Three months, a ton of dances, and so many memorable moments later, Dancing with the Stars Season 33 has officially wrapped! Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik were absolute standouts this season, bringing all the energy and charm to the ballroom. For her redemption round, Ilona and her partner Alan Bersten crushed a jive to Shake A Tail Feather by Ray Charles & The Blues Brothers, scoring a solid 27 out of 30. Then, they took things up a notch in the freestyle round, performing to Femininomenon by District 78 featuring Mona Rue and landing a perfect 30—seriously, it was chef’s kiss.

Even though they didn’t snag the Mirror Ball Trophy, Ilona Maher and Alan crushed it, finishing in an impressive second place, just behind The Bachelor’s Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson. And now that the glitter’s settled, Ilona’s been spilling the behind-the-scenes fun with the DWTS squad—because who doesn’t love a little post-show tea?

Ilona Maher gives a sneak peek!

On November 29, Ilona Maher gave her fans a peek into the Dancing with the Stars post-show fun with an Instagram photo dump! The montage kicked off with a group shot featuring Ilona, Stephen Nedoroscik, Joey Graziadei, Danny Amendola, and Chandler Kinney, all hanging out like total legends. And the setting? Oh, just a private jet, no big deal! But the real showstopper? A golden snap of Ilona and Stephen proudly flexing their Olympic bronze medals, turning that jet ride into a full-on champion’s parade.

Every photo, snapped on a disposable camera, had this dreamy, vintage aesthetic that could belong in an indie movie montage. The rest of the collection showed glimpses of the DWTS crew living it up, including Stephen’s partner, Rylee Arnold, and other fun-filled moments. But the pièce de résistance? The final pic! It showed Ilona Maher with a stain on her outfit that had fans buzzing. Being the queen of humor she is, she cleared things up in her caption, “Team No Sleep. To be clear: in the last photo, I spilled beer on myself. That is not pee. Don’t spread that rumor around.” Classic Ilona, keeping it real and making us laugh!

Maher and DWTS!

In an emotional chat with Forbes, Ilona Maher poured her heart out to entertainment writer Jeff Conway, sharing how her journey on Dancing with the Stars has been nothing short of transformative. Stepping off the rugby field and onto the dance floor, she admitted, has been a daring leap into the unknown. “I think it’s really gotten me outside of my comfort zone,” Ilona revealed, contrasting the confidence she’s always carried in rugby—a sport where her strength and skill reign supreme—with the vulnerability she’s faced as a dancer.

“For years now, I’ve been playing rugby in my comfort zone—something that I’m so good at, that I’m so powerful at,” Ilona Maher explained, capturing the stark shift in her world. But embracing the dance floor wasn’t just daunting; it was downright terrifying. “I knew it was going to be so hard,” she confessed, reflecting on the fear that nearly held her back. Yet, tackling this challenge has ignited a new kind of courage in her heart. “I think I’m just a braver person,” Ilona said, her voice tinged with excitement about what’s ahead.

From acting to taking on unexpected opportunities, she sees DWTS as more than just a stage—it’s a gateway to discovering untapped potential. For Ilona, the show has become a beautiful reminder that stepping into the unknown often leads to the most rewarding adventures.