Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller, familiar faces from reality television, are confirmed contestants for the upcoming 35th season of 'Dancing With the Stars'. The dual announcement, made at Hulu's Get Real House Live event on April 22, positions them as the first revealed celebrities for the fall premiere. Higgins, who gained significant attention as a runner-up on 'The Traitors', expressed a clear ambition: “I want to win the trophy.” Miller, previously a participant on 'The Traitors' a season before Higgins and a cast member of 'Summer House', reportedly teased her participation through an Instagram video detailing her "Next Chapter 2026" to-do list, which included "prioritizing" herself, "taking risks", and 'Dancing With the Stars'. The show is slated to return to ABC and stream on Disney+ with new episodes available on Hulu the following day.
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Higgins, having previously starred on 'Love Island' and 'Dancing on Ice', and most recently 'The Traitors US', sees this role as a significant step in her career. Her participation in 'Dancing With the Stars' has been framed by some as a surprising, yet deliberate, move following her 'Traitors' success. She herself has alluded to 'Dancing With the Stars' as a long-term aspiration, having placed it on her "vision board". Higgins also indicated this might be her final foray into reality television, calling it "the only other show on my vision board contestant-wise."
A Season of Departures and Debuts
Miller's casting arrives amidst personal drama, with news surfacing about her "Summer House" castmate and ex-boyfriend, West Wilson, dating her friend Amanda Batula. This backdrop reportedly adds a layer of intrigue to her competitive journey. While the specific professional dancers paired with Higgins and Miller remain undisclosed, suggestions have surfaced, with Pasha Pashkov proposed for Higgins and Val Chmerkovskiy for Miller. Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are set to return, as are judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli.
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The timing of the announcement places it as part of Higgins's "Stateside takeover," further amplified by her recent attendance at the 2026 Time 100 Gala. This event, alongside a previous Golden Globes red carpet appearance, highlights her increasing visibility in the American entertainment landscape. Her social media response to the 'DWTS' confirmation, a jubilant "I TINK IM VERY EXCITED!", reflects the public reception of her casting. For Miller, this marks a shift from her established reality television presence, potentially offering a different platform for her to be seen.
Contextualizing the Castings
The inclusion of both Higgins and Miller, two figures who have recently commanded attention on 'The Traitors', suggests a strategic approach by 'Dancing With the Stars' to leverage existing public interest. Both women have prior reality television experience, with Higgins also having a background in competitive ice skating. This season, the 35th, is expected to premiere in the fall, with the full cast and their professional partners to be unveiled at a later date. Past seasons have seen considerable viewership, with Season 34 concluding with Robert Irwin and Witney Carson as champions.
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