Maura Higgins claimed she was nervous before her “DWTS” debut, but one behavioral analyst believes her body language told a different story. The Maura Higgins’ Dynamic With Mark Ballas Raises Eyebrows After ‘DWTS’ Debut first appeared on The Blast

Maura Higgins may have claimed she was nervous before her “Dancing with the Stars” debut, but one behavioral analyst believes her body language told a very different story. The “Love Island” alum topped the women’s leaderboard after performing a Foxtrot to Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet” with professional partner Mark Ballas.

However, body language expert Darren Stanton claimed Higgins displayed “extreme confidence” and appeared to hold more power in the partnership. He also alleged there was “no real connection” between the pair, despite their established friendship from “The Traitors.”

Expert Claims Maura Higgins Was More Confident Than She Admitted

Speaking to Covers, Stanton suggested Higgins’ red-carpet-style pose conflicted with her admission that she felt nervous before the performance. “It’s all about consistency. With Maura, she’s an extremely confident person, and she’s talking a good game,” he said.

“She’s making out that she was nervous, but if you look at the hands on her hips, this is a red carpet technique. It’s what Kim Kardashian and Beyonce do. It’s a contradiction to what she is saying. Maura would not have been delivering those behaviors if she was nervous,” Stanton added.

He interpreted her pose as evidence that Higgins was controlling how she presented herself to the audience. “Secondly, there were no signs of fear. I would say it was pure strategy. Maura is trying to be humble, but I know exactly what she is doing. She’s extremely focused and prepared for whatever is required to achieve her goal. Maura knows how to work the crowd and is very adept at building rapport,” he continued.

Maura Higgins Is Allegedly ‘Wearing The Trousers’

Stanton also examined the dynamic between Higgins and Ballas following their first performance. “When it comes to the dynamics with her dance partner Mark Ballas, Maura is wearing the trousers in this collaboration. If you notice in shows such as ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ usually the pair have their arms around each other and are tactile, despite there being absolutely no romance,” he explained.

The behavioral analyst suggested that Ballas appeared willing to let Higgins command the attention surrounding their partnership. “But here, there is no real connection between Maura and Mark. Although he is the dance expert, Mark is looking down a lot and is displaying signs of nervousness when he is around her,” he added. “That’s very interesting. Mark is allowing Maura to have center stage and he is not bothered about the press.”

His assessment appears to conflict with Higgins and Ballas’ own public description of their relationship. The pair recently pushed back against reports of behind-the-scenes tension and emphasized their friendship and mutual respect.

• Derek Hough and Mark Ballas redefined traditional gender roles during the “Dancing with the Stars” finale.
• Tara Lipinski admitted that she was “heartbroken” by Maura Higgins during the Season 4 finale of “The Traitors.”

The Pair Topped The Women’s Leaderboard

Whatever their offstage dynamic may be, Higgins and Ballas produced one of the strongest performances of the Season 35 premiere. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli each awarded the pair a seven, for a total score of 21 out of 30, which outscored actress and experienced dancer Jenna Dewan, who received 19 out of 30.

The result put Higgins at the top of the women’s leaderboard and ahead of contestants with more extensive performance experience.

Maura Higgins And Mark Ballas Bonded On ‘The Traitors’

Higgins and Ballas already knew each other before being paired on “Dancing with the Stars.” Both appeared as Faithfuls on the same season of “The Traitors” and reportedly grew close while filming in the Scottish countryside.

Ballas said Higgins even discussed her interest in joining the dance competition while they were living in the castle. “When we were in the castle, she told me, ‘[I’d] love to do Dancing With the Stars.’ I was like, ‘I don’t know, mate. You can’t make it through a 45-minute challenge. How are you going to make it through a five to 10-hour rehearsal?’” Ballas told Entertainment Weekly.

“And her answer, I was like, ‘Fair enough.’ She was like, ‘I don’t want to carry rocks in a backpack up a mountain throwing gold pebbles at stuff … but I want to learn how to dance,’” he added.

Maura Higgins Previously Shut Down Rob Rausch Romance Rumors

Higgins’ time on “The Traitors” also sparked speculation about her relationship with fellow “Love Island” alum Rob Rausch. The two shared a flirtatious and comfortable rapport during the competition. However, Rausch was secretly a Traitor and ultimately convinced Higgins to banish Eric Nam, another Traitor. That decision left Higgins vulnerable, allowing Rausch to become the final remaining Traitor and win the entire $220,800 prize.

Despite speculation about their interactions, both Higgins and Rausch have insisted their relationship was always platonic. “I’m not gonna ruin it for the viewers, but no, nothing ever happened between me and Rob,” Higgins told Us Weekly in February 2026. “I genuinely look at Rob like a brother. Literally nothing ever happened.”

Higgins has now turned her focus to the ballroom, where her first-week score immediately established her as a serious competitor.

The Maura Higgins’ Dynamic With Mark Ballas Raises Eyebrows After ‘DWTS’ Debut first appeared on The Blast