Ilona Maher Says She Wanted to Be 'as Naked as Is Allowed on National Television’ in NewDWTSCostume

Mar. 15, 2025

Ilona Maher says she wanted to be “naked” for new ‘Dancing with the Stars’ routine.Photo:Dancing With The Stars/Instagram; Disney/Eric McCandless

Dancing With The Stars/Instagram; Disney/Eric McCandless

Ilona Maherwas ready to show her moves — and some skin — onDancing with the Stars.

In a TikTok video shared ahead ofDedication Night, which aired on Oct. 15, the Olympian, 28, said that she wanted her newest costume to bare it all — or at least close to all.

“I want you all to know that this week I went to costume design and told them, ‘Look, I want to be naked. I want to be as naked as is allowed on national television. All these other girls are showing skin. I want to show pretty much everything.’”

“Boom. I’m doing this for all you girlies. I feel really good and sexy and pretty,” she said.

Maher and her partner Alan Bersten had quite the redemption after they came off of Metal Night on Oct. 8 with a discouraging score.

Chatting with PEOPLE after her performance, Maher reacted to all the support she received online after last week’s episode.

“It’s so great that I received so much positivity. I think for me it’s like, how can I translate that and get that into my own head and believe it and really have the confidence to go out there and trust myself that I can dance. It is just so wild and people are like, ‘Oh, she’s being so vulnerable.’ It was just such a natural thing for me to want to cry or feel that in that moment,” she said.

Ilona Maher.Amy Sussman/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty

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Maher has definitely proven to be a fan of a skin-baring fashion.

She’s also used her social media platform to talk about body confidence, including the highs and the lows.

In anhonest TikTok videoshared on September 22, she said: “I try to remember what my body does for me, how strong it is,” adding, “Just remember that our bodies are constantly changing and will constantly change for the rest of our lives.”

And she always tries to remind herself with this affirmation:“Give yourself some grace.”

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source: people.com