Ahead of DWTS Finale, Ilona Maher’s Mom Spills the Beans on Daughter’s Dance Success: ‘Unbelievably Impressed’

Dancing with the stars’ most iconic season has finally reached its final stretch and the race for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy is on. But can Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher outshine her competition and claim the crown? Many would bet on it. While this season’s record-breaking ratings and votes have certainly created a buzz, one of the most talked about topics has been Ilona Maher’s exceptional dancing skills.

She has stunned audiences by fearlessly flipping and lifting Alan Bersten during stunts. In addition to this impressive turn, Maher has performed challenging routines—often in heels—advocates for body positivity and charmed her fans with her behind-the-scenes humor, cementing her status as a fan favorite. However, what continues to captivate us the most is her remarkable dancing skills. And now, thanks to her mother, we may finally know her secret.

Ilona Maher’s Mom Decision Behind Her DWTS Success?

On Got it from my mom podcast, Ilona Maher’s mother, Mieneke Maher, offered her insight into the Paris bronze medalist’s dancing skills. She jokingly credited a childhood ballet class as the supposed reason her daughter probably does so well on Dancing With The Stars. “I was like the six-week ballet course I put her in when she was four years old must have helped. That’s what did it,” Mieneke laughed.

As it turns out, Ilona Maher took these classes as a young child, but she was hardly interested. The real reason, as her mother admitted, was, “And I think it was mainly because, you know, I’d buy pink, you know, pink little tights and little pink, you know, one piece, and little little, cute little ballet shoes.” But this does not negate the fact that Ilona Maher’s graph on the show has been excellent.

After watching her perform throughout the season, Mieneke’s praise for her daughter knew no bounds on the podcast. She expressed, “I’m just, and I can’t even put into words how brave and incredible and how brave I find it that you (Ilona) as a rugby player, where you’ve trained your body to be this muscle, to go forward and to run as fast as you can and no one stands in your way, and is very controlled and powerful to have the courage to step onto a live national TV show to dance. I think that’s incredible.”

But does Ilona Maher really have it in her to grab the trophy? Let’s see how she fares against her fellow finalists.

Can Maher and Alan Bersten really lift the DWTS title?

Do you remember the semi-final paso double and the Vienesse waltz performed by Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten? That won them a total of 57, placing them right in the middle of the pack, heading into the final stage of the competition. However, she has some strong competitors who will try to ward her off the title.

And two of them, Chandler Kinney, star of The Pretty Little Liars, and Joey Graziadei have been the most technically polished dancers this season. Kinney, in particular, has previous dance experience, having danced since she was 9 years old. Thus, to beat them, Maher had to bring something extraordinary to the stage.

But Ilona Maher also has a few ups on her side. Firstly, she has a huge fan base on social media because the show and her authenticity on it has made her a fan sensation. To add to that, we’ve seen how her skills have improved drastically, getting her first 10 scores recently in episode 500. So she might be an underdog, but she’s far from out of the running and can very grab the trophy. Who do you think will come out on top in the final? Tell us!