Olympic and rugby player Ilona Maher captured our hearts and won over the hearts of many when she competed in Paris last summer, and now she’s still the best ever. on tuesday Dancing with the Stars Disney NightThe 28-year-old athlete closed the show with his portrayal of the supercharged character Luisa. charm.
Along with her professional dance partner Alan Bersten (who was in full donkey costume, of course), Maher was perfectly dressed as fan-favorite Louisa, knocking down boulders, carrying the world on her shoulders, and being in full swing throughout Spin the donkey in the process. Ultimately, she received the highest score from the judges this season: nine.
Maher said she identified strongly with the character, who resonated with millions of women when the Disney film was released in 2021.
“I really resonated with Luisa,” she said on the show. “I also grew up as a larger woman. She was big and wide, but she was so beautiful. She never tried to shrink herself for the world. I’m so happy to be able to share that with people now. Like Louisa, I may bend, but I will never break.
Earlier in the day, Maher posted a photo on X of himself as a child with the Snow White character at Disneyland.
“Dance this tonight for this little girl (me) who will love Louisa,” she wrote.
Maher became a fan favorite in Season 33, even though she and her co-stars were stuck in the middle of the pack during the show’s first few weeks.
Judges Bruno Tonioli, Derek Hough and Carrie Ana Inaba gave the pair a combined score of 25, with Inaba ( Inaba) scored 9 points.
“Your strength worked for you in this dance,” she said.
Watch a video of the full dance below.
