Maura Higgins Survives Elimination After Finishing Last on Dancing with the Stars Leaderboard
Maura Higgins avoided elimination on Dancing with the Stars in the US, securing another week in the competition despite finishing at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard, rte.er reported. The Longford native faced a challenging night during the show’s Disney on Broadway-themed episode, where her overall score left her future in doubt.
Dressed as Tinkerbell, Higgins joined professional partner Mark Ballas on the dancefloor for a jive to “You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!” from Disney’s Peter Pan. The performance earned the pair 32 points out of 40, with all four judges awarding eight points each, according to rte.ie. They later returned to the ballroom for a group routine with Team Slaytopia, picking up another 36 points. However, their overall tally of 68 points left them behind the other remaining couples.
The Elimination Results and Julia Stiles’ Departure
As the results were revealed, Higgins and Ballas awaited the final announcement alongside actress Julia Stiles and her professional partner Ezra Sosa. Stiles and Sosa were ultimately sent home from the competition, allowing Higgins to advance to the next round.
The close call followed a demanding week of rehearsals for the former Love Island star. The 35-year-old took to Instagram stories to share a tired-looking selfie while lying on a sofa, captioning the snap “Struggling so much this week” alongside a crying face emoji. Higgins has previously been open about the pressure of the US competition, admitting on her YouTube series Get Real With Me that she had cried in the bathroom after struggling to process detailed corrections from the judges.
Maura Higgins earns high praise after previous routines
The leaderboard dip comes just a week after Higgins impressed the judging panel with a contemporary routine inspired by The Lost Boys during Horror Movie Night. That performance prompted high praise from judge Derek Hough, who described her as a “phenomenal performer,” according to rte.ie.
Earlier in the season, Higgins also earned her highest score of the competition at the time during ‘Dedication Night’. Goss.ie noted that her Paso Doble dedicated to Ireland—performed to the Dropkick Murphys hit “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” with guest Irish dancer Lucky Howard—earned a standing ovation, an eight from Carrie Ann Inaba, and nines from Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maura Higgins on Dancing with the Stars
What song did Maura Higgins dance to on Disney Night?
Maura Higgins and her partner Mark Ballas performed a jive to “You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!” from Disney’s Peter Pan.
What score did Maura Higgins receive from the judges?
The couple earned 32 points for their individual jive and an additional 36 points for their group routine with Team Slaytopia, bringing their total to 68 points.
Which couple was eliminated alongside Maura Higgins in the bottom two?
Actress Julia Stiles and her professional partner Ezra Sosa were sent home after landing in the bottom two alongside Higgins and Ballas.
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