WATCH: Ilona Maher emulates Luisa from Encanto during Disney Night at Dancing With the Stars

Ilona Maher grooved to the beats of 'Surface Pressure' from the Disney movie, Encanto, on the House of Mouse-themed night at Dancing With the Stars. Maher channeled Luisa Madrigal from the popular Disney creation while her partner Alan Bersten played the role of one of the village donkeys.

Maher, the US women's rugby sevens player, won the coveted bronze with her team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 28-year-old captured hearts with her vocal nature, advocating for the body positivity of women athletes in masculine sports. She first gained public attention at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, when she offered glimpses of the Olympic Village and her fellow athletes.

Boasting nearly six million followers on TikTok and Instagram combined, Maher graced the 2024 Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated, posing in topless and sleek bikinis to empower women with muscular body structures.

After succeeding at the marquee event, Maher joined the Dancing With the Stars roster as a celebrity participant. Partnered with professional dancer Alan Bersten, the revolutionary rugby player won hearts with her performances, especially the rumba on 'Dedication Night' on October 15, 2024.

This week, on October 22, 2024, the two-time Olympian played the role of Luisa Madrigal from the 2021 Disney animated film, Encanto. Madrigal, the bodybuilder with super strength was popular as the 'rock' of the family in the film. Maher's dancing partner, Alan Bersten, emulated a village donkey.

The pair danced to 'Surface Pressure' from Encanto, and the audience witnessed the rugby player lifting Bersten in between their routine and throwing Earth-shaped and stone-shaped props to denote immense strength.

Instead of Luisa's conventional look from the movie, Ilona Maher went for a white crop top with off-shoulder sleeves, a blue skater skirt, a pair of white sneakers, and a red bow.

After the night's performance, Maher and Bersten collected 25 out of 30 points.

Ilona Maher on her DWTS character in Disney Week - "I really resonate with Luisa"

Ilona Maher arrives in fashion for the DWTS at Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles; (Image Source: Getty)

Ilona Maher, who has won millions of hearts for advocating for women with unconventional body types, shared that Luisa's role suited her perfectly.

"I really resonate with Luisa. I too grew up as a bigger female. She is big and broad but she is so beautiful. She doesn’t ever try to shrink herself for the world. I'm so happy I’m sharing that with people now. Just like Luisa, I might bend, but I’ll never break," Maher said in the rehearsals. (via Entertainment Weekly)

Taking to her X handle, Maher posted a picture of herself as a little girl with the Disney character, Snow White, at a Disney park.

"Doing this dance tonight for this little girl (me) who would have loved Luisa," her caption read.

Maher's Hair Metal night-themed performance received criticism from the judges for some mistakes but pulled herself back up and collected 32 out of 40 points on Dedication Night.