Maura Higgins has officially begun her "Dancing With the Stars" journey, relocating to Los Angeles to compete on the ABC show. Higgins, 35, was seen arriving in California with a significant amount of luggage, immediately heading to a fashion shoot shortly after landing.
Before her departure, Higgins shared farewells with friends, including an AI-generated image of herself holding the "Dancing With the Stars" trophy. The move comes after Higgins expressed reservations about being partnered with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko, citing disagreements with his public statements about women. Higgins stated her loyalty to her friend Brooks Nader, a former contestant on the show who previously dated Savchenko.
Savchenko responded to Higgins' comments, telling the Daily Mail that he had never heard of her and would not be concerned by the opinion of someone he has not met. He suggested Higgins' remarks were a bid to gain attention before the show begins.
Higgins had previously voiced her preference for being paired with Valentin Chmerkovskiy. The controversy stems in part from Savchenko's past public comments about his relationship with Nader. Their brief romance began during the 2024 season of "Dancing With the Stars," ending in an October 2024 breakup, reportedly due to Savchenko becoming "too comfortable" and causing concern among Nader's inner circle. The pair briefly reconciled by November 2024, attending Nader's family Thanksgiving dinner, but separated again in April of the following year, a split Savchenko stated caught him off guard.
Higgins acknowledged that while she would be happy with any professional partner, her concerns about Savchenko's past remarks about women influenced her expressed wishes. The dancer has since addressed the situation, emphasizing his focus on the competition and his lack of prior acquaintance with Higgins.