Ilona Maher's Hands Were Stained Pink from herDWTSCostume: 'I Kept Fidgeting With it'
Mar. 15, 2025Ilona Maher and Alan Berstein.Photo:Disney/Eric McCandless
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Disney/Eric McCandless
Ilona Maher’sDancing with the Starsdebut was a success, despite a minor wardrobe malfunction.
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, theOlympic bronze medalistperformed alongside her partnerAlan Berstenfor the season 33 premiere. The duo danced the Cha Cha toShania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”, racking up a score of 18 out of 30.
One viewer posted about their confusion onTikTok. Over a clip from the show where Maher’s hands are visible, they wrote, “girl what happened to your hands??? is it from your costume?????”
“Not her getting caught pink handed,” another joked.
To the TikTok user’s surprise, Maher responded to the video, commenting, “My costume. I kept fidgeting with it and it had been dyed.”
Ilona Maher and Alan Berstein.Disney/Eric McCandless
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At the season 33 premiere, Maher told PEOPLE that Bersten, 30, has facilitated an environment that makes her feel “very feminine, womanly” on the ballroom 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 added.
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Ahead of their performance, Maher told Bersten that she wanted to serve as a role model for young girls.
“I’m this very big, muscular woman, but I also feel so beautiful and feminine,” she said. “I mean, you know, I grew up not very comfortable, but I want to now make it easier for young girls to love your body.”
Ilona Maher at the 2024 Emmys.Disney/Stewart Cook; Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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Disney/Stewart Cook; Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Two days before herDWTSdebut, Maher appeared at the 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, where she not only interviewed stars on the red carpet butpulled off three outfit changes.
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After helpingTeam USA take home bronzeat the Paris Olympics, Maher was unveiled as a digital cover star forSports Illustrated Swimsuit. At the time, she told the outlet that the moment was meaningful for her because she’s “always called masculine.”
source: people.com
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