Maura Higgins Faces Emotional Struggles on Dancing With The Stars Amidst Judge Criticism

Maura Higgins, a contestant on 'Dancing With The Stars,' has revealed she is finding the judges' and her partner Mark Ballas's constant critiques challenging, leading to emotional distress.

Higgins, who has been considered a frontrunner in the competition after strong initial performances, shared on the 'Get Ready With Me' podcast that she has been 'crying in the toilets' during rehearsals. She described the feedback, which often focuses on minute details like hand placement and foot posture, as making her feel inadequate.

"I don't usually cry, I'm more of a suffer in silence girl," Higgins stated. "I usually wait until I get home and I can't hold in my tears and it's week two, I don't know what's happening."

She recounted instances where her partner, Mark Ballas, would offer praise followed by corrections such as, "What's that? Why is your hand like that and what's with the pigeon feet?" This juxtaposition of positive reinforcement with detailed criticism, Higgins explained, leaves her feeling as though "everything is wrong."

Despite these difficulties, Higgins acknowledged that she is her own harshest critic and is unused to the public nature of the show's emotional toll. She recalled a moment where she broke down in the bathroom, only for a producer to notice. "It's crazy because why am I crying and being pathetic," she said.

Adding to the pressure, Higgins noted that she has never had formal dance training, which creates an "extra pressure" as she navigates the competition. This comes after she received significant praise in previous weeks, with viewers calling her an "international treasure" and an "icon." Judges commended her elegance and technique, with Derek Hough describing her topline as "exquisite" and Bruno Tonioli noting her classic Hollywood glamour.

Higgins and Ballas secured second place on the leaderboard in a recent week with a Quickstep, earning 22 out of 30 points. This followed a week where Higgins topped the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Hanson frontman Taylor Hanson and his professional partner Britt Stewart were the fourth couple eliminated from the competition.