You Must Bond Fast On The Traitors Because Kristen Kish And Maura Higgins Were Just Total Friendship Goals For Mark Ballas

Mark Ballas and Kristen Kish are shown during a challenge on The Traitors Season 4.
(Image credit: Euan Cherry/Peacock)

Rob Rausch may have walked out of The Traitors Season 4 as the sole winner of Alan Cumming’s cash prize, but it seems his fellow celebrity castmates walked away with something valuable as well — new friendships! Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir aren’t the only besties amongst the Faithfuls anymore, because Kristen Kish and Maura Higgins are total friendship goals for Mark Ballas.

The Top Chef host and the Dancing with the Stars pro likely had a lot to bond over after their stint on The Traitors (streaming with a Peacock subscription). They both got dragged by fans for their gameplay, as the Faithfuls could not for the life of them catch the scent of the actual Traitors. However the friendship was forged, the important part is that these two look like they’ve found a lifelong buddy in each other, with Kristen Kish posting the sweetest Instagram tribute as she stopped in to see Mark Ballas in Chicago on Broadway:

Don’t they look like they’ve been friends forever? The Top Chef winner-turned-host had the most glowing words for Mark Ballas following his performance, writing:

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I would have never imagined walking away with a friendship like we have. I will admit, I hadn’t seen you on TV before that Scottish adventure last year so I was very unaware of your talent and your goodness. I just knew that you were the calm in the chaos. You know when you watch a friend do what they are so good at and clearly passionate for you cry when you think about it? Yea, that was me when I got home after watching you perform. You have a super human amount of talent and I am so happy to have witnessed it.

Honestly, can I be Kristen Kish’s friend too? What a beautiful sentiment! (Not to mention that she followed that up with a promise to cook for him the next time they see each other, which is a whole prize in itself.)

Mark Ballas and Kristen Kish didn’t exactly have the easiest time on The Traitors. The DWTS pro, for one, kept getting called out by viewers for not clocking the murder in plain sight, while others had the audacity to critique Kristen Kish’s knife skills. (Seriously, do you know who she is?)

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Watch The Traitors on Peacock TV: from $7.99 a month/$79.99 a year
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The chef wasn’t the only Traitors cast member to show up for Mark Ballas. Fans in the crowd also reportedly spotted Maura Higgins and Candiace Dillard Bassett catching Chicago alongside Kristen Kish.

It’s obvious that the Love Island alum bonded with the dancer as well on the Peacock competition show, because as soon as it was announced that Maura Higgins was going on Dancing with the Stars, she made it known that she wanted Mark Ballas as her partner.

Only time will tell if we’ll see these Faithfuls reunite on the dance floor — and if Mark Ballas can convince Rob Rausch to join the party as well. For now I’m content in knowing how much love still exists between these cast members, even outside of the Scottish Highlands.

Heidi Venable
Content Producer

Heidi Venable is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend, a mom of two and a hard-core '90s kid. She started freelancing for CinemaBlend in 2020 and officially came on board in 2021. Her job entails writing news stories and TV reactions from some of her favorite prime-time shows like Grey's Anatomy and The Bachelor. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry for almost two decades in multiple roles including Sports Editor, Page Designer and Online Editor. Unprovoked, will quote Friends in any situation. Thrives on New Orleans Saints football, The West Wing and taco trucks.

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