Maura Higgins Shakes Up DWTS with Birkin Live‑Voting Prop

During the second night of Season 35’s two‑night premiere of *Dancing With the Stars*, Maura Higgins and her professional partner Mark Ballas performed a Foxtrot to “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles.

The dance was highlighted by a surprising visual: as Ballas emerged from a coffin during a *Traitors*-themed routine, the choreographer held up a burgundy Hermès Birkin bag before tossing it into the audience. The moment instantly captured viewers’ attention and became an instant talking point online.

Later in the episode, Rob Rausch appeared in the audience holding the same Birkin beside Lisa Rinna. The bag bore the voting prompt “Text MAURA 21523,” inviting fans to support Higgins and Ballas. Social‑media chatter exploded with fans celebrating the iconic accessory’s ballroom debut, with comments ranging from excitement to tears.

The Birkin’s appearance is rooted in Higgins’ recent reality‑TV history. She and Rausch both competed on *The Traitors* Season 4 earlier this year, where Rausch famously betrayed her to win the show.

He later fulfilled a promise to gift her a Birkin, with Lisa Rinna’s help, linking the two shows in a playful cross‑over that fans appreciated.

## Background & Context

The episode marked the second night of Season 35’s two‑night premiere. In the broadcast, female celebrities and their pro partners performed No. 1 songs from the year they were born.

At the episode’s conclusion, *Love Thy Nader* star Sarah Jane Nader and her partner Hailey Bills were eliminated, following the first‑night elimination of *Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* star Conner Leavitt.

Maura Higgins’ Foxtrot earned a 21/30 score, placing her and Mark Ballas at the top of that night’s leaderboard. The performance’s choreography incorporated the coffin motif tied to *Traitors*, creating a thematic link between the two programs.

The Birkin bag, long associated with Higgins, was used as a prop that doubled as a voting tool for the audience.

Rob Rausch and Lisa Rinna’s appearance with the Birkin in the audience further cemented the crossover. Rausch had previously betrayed Higgins on *The Traitors*, yet he later gave her a Birkin to fulfill a promise he made to her, assisted by Rinna.

The bag’s presence on *Dancing With the Stars* served as both a visual statement and a direct call‑to‑action for viewers.

## What People Are Saying

Fans flooded social media with enthusiasm over the Birkin’s ballroom debut.

One user wrote, “THE BIRKIN HAS MADE ITS FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE BALLROOM #DWTS,” while another added, “Maura dancing with the birkin HELP 😭🤣 #DWTS.” Commenters highlighted the iconic nature of the moment: “Mark Ballas getting out of the coffin with the Birkin in hand during Maura’s dance how can you not say iconic 🤣👏🏽 #DWTS,” and “rob with text maura to 21523 on the birkin actually brought tears to my eyes i can’t lie #dwts.”

The bag’s inclusion as a voting prompt was noted by several viewers, who praised the creative use of a high‑profile accessory to engage the audience. Fans expressed admiration for how the production tied together two popular reality‑TV franchises in a single episode.

## What Happens Next

No official announcement follows the Birkin moment beyond the episode’s scoring and elimination results. The next *Dancing With the Stars* episode will continue with remaining celebrities performing No. 1 songs from their birth years, as the show progresses toward its finale.

Fans will be able to text “MAURA 21523” again in future episodes if voting continues for the same pair.

The Birkin’s cameo may influence future production choices, illustrating how a single prop can bridge shows and energize the audience. As the season moves forward, viewers will watch to see whether other crossover moments or voting prompts appear in the ballroom.

The episode concluded with a reminder that *Dancing With the Stars* remains a platform for both dance competition and fan interaction, and that the Birkin moment will likely remain a memorable highlight in Season 35’s history.