Ilona Maher Says Dancing withDWTSPartner Alan Bersten 'Makes Me Feel Very Feminine': 'Good for Girls to See' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten on “Dancing with the Stars” Season 33 premiere, on Sept. 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, Calif.Photo:Disney/Eric McCandless

Disney/Eric McCandless

Ilona Maher’s openingDancing with the Starsroutine suitably set the stage for her upcoming season.

At the series’ season 33 premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 17, theOlympic bronze medalistexclusively told PEOPLE that her partnerAlan Berstenis helping her show the public her feminine side.

“I think it’s going to be good for girls to see a muscular, strong woman out there, like being feminine dancing with a gorgeous man like Alan here,” she noted.

“So I think it’s going to show a lot,” the 28-year-old athlete said. “I think girls will really love to see it.”

She also remarked that although she’s a professional athlete, approaching this competition is “tough” because she doesn’t know what her “body can do in dance,” but she’s confident “it can do something good.”

Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten on “Dancing with the Stars” Season 33 premiere, on Sept. 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, Calif.Disney/Eric McCandless

Ahead of the premiere, Maher told Bersten that she wanted to come onDancing with the Starsto be a role model for young girls.

“I’m this very big, muscular woman, but I also feel so beautiful and feminine,” she said. “I mean, you know, I grew up not very comfortable, but I want to now make it easier for young girls to love your body.”

During the premiere, the pair performed the Cha Cha toShania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”

“It was very correct,” judge Bruno Tonioli told her, “but I’m telling you, you got more than that. You’re great, you’re beautiful, let it all hang out!”

The duo scored an 18 out of 30 for their first performance.

Ilona Maher at the USA House at Paris 2024 on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (.Joe Scarnici/Getty

Joe Scarnici/Getty

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Ahead of herDWTSdebut and afterTeam USA took home bronze, Maher was photographed for theSI Swimsuitcover.Maher told the outlet how meaningful the moment was for her, remarking that she’s “always called masculine.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dancing with the Starsairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with the episode available to stream the next day on Hulu.

source: people.com