The Hamptons may be cooling off, but the ballroom is just starting to heat up. On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, ABC officially announced that Ciara Miller is the first celebrity contestant confirmed for Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. The Ciara Miller Dancing with the Stars Season 35 casting comes at a pivotal moment for the Bravo star, who is currently navigating one of the most explosive social betrayals in Summer House history. Miller, a 30-year-old former ICU nurse and fan favorite, is reportedly ready to trade her roommate drama for the rigorous demands of professional ballroom competition.
Miller’s leap to the ballroom follows a massive public fallout with her costars Amanda Batula and West Wilson. On March 31, 2026, Batula and Wilson shocked the reality TV world by confirming their romantic relationship in a joint Instagram statement. The news was a direct blow to Miller, as Wilson is her ex-boyfriend and Batula has been one of her closest confidants for five seasons.
In a recent unflinching interview, Miller described the situation as a “mindf–k,” revealing that she felt deeply betrayed by Batula. While she noted that “a guy’s a guy,” she expressed shock that a woman she had championed through a public separation from Kyle Cooke would pursue her recent ex. The casting announcement signals a strategic pivot for Miller, allowing her to step out of the “messy love triangle” narrative and into a new spotlight.
While Miller is best known for her poise on Summer House, she is no stranger to discipline. Before her television career, she served as a frontline nurse, a background she says prepared her for high-pressure environments. Interestingly, Miller also has a history with dance, having studied ballet for a decade during her youth.
Joining Miller in the initial cast reveal is The Traitors breakout Maura Higgins. The two women are set to lead a star-studded lineup as the show moves back to its traditional fall slot. Season 35 is scheduled to premiere on September 16, 2026, on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available the next day on Hulu.
Despite the ongoing friction, the Summer House Season 10 reunion is still on track to tape later this month. Insiders suggest that while cameras did not pick back up to capture the immediate fallout of the Batula-Wilson romance, the reunion will serve as the first time the trio faces one another publicly. For Miller, the timing of Dancing with the Stars provides a welcome distraction. As she prepares to compete for the Mirrorball Trophy, fans are eager to see if her background in ballet and her resilient spirit will make her a frontrunner in the competition.
