Maura Higgins has begun training for her upcoming appearance on Dancing With The Stars, amidst reports of a "fix row" among her fellow contestants and her own admission of feeling pressure to perform well. Higgins, 35, is partnered with Mark Ballas, the professional dancer son of Shirley Ballas, a pairing that has allegedly caused friction with other participants.
Sources claim that Higgins has been "rubbing everyone up the wrong way" even before the competition's first spray tans. It is alleged that Higgins was determined to be partnered with Ballas and actively sought proximity to judge Bruno Tonioli, leading to perceptions of favoritism. "It’s as if what Maura says goes," one source told The Sun. "It’s not gone unnoticed within the cast that she’s being favored. It’s as if she’s being set up to win."
Higgins herself acknowledged the competitive atmosphere, stating, "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."
She described the training as physically demanding, telling Entertainment Weekly, "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."
The reality star is reportedly set to earn a six-figure sum for her participation, with a base pay of £93,000, which can increase with each week she progresses in the competition.
Higgins is not the only contestant facing scrutiny regarding her suitability for the show. Jenna Dewan, a former professional dancer, has also drawn criticism for an alleged "unfair" advantage. Dewan, who toured with Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera and starred in the film "Step Up," has addressed these concerns, stating that she does not know how to ballroom dance and that her training is in a different discipline.
Further casting discussions have reportedly arisen regarding Tatyana Ali's involvement due to her close relationship with co-host Alfonso Ribeiro, stemming from their time playing siblings on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Whispers within the cast also suggest that some celebrities are being positioned as "fan favorites" based on past public sentiment, including Ciara Miller and Higgins herself, whose previous performance on "The Traitors" generated sympathy.
Higgins made her way to training on Friday in a grey £78 Alo Yoga sports bra and matching £128 leggings, just days before the launch show scheduled for Tuesday, September 15.
