Ilona Maher is taking the criticism she received during the Olympics and turning it around on its head, and she’s crediting her Dancing With the Stars partner with her ability to feel more feminine. The rugby player is the first from her sport to compete on the ABC competition series, and her popularity during the Summer Games has her pegged early on as a favorite from the cast–with one pro dancer calling her a “threat.” The Olympic bronze medalist also made some tear up with her first performance on the show, a Cha Cha which scored 18 points from the judges.
Jenn Tran's blunt warning to Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos DWTS fans label contestants as 'couple to watch' after 'unreal' performance Now, she is also opening up about doing the show is letting her shed some of the image that’s been cast about her. Speaking to People, she credited her partner, Alan Bersten, for helping her embrace her “very feminine” and “womanly” side on the dance floor. “I think it’s going to be good for girls to see a muscular, strong woman out there, like being feminine dancing with a gorgeous man like Alan here,” she said.
“So I think it’s going to show a lot,” she added. “I think girls will really love to see it.” She also said ahead of the premiere that she wanted to be a role model for young girls, which was why she joined the show.
“I’m this very big, muscular woman, but I also feel so beautiful and feminine. I mean, you know, I grew up not very comfortab.