Shiri Maimon Content With Potential Second Place Finish in Dancing With the Stars

As the grand finale of "Dancing With the Stars" on Keshet 12 approaches, contestant Shiri Maimon expressed contentment with a potential second-place finish, drawing parallels to her experience 20 years prior. Maimon, who was considered a strong contender from the outset, stated in an interview that she would be "very happy" with second place, emphasizing that "this is not a singing competition, it's a dance competition." She admitted to being surprised and honored to have reached the finals, especially given the initial 21 competing pairs.

Maimon acknowledged her perfectionist tendencies, which sometimes led her to feel that her performances weren't good enough. She described the five-month process as challenging, pushing her outside her comfort zone, but also expressed gratitude to the audience for bringing her and her partner, Rafael Fleishman, to the final. Despite the intensity of the competition, she noted that she has upcoming performances and commitments, including shows in Caesarea and the return of "The Star Next Door."

She also discussed the support she received from fellow singer Ninette Tayeb, describing their relationship as one of genuine, mutual affection and support, which has spanned two decades. Maimon mentioned that Tayeb's praise for her performance on "The Star That Remains" was not surprising, given their long-standing friendship and history of mutual encouragement, including during the Eurovision competition 20 years ago.