Team Tink on DWTS
Maura Higgins Partners With Mark Ballas for Dancing With The Stars Season 35
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Key Points
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Team Tink nickname origin: The 'Team Tink' label for Higgins and Ballas stems from Higgins' Traitors US accent moment where subtitles misread 'think' as 'tink', a detail fans and media have adopted to identify the pairing.
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GMA reveal and official DWTS portrait: Higgins and Ballas were confirmed on Good Morning America, then unveiled an official DWTS portrait on Instagram with the caption 'TEAM TINK'.
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"Prayers have been answered": Higgins described Ballas as her dream partner and noted that their Traitors US dynamic could help them on the DWTS ballroom, bridging reality TV trust with dance teamwork.
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Brooks Nader celebrated the Higgins–Ballas pairing publicly, and Higgins had previously said she wanted 'anyone but Gleb Savchenko' due to concerns about his behavior toward women.
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DWTS Season 35 is set to premiere on September 15, 2026, with the cast announcement having been shared during the GMA reveal.
Irish reality TV star Maura Higgins has secured her dream partnership on Dancing With The Stars Season 35, paired with three-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas Newsy Today. The pairing was confirmed on Good Morning America, fulfilling Higgins' public wish to work with the professional dancer and actor. Ballas is also the son of Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, adding another layer of pedigree to the partnership.
Higgins had previously stated she wanted 'anyone but Gleb Savchenko' as her partner, citing concerns about the other pro dancer's past behavior The Mirror. The relief and excitement around the Ballas pairing underscore how much Higgins values the match. Season 35 premieres on September 15, 2026.
Higgins' Public Campaign for Her Dream Partner
Maura Higgins made no secret of her casting preferences before DWTS Season 35 began AOL. She openly expressed her desire to avoid pairing with Gleb Savchenko, citing concerns about his treatment of women. Instead, she pinpointed Mark Ballas as her ideal dance partner, and that wish came true when producers confirmed the pairing.
Higgins described the outcome as her 'prayers have been answered' AOL. The Irish star's straightforward approach to expressing her preferences paid off in a casting decision that feels like a genuine victory for the reality TV personality heading into her ballroom debut.
Team Tink: A Nickname Born From The Traitors
The partnership has already been dubbed 'Team Tink,' a playful label rooted in reality TV history. During her time on The Traitors US, Higgins' accent caused subtitles to misread the word 'think' as 'tink,' a moment fans loved and remembered. The nickname has stuck and now defines her and Ballas' pairing for the upcoming season.
The duo unveiled an official DWTS portrait on Instagram captioned 'TEAM TINK,' embracing the fan-created label Head To Topics. The nickname serves as a bridge between Higgins' reality TV fame and her new dancing chapter, giving the partnership instant personality and fan recognition.
Building Trust From The Traitors to The Ballroom
Higgins has emphasized that her experience with Ballas on The Traitors US created a foundation of trust and teamwork. The reality competition demanded collaboration in a high-pressure environment, qualities that directly translate to competitive ballroom dancing. She views their existing relationship as a significant advantage heading into grueling rehearsals.
The Irish star has been candid that she is not a natural game player, and she values environments that feel like family AOL. She believes the partnership with Ballas offers exactly that dynamic—a team that already knows how to work together under pressure and support each other through tough moments.
A Three-Time Champion Guides a Reality TV Veteran
Mark Ballas brings serious pedigree to Season 35. The professional dancer has won the Mirrorball trophy three times, making him one of the show's most decorated pros Newsy Today. His track record of success, combined with his famous mother Shirley's expertise in dance, positions him as an ideal mentor for a first-time competitor like Higgins.
Higgins' celebrity status from Love Island and other reality platforms means she brings name recognition and fan enthusiasm to the partnership Head To Topics. The combination of her television experience and Ballas' technical mastery creates a pairing with genuine potential for deep ballroom success when the season launches in September 2026.
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