Maura Higgins tops the Dancing With The Stars leaderboard with first 9 of the series after being left 'crying in the toilets' over judges' negative critiques

Published: 04:59 EDT, 7 October 2026 | Updated: 05:21 EDT, 7 October 2026 Maura Higgins topped the Dancing With The Stars leaderboard with the first nine of the series as the latest episode aired on Tuesday night.The Irish Love Island star, 35, took to the dancefloor with her professional partner Mark Ballas to perform a stunning waltz. The pair danced to the song If It's Over and the performance was applauded by the judges – which hopefully gave Maura a boost after last week she was left 'crying in the toilets' over judges' negative critiques. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba gushed that the dance took her to 'another world' while Hough liked that it was 'a classic waltz' with 'no gimmicks'. Along with two eights from the judges, they also received a nine, which was also the first of the season. Maura couldn't believe it as she was left open-mouthed by the result.Summer House star Ciara Miller and her partner Brian Armstrong were eliminated at the end of the episode after the pair opened the show with an energetic jazz routine. It comes after last week Maura revealed that she was struggling with negative feedback from the judges and partner Mark after they instructed her to 'fix everything'. Maura Higgins topped the Dancing With The Stars leaderboard with the first nine of the series as the latest episode aired on Tuesday night The Love Island star, 35, took to the dancefloor with her professional partner Mark Ballas to perform a stunning waltz. Maura couldn't believe it as she was left open-mouthed by the result Maura, who has been tipped as a favourite to win the series following two successful dances, admitted she has been 'crying in the toilets' during rehearsals. Speaking to former finalist and influencer Alix Earle on her Get Ready With Me podcast, Maura claimed the relentless criticism from judges and trainers makes it hard for contestants to feel any sense of achievement.She said: 'I don't usually cry, I'm more of a suffer in silence girl. I usually wait until I get home and I can't hold in my tears and it's week two, I don't know what's happening.'Mark will say to me, and we have so much fun in the rehearsal room but it's kind of like, 'This is an entertainment show have fun' and then he's like in the rehearsal room going, 'What's that? Why is your hand like that and what's with the pigeon feet?'Alix agreed: 'You're not ready for the negative feedback in the beginning and that's all it is in the beginning because they are there to correct you but it's a lot.'Maura added: 'Yeah you just feel like you're s***. 'I'm so hard on myself anyway and then everything is wrong. I hear, 'You're doing really well but fix your arm, fix your neck, fix hips and toes,' like how am I doing well. It's a lot.' The Reale Actives founder admitted she struggled to hold back the tears last year as Irish star Maura confessed she has already had a 'breakdown' in the toilets during rehearsals.Alix explained: 'Last year I was in the bathroom stall and one of the producers heard me crying and was like 'Hi let's get you out on camera.'' The pair danced to the song If It's Over and the performance was applauded by the judges - which hopefully gave Maura a boost after last week she was left 'crying in the toilets' Speaking to Alix Earle on her podcast last week, Maura claimed the relentless criticism from judges and trainers makes it hard for contestants to feel any sense of achievement Elsewhere during the podcast, Maura said she is 'feeling extra pressure' being on the show because she's never had a dance lesson in her life 'Oh my god I cried in the bathroom too yesterday, they love it and I don't want to cry on camera and then I ended up breaking down,' Maura said. 'It's crazy because why am I crying and being pathetic'. Elsewhere during the podcast, Maura said she is 'feeling extra pressure' being on the show because she's never had a dance lesson in her life.Maura was hailed an 'international treasure' as she wowed the judges on week three of Dancing With The Stars.The Love Islander took to the dancefloor with her pro Mark, 40, to perform a Quickstep to George Benson's Turn Your Love Around for Yacht Rock Night.Maura oozed glamour in a plunging white dress which was embellished with silver sparkles along the neckline and long evening gloves.With her hair styled in slicked-back Hollywood waves, the television personality appeared in her element for her performance.Fans were so impressed by Maura's elegance that they have already tipped her to land a place in the final.