead of her Dancing With the Stars debut. The Irish television personality and model shared a glimpse of her grueling DWTS rehearsals as she prepares to compete in Season 35 with three-time Mirrorball champ Mark Ballas. The 35-year-old celebrity contender said, “It’s a serious battering. The blisters are something else.”
Maura Higgins says her body has “taken a shock” and she’s already battling blisters while training with Mark Ballas
Talking about the show, Higgins told Entertainment Weekly, “There’s definitely pressure. You want to give the audience a really good performance. But I mean, everyone can do their best, and I’m definitely going to do mine. I am giving it my all. I’ve never danced in my life. So it’s very, very new for me. But I just want to enjoy it.”
The reality star, who finished as the runner-up on Season 4 of The Traitors, said, “It’s very early days, but my God, my body has taken a shock. I was expecting it to be hard, but holy God. It’s a serious battering; the blisters are something else. But I’m just loving it. I’m honestly loving it so far.” Prior to this, Higgins has appeared on several popular shows, including This Morning, Celebrity Juice, Maura Higgins: You’re Joking Me!, Dancing on Ice, Love Island spin-offs, Cooking with the Stars, and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars will debut on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes arriving on Hulu the next day. Among the celebrity contestants are Julia Stiles, Tatyana Ali, Giada De Laurentiis, and Jenna Dewan. The professional lineup will feature familiar faces, including Danielle Karagach, Mark Ballas, and Witney Carson. Sharna Burgess and DWTS: The Next Pro winner Adele Zaikman will also join the season.
