Ilona Maher has taken her lifting game to a new level Dancing with the stars.

Maher, 28, opened up exclusively Us weekly via Hebeprofi Alan Bersten – and other castmates, including Jenna Johnson And Chandler Kinney – while wearing high heels and watching their performances DWTS‘Disney Night on Tuesday, October 22nd.

“I’m getting a lot more used to the elevators now,” Maher said, noting that this is the first time she’s given up her apartments. “At first they said, ‘She’s doing lifts again.’ “We shouldn’t do the heels,” but they couldn’t make a shoe without (heels).”

For her group dance with Kinney, 24, Jenn Tran, Joey Grazedei and professionals Bersten, 30, Johnson, 30 and Brandon ArmstrongMaher matched the other women in knee-high, short-heeled leather boots.

“It’s worked out. And honestly, it actually got Jenna higher (in the air),” Maher said Us.

Bersten then added that Maher “could have” even worn high heels during her salsa to “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” Dirty dancing from Bill Medley And Jennifer Warnes during the show’s Oscar night on September 24, although they decided to play it safe and wear sneakers for their first-ever lift.

“I guess we could have done it in high heels,” the Olympian agreed.

Bersten also said it Us that although judge Derek Hough Although he praised Maher’s performance with Johnson as “the best of the season,” he had a different opinion. Instead, Bersten thought her shrug from her jazz routine to Encanto’s “Surface Pressure” was more impressive.

“It’s iconic. Light up!” Bersten exclaimed. “But no disrespect.”

Maher told it before Us that while lifting Bersten during Oscar night, she ditched her high heels for kicks for safety reasons.

“I thought because of my ankles I just wanted to wear flats,” Maher explained, while Bersten added, “And for the stability.”