Maura Higgins didn't just survive her "Dancing With the Stars" debut — she led the leaderboard by the end of the night. Competing on the second night of the season 35 premiere, Higgins and professional partner Mark Ballas earned a 21 out of 30 for a foxtrot to Alannah Myles' "Black Velvet," the highest score of the eight female celebrities who performed and a tie with the night-one high set by Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson. All three judges, Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, gave the pair a 7, putting Higgins two points clear of second-place finisher Jenna Dewan.
Mark Ballas getting out of the coffin with the Birkin in hand during Maura's dance how can you not say iconic 🤣👏🏽 #DWTS pic.twitter.com/2w3xBy9Snx
— Giselle//💥⏳ 💍💫 (@giselleb1234) September 17, 2026
The routine leaned fully into Higgins' reality TV history rather than shying away from it. Built around her run on "The Traitors," the number opened with Ballas emerging from a coffin dressed as one of the show's hooded Traitors, and at one point in the choreography he lifted Higgins' real-life burgundy Hermès Birkin bag before tossing it into the studio audience. The bag had the night's voting instructions pinned to it, reading "Text MAURA 21523," turning the prop into a functional part of the broadcast. It landed with Rob Rausch, Higgins' former "Traitors" castmate, who was seated near fellow Bravo personality Lisa Rinna.
