Maura Higgins Reveals Physical Toll of Dancing With The Stars

Maura Higgins, a contestant on the U.S. version of "Dancing With The Stars," has revealed the significant physical toll the competition is taking on her body, sharing images of her calloused and blistered feet. Higgins, 35, and her professional partner Mark Ballas, 40, have been performing well, recently securing second place on the leaderboard.

Despite their success, the rigorous training regimen has left Higgins' feet in a painful state. In a series of backstage photos shared by Ballas, Higgins is seen holding her feet with an alarmed expression, highlighting the effects of the demanding rehearsals. She is pictured looking exhausted on the floor of a dance studio, even while in costume.

Higgins, who is also set to host the dating show "Blind Date," expressed her gratitude towards Ballas in comments on the social media post. "The best partner!!!!! Really couldn’t have asked for a better person by my side throughout this journey!!! Thank you for believing in me, pushing me, putting up with me and most importantly making this whole experience so special!!" she wrote. She added a humorous note about her feet, "My feet may never forgive you but I will continue to work as hard as I can."

Beyond the physical strain, Higgins has also spoken about the emotional challenges of the competition. She admitted to experiencing negative feedback from judges and trainers, which has led to moments of distress during rehearsals. In a podcast interview, Higgins described the pressure to constantly correct minor details, saying, "This is an entertainment show have fun" and then hearing "What's that? Why is your hand like that and what's with the pigeon feet?"

She further explained that the relentless critique makes it difficult to feel a sense of accomplishment. "I'm so hard on myself anyway and then everything is wrong. I hear, 'You're doing really well but fix your arm, fix your neck, fix hips and toes', like how am I doing well. It's a lot."

Higgins confessed that she has struggled to hold back tears, even breaking down in the show's restrooms. She recalled an instance where a producer overheard her crying in a bathroom stall. "I cried in the bathroom too yesterday, they love it and I don't want to cry on camera and then I ended up breaking down," she said. "It's crazy because why am I crying and being pathetic."