Maura Higgins donned a plunging black leotard on Monday as she prepared to work up a sweat during Dancing With The Stars rehearsals in Los Angeles.
The 35-year-old Love Island star has been linked to her boyfriend and Shirley Ballas’ professional dancer son Mark in a move that has reportedly led to a ‘fix feud’ with her unimpressed co-stars.
But Maura seemed unfazed by the drama surrounding her as she happily greeted fans and signed autographs before entering the Hollywood studio.
The Irish beauty was ready for the workout, pairing her leotard with black leggings and wrapping a hoodie around her waist as she kept her essentials in a large black handbag.
Maura swept her hair into a neat bun and was in good spirits as she chatted and posed with admirers as her fame continues to grow in the United States.
Maura’s appearance on the show has already ruffled some feathers before the competition has even started.
Maura Higgins donned a plunging black leotard on Monday as she prepared to work up a sweat during Dancing With The Stars rehearsals in Los Angeles
The 35-year-old Love Island star has been linked to her boyfriend and Shirley Ballas’ professional dancer Mark in a move that has reportedly led to a ‘fix feud’ with her co-stars
After her pairing with Mark was revealed and the star was spotted shoulder-to-shoulder with judge Bruno Tonioli on a night out, her co-stars are reportedly less than happy.
A source revealed: ‘Maura has rubbed everyone the wrong way, even before their first spray tans have dried.
‘She was desperate to work with Mark, who is hugely popular, and was terrified of Gleb, who is now out of a job. It’s like what Maura says is true.’
They told The sun: ‘She even made sure to get close to judge Bruno Tonioli and wasted no time in posing arm in arm with him after a night out.
‘It has not gone unnoticed within the cast that she is given preference. It’s like she’s being set up to win.” The Daily Mail contacted Maura’s representatives for comment at the time.
Amid the drama, Maura is still set for a six-figure payday after appearing on the show.
Maura will earn £93,000 even if she is sent away in the first two weeks, increasing by a further £7,000 per week in the third and fourth weeks.
If she makes it to week five, there’s another £11,000 on the table and another £20,000 for week six. In weeks eight and nine, celebrities will earn an extra £22,000 per week.
Maura seemed unfazed by the drama around her as she happily greeted fans and signed autographs before entering the Hollywood studio.
The Irish beauty was ready for the workout, pairing her leotard with black leggings and wrapping a hoodie around her waist as she kept her essentials in a large black handbag.
Maura swept her hair into a neat bun and was in good spirits as she chatted and posed with admirers as her fame continues to grow in the United States
The star flashed a wide smile as she greeted fans outside the studio
After her pairing with Mark Ballas was revealed and the star stood shoulder to shoulder with judge Bruno Tonioli during a night out, her co-stars are reportedly less than happy.
Meanwhile, the reality star isn’t the only contestant causing drama with her signing for the show’s 35th season.
Former backup dancer and Step Up star Jenna Dewan has faced fierce backlash and accusations of having an ‘unfair’ advantage on the show.
The Daily Mail has learned that rumors are also circulating behind the scenes about the season’s general casting, which includes Save the Last Dance star Julia Stiles, The Bachelor’s Tyler Cameron, who competed on 2022’s The Real Dirty Dancing, and Harry Shum Jr, who starred on Glee and previously toured as a dancer.
“The cast is clearly whispering about how unfair some of the casting is, especially since Jenna is a former dancer and others have dance experience,” a source told the Daily Mail.
In the early 2000s, Dewan was a backup dancer and toured for some of the biggest artists in the world, including Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Pink and Missy Elliott. She then played the role of talented ballerina Nora Clark in Step Up in 2006 alongside her now ex-husband Channing Tatum.
“Everyone thinks Jenna Dewan has a very unfair advantage because she is a professional dancer. That’s how she started her career,” another source said.
“It’s like, ‘Duh, we all know she’s going to win.'”
Dewan, for her part, addressed the strong reactiontells Entertainment Tonight, “I don’t know how to ballroom dance. Let’s be clear. They are two different languages. There are obviously parts of my dance training that are useful. I have learned choreography, I can perform, but there is a certain feeling of unlearning for me.’
But Dewan isn’t the only celebrity casting for season 35 with ruffled feathers, according to the source.
‘There are problems with Tatjana [Ali] being on the show,” they said. “She’s very close to the show’s co-host, Alfonso Ribeiro, because they were co-stars and played siblings on The Fresh Prince, so there’s a huge bond there.”
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, there is reportedly “some eyerolling” going on at celebrities who are about to become “fan favorites.”
“There’s some laughter because there are partners that they know are already going to be fan favorites: Ciara [Miller] after what she went through with Amanda [Batula] and West [Wilson] at Summerhouse, Maura [Higgins] because people felt bad Rob [Rausch] robbed her of winning The Traitors.”
