Maura Higgins has revealed she battled significant illness during a "tough" week of training for "Dancing With The Stars," even resorting to a vitamin drip before narrowly escaping elimination.
The former "Love Island" star made it to the quarter-finals of the competition after finding the Jive dance particularly challenging.
In a candid Instagram post, Higgins detailed the extent of her illness, sharing that she was running on "very little energy." One image showed her receiving a vitamin drip. "This week was definitely one of the toughest I've had so far," she wrote. "I was really unwell, running on very little energy and trying to learn two dances, but I gave it absolutely everything I had."
Higgins acknowledged her lack of prior dance experience but emphasized her desire to challenge herself and grow. "I'm learning, I'm making mistakes, I'm pushing myself and I'm growing along the way!!" she stated. "Some weeks will be better than others, and that's okay. I'm only human."
She clarified that her post was not for sympathy or to make excuses but to share the "reality behind the scenes." She expressed gratitude for her dance partner, Mark Ballas, calling him her "biggest support" and thanking him for his patience and belief, especially during the difficult week.
Higgins and Ballas, performing as Tinkerbell to a song from Disney's "Peter Pan," found themselves in the bottom two. Ultimately, actress Julia Stiles was eliminated from the competition.
The judges' feedback on Higgins' performance noted strengths in her ability to "sell" the dance but pointed out a lack of technicality. Bruno Tonioli cited a need for more leg elasticity, while Derek Hough called for "more snap and sharper flicks." Carrie Ann Inaba observed moments where Higgins' energy dipped, and guest judge Cynthia Erivo felt she appeared "worried" at times.
Despite the critiques, Higgins expressed her love for the show, admitting her dislike for the Jive. "I was in Tinker Hell this week," she remarked.
Following the elimination, Higgins commented on Stiles' departure, calling it "awful" and a "shock." She acknowledged that Stiles had performed well despite an injury.
"Dancing With The Stars" airs live on ABC and streams on Disney+ on Tuesdays, with next-day streaming on Hulu.