Let’s rewind a couple of weeks to September 24, when Ilona Maher and her dance partner, Alan Bersten, took to the floor on Dancing with the Stars and absolutely rocked it! They danced a fun salsa to “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes for Oscars Night, and it was such a vibe. They were totally inspired by that iconic “Dirty Dancing” routine and these two nailed that iconic lift from the movie, but here’s the twist: They added their own unique flair to it.

While it’s pretty typical for guys to lift their ladies during a dance routine, these two totally flipped the script! For the first time on Dancing with the Stars, Ilona Maher, the female dancer, lifted her male partner, Alan Bersten—not just once, but twice and created history! And guess who was there cheering them on? Ilona’s proud mom!

Ilona Maher recently chatted with Access Hollywood about how her journey on Dancing with the Stars feels like a full circle for her and her mom. She shared some heartwarming memories from her childhood, saying, “she used to let us stay up late to watch Dancing with the Stars when we were younger, and then afterwards my sisters and I would do a dance in the living room and pretend to do the cha-cha.” It’s amazing to think that after watching it so many times on TV, her mom now gets to see her daughter out there performing.

Her mom was there, completely invested in the moment. Ilona explained that her mom was “on edge but she had an amazing time.” And after all the excitement of the performance, “she cried afterwards,” overwhelmed with joy at watching her daughter shine on stage. And not just that, but also creating history.

While Ilona Maher made history by lifting her male partner, it’s no surprise—she’s on Dancing with the Stars with a purpose: a mission to share something important with the world. So, what exactly is the motivation that fuels her every move?

Ilona Maher’s journey to dance for empowerment

lona Maher, the incredible 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, hit the dance floor for the first time on Dancing with the Stars, and she brought that Olympic fire with her! Teaming up with her partner Alan Bersten, they kicked things off by rocking out to Shania. And this girl was more than ready to compete!

Chatting with Entertainment Weekly, the 28-year-old spilled her dreams of snagging the DWTS crown. She sees this whole experience as a cool way to show that female athletes can totally slay both on the field and in the ballroom. “I think it’ll just show what I’ve been trying to say, which is female athletes are so much more than their sport, so much more than the stereotypes that they’re put in with the sport,” she said. Ilona’s all about celebrating how amazing different body types can be, adding, “It’s so awesome to show what my body type can do, and how beautiful it can be in all sorts of spaces.” She’s on a mission to break barriers and prove that women can shine in every spotlight, and she’s not holding back!

Looking back, Ilona mentioned that before she jumped into rugby, people always called her a “big girl.” But once she joined a local rugby club, she got all the love and support for her body. And before the Olympics, she didn’t hesitate to call out a troll who commented on her Body Mass Index (BMI), saying, “I think you were trying to roast me, but this actually is a fact. I do have a BMI of 30—well, 29.3 to be more exact. I’ve been considered overweight my whole life.” And then she fired back with, “But alas, I’m going to the Olympics, and you’re not!”

So here’s Ilona, making her mark beyond the rugby field and proving she can totally slay the tango, rumba, or cha-cha—and lift her male partner like a boss! Now, with the show back on October 7 and 8 after a week off for a vice presidential debate, she’s lighting up the stage already!