Maura Higgins Gets Dancing with the Stars Wisdom from Mark Ballas

Maura Higgins is stepping onto the Dancing with the Stars dance floor for the upcoming season, and she came armed with insider guidance from someone who knows the competition well.

The 35-year-old Love Island alum appeared alongside Mark Ballas on The Traitors US earlier this year, and the mirrorball champion didn't miss the opportunity to share what she could expect. According to Higgins, Ballas emphasized just how demanding the experience would be.

"Mark had said to me, 'it's literally a marathon,' and he was like, 'it's intense,'" she told People. The advice prompted her to consider taking things easy before diving into rehearsals, but circumstances had other plans.

With her schedule packed with travel and work commitments, Higgins found that downtime never materialized. Rather than stress about preparation, she's opted for a more straightforward mindset heading into the competition.

"I'm just going to try my best. I'm just going to bring my own flavor to it and bring my personality and my charisma and try my best because I have two left feet honestly," Higgins explained.

The star has previously expressed enthusiasm about potentially working with Ballas on the show, though she's also made clear there's at least one pro she'd prefer to avoid as a partner.

Higgins is among the first three celebrities announced for season 35, which kicks off this fall.