“Neither of us are keeping our mouths shut,” the Olympic bronze medalist jokingly tells PEOPLE of her friendship with the professional dancer
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Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten
Ilona Maher And Alan Bersten share the secrets of their unique Dancing with the stars band.
I spoke exclusively to PEOPLE during the show’s semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 19, with Maher, 28, and Bersten, 30 — who is one of the five remaining couples have a chance to claim the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy – revealed why they think they’ve built such a close friendship on the show.
“We’re both annoying,” says the Olympic bronze medalist jokes about himself and Bersten.
“Our stupidity,” the professional dancer, 30, adds. “Have you seen it? Stupid and dumber?”
“Neither of us keep our mouths shut. We’re similar,” Maher, 28, continues, “And also that we have someone who doesn’t tell you to ever soften yourself. Alan tells me to be funny.”
Bersten jokingly replies: “I saw that on a shirt once!”
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Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten perform during the semi-finals of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ on November 19
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Maher added that her professional partner was also the driving force behind her decision to continue posting videos online about her time on the show.
“He said, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s get it out to people,’” Maher says. “I’ve always loved showing my personality online and now I get to show his and it’s been really great. “
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Maher now has a combined total of 7.5 million followers TikTok And Instagram accounts, and is regularly praised for her compelling content, which ranges from clever skits to powerful messages about body image.
While talk to PEOPLE in an interview in October, the athlete – who Bersten previously praised helping her show her feminine side on the show – spoke about his fame as “America’s Sweetheart.”
“I think when people say ‘America’s Sweetheart,’ I think, ‘Me, the girl who plays rugby?’ Okay, I’ll take it. I’m honored. And I like that we’re changing who is considered a role model for children, she said.
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Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten at the semi-finals of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ on November 19
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Her online presence continues as she and Bersten prepare for next week DWTS final, in which she stars together with their fellow competing couples: Danny Amendola and Witney Carson, Joey Graziadei and Jenna JohnsonChandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong And Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold.
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Despite remaining tense on Tuesday when Maher and Bersten, Nedoroscik and Arnold were told they were on the chopping block, Alfonso Ribeiro And Julianne Hough finally announced that no one was going home.
The season 33 Dancing with the stars finale airs Tuesday, November 26 at 8pm ET on ABC.