Whereas celebrating her second place achievement on Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars and coming “so shut” to taking residence the Mirrorball trophy, the Olympian shared how “proud” she is of herself and her associate, Alan Bersten.

“I am very happy with myself. I am happy with how far I’ve come. I am happy with regularly wanting to enhance and understanding that I can do higher in doing that,” Ilona instructed TooFab solely.

“I am tremendous happy with Alan for being so affected person with me and creating dances that actually showcase me in such a constructive mild,” she added.

Alan selected Chappell Roan’s “Femininomenon” for Ilona’s Freestyle and remaining dance of the season, an ideal match for the professional rugby participant who’s an inspiration to girls world wide.

“It has been so cool, they’re [her fans] the massive cause that we acquired there to second place. And it has been so cool. I feel ladies actually resonated with seeing me on the market. And in addition for Alan creating dances once more that put me in such a phenomenal mild. Being a giant lady, being a really sturdy lady, I nonetheless all the time felt stunning, all the time felt like a ‘Femininomenon,’” Ilona instructed TooFab.

Their Freestyle dance pulled in an ideal rating from the judges.

The pair additionally carried out the Jive earlier within the night for his or her redemption spherical to “Shake a Tail Feather” by The 5 Du-Tones

Whereas the efficiency gave them a robust begin, popping out with three 9s from the judges, it wasn’t sufficient to get all of them the way in which.

As for if Ilona will proceed engaged on the craft of dance: “Sure….,” she stated with hesitation earlier than jokingly shaking her head.

“No, it has been enjoyable. I feel there’s extra room to enhance. And I feel perhaps when it isn’t like, ‘You bought to do a present on Tuesday, study two dances!’ Perhaps when it is extra of a chill, I get to go to a studio perhaps I will take pleasure in that,” she admitted.

Ilona and Alan got here in second place behind Season 33 winners, Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson.

Regardless of not going residence with the coveted Mirrorball trophy, Alan instructed TooFab that Joey and Jenna deserve it, too.

“Truthfully, from day one, we have been greatest mates with them. We’d go into the studios with them each week and do present and tells or discuss or do TikToks. They’re nice. Joey’s such a exceptional individual. Jenna is unimaginable. They each deserve it as nicely,” he stated.

Dancing with the Stars is streaming on Hulu.