Originally appeared on E! Online
Mark Ballas didn’t have to buy Maura Higgins a Birkin to gain her trust.
Instead, that confidence between a celebrity and their pro partner is built into the very fabric of Dancing With the Stars—which came as a huge relief for Maura after being betrayed in theTraitorsfinaleby friendRob Rausch.
“Do you know what?” she exclusively told E! News after the DWTSseason 35 cast was announced on Sept. 2. “This is actually a really nice show because I can actually put trust in. Like, I can trust Mark fully because he’s the professional.”
Though her partner—who placed sixth to Maura’s second on The Traitorsseason four—couldn’t help but quip, “Imagine if you’d have trusted me on Traitors.”
To which Maura retorted, “It’s too late! It’s too late, Mark.”
And indeed, he conceded, “You might not have the Birkin.”
Overall, Maura is relieved to be on a show where, unlike The Traitors they know “no one is out to get you.”
In fact, it’s the feeling of sportsmanship and camaraderie that has already been a huge breath of fresh air for the Love Island U.K.alum.
“I’m not looking at it like competition,” Maura admitted. “I don’t want to go into this, like, ‘Oh, like this is a competition.’ I want to just work hard, try my best, learn how to dance, make myself proud, make Mark proud, make my family and friends proud, and just have fun. I just want to enjoy it.”
After all, for the 35-year-old, getting a chance to be on Dancing With the Starsis nothing short of a dream come true.
“It’s so surreal,” she said. “Like the fact that I’m here—I keep having to pinch myself.”
Maura added, “I just feel very grateful. I’ve been dying to do this show. And already, I’m only one week in, everyone is so lovely. And it’s so true what everyone on the cast says—it’s literally like family.”
And as she and Mark twirl into this new chapter together, they’ll have some of their Traitorsfamily supporting them all along the way.
“Rob Rausch is coming on week one,” Maura revealed. “And Lisa Rinna. And the Birkin.”
For a closer look at the celebrity and pro pairings hoping to sashay their way to the mirrorball trophy, read on.
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
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