Ilona Maher Talks All Things DWTS & Shares Her Plans for the Future [EXCLUSIVE]

Ilona Maher is busier than ever two weeks after wrapping her season on “Dancing with the Stars.”

Not only did the Olympic bronze medalist land in second place in the ABC celebrity ballroom competition, but days later she signed a three-month contract to play for the Bristol Bears in the Premiership Women’s Rugby League in England, she announced on Instagram.

Maher, 28, has also teamed up with Quaker Oats, a partnership she said she’s “honored” to be involved in. In addition, there might be a couple of “Dancing” tour dates in her future. (More on that in a bit).

EntertainmentNOW caught up with Maher to get the scoop on her “Dancing With the Stars” run as well as what she has planned going into 2025.

Ilona Maher Looked Back on Her DWTS Season

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Maher told EntertainmentNOW she was “thankful” to be paired with pro dancer Alan Bersten on the 33rd season of “Dancing With the Stars.” “Our personalities mesh very well,” she shared in our interview. “He’s a talented dancer and great coach and I’ve always respected and looked up to my coaches. I believe we’ve found a friend for life in each other.”

The pro rugby player added that she became close with everyone on the cast. “We all got along so great and were supportive of each other’s journeys in the ballroom,” she said. “Danny [Amendola] and I have similar backgrounds in contact sports, so we got along instantly. Joey [Graziadei] and I spent a lot of time in the studio together.”

Maher told us that her favorite dances were the Rumba and Paso Doble. “Alan did such an incredible job choreographing to my strengths and making me feel and look beautiful out there,” she said. “Of course, my Luisa Jazz [from Disney Night] will always have a special place in my heart.”

What she didn’t love so much were the “gnarly” blisters she routinely got on her feet.

As for what surprised her the most during her DWTS season, Maher said, “That I understand an 8-count now.” “I knew going into it that Dancing with the Stars is a full-on commitment,” she added. “It’s part of the reason I was hesitant to join the cast at first when the ask came. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and I don’t do anything halfway. I’m proud of how I showed up for myself and my partner Alan each week and of the steady progress I made.”

Maher told us she will miss Bersten more than the actual dancing now that the “Dancing With the Stars” season has ended. “Mostly Alan,” she admitted when asked what she would miss the most about being on the show. “The dancing was so tough and never fully felt natural. I will miss our partnership and the laughs we shared.”

“I’m an athlete. I’m used to training full-on, but I will say there were more rehearsals in those months than I’d typically train for in my sport in that time,” she elaborated. “I just told myself for those next few weeks or months, all I have to focus on and put my energy into is DWTS. And of course, I made sure to keep my body fueled. I like to start my days off with Quaker Oats because they taste great and offer whole grain nourishment.”

Ilona Maher Shared Her Plans for the New Year

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As for what’s next, Maher said she would “love” to perform during the DWTS Live Tour, which kicks off in January 2025 in Richmond, Virginia. “It’s mostly now about finding the time to do it as I am going back to play some rugby,” she said.

Luckily for fans, with her rugby contract wrapping in early spring, Maher will appear on the final two “Dancing With the Stars” tour dates on April 5 and 6 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, per the DWTS Tour website.

For now, Maher told us she’s looking to rest up before diving back into her work schedule. “Sleep and feel refreshed going into 2025!” she said of her plans for the holidays. “I’m also now kicking off my partnership with Quaker Oats and we have some fun things planned for next year. I enjoy working with brands I believe in and actually use, so stay tuned for more content around how Quaker helps keep me fueled all day long!”