# Maura Higgins Tops Dancing With The Stars Leaderboard

> Maura Higgins wins Dancing With The Stars with first 9 after emotional struggles.
- Title: Maura Higgins Tops Dancing With The Stars Leaderboard
- Summary: Maura Higgins wins Dancing With The Stars with first 9 after emotional struggles. Maura Higgins earned a first 9 on Dancing With The Stars after struggling…
- Keywords: maura higgins, dancing with the stars, love island, mark ballas, dancing with the stars leaderboard, dancing with the stars season, news, entertainment, Maura, Higgins, Tops, Dancing
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16195465/Maura-Higgins-beams-heads-Dancing-Stars-training.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-10-09T07:52:22+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: maura higgins, dancing with the stars, love island, mark ballas, dancing with the stars leaderboard, dancing with the stars season, news, entertainment
## Maura Higgins beams
Maura Higgins beamed as she headed to Dancing With The Stars training after topping the leaderboard earlier this week.
## Topping leaderboard
Maura took to the dancefloor with her professional partner Mark Ballas to perform a stunning waltz on Tuesday's live show and bagged the first nine of the series.
## Struggling with feedback
Maura admitted she has been crying in the toilets during rehearsals after negative critiques from judges and partner.
## Emotional breakdown
Maura said she feels like she's s*** after judges keep telling her to fix her arm, neck, hips and toes.
## Professional partner
Mark Ballas, son of Strictly judge Shirley Ballas, has been Maura's professional partner for the show.
## Crying in the toilets
Maura revealed she cried in the bathroom after feeling overwhelmed by negative feedback from judges and trainers.
## Love Island background
Maura Higgins is an Irish Love Island star who has been tipped as a favorite to win Dancing With The Stars.
## First 9 achievement
Maura earned the first 9 of the season after performing a waltz to If It's Over on Tuesday's live show.
## Judge reactions
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba called Maura's performance 'another world' while Derek Hough praised it as a classic waltz with no gimmicks.
## Next steps
Maura is now learning her next routine and heading to rehearsals in her exercise gear for the upcoming week.
## Key takeaway

Maura Higgins earned a first 9 on Dancing With The Stars after struggling with negative feedback from judges.