Ciara Miller’s elimination from Dancing With the Stars has left fans asking a question that has haunted the show for years: what is Dancing With the Stars actually about? The Summer House star, who was the first contestant to be announced for Season 35, was sent home on Tuesday during Mariah Carey Night, just four weeks into the competition, despite delivering her best dance yet.
Miller, partnered with Brandon Armstrong, had been an easy fan-favourite choice, especially after being labelled an “It Girl” in the culture. Her jazz routine to “Emotions” on Mariah Carey Night yielded her highest score of the season, and the judges said it was her “best dance yet”. It was not enough. She and Armstrong were sent packing, and users on Instagram and TikTok felt blindsided.
Two weeks, two improving dancers sent home
Miller’s exit followed a pattern. The week before, Britt Stewart, the show’s one and only Black female professional dancer, left the competition with her partner Taylor Hanson. For two weeks in a row, dancers who were consistently improving were sent home, and the cuts have prompted a debate about whether the show rewards improvement, popularity, or something else entirely.
For years, fans have argued about what the point of Dancing With the Stars actually is, without adjudication from ABC or Disney. Is it a dance competition, a popularity contest, or a reality show where the journey matters more than the technique? Miller’s elimination, after her best dance, has brought that argument back to the surface.
What happens next
The show moves on without her. Grammy Night airs on Tuesday, 10 November, with seven couples left and the finale scheduled for 24 November. Miller, meanwhile, returns to Summer House, where her “It Girl” status was earned in the first place. Her DWTS run lasted just four weeks, but the debate it sparked — about what the show is for, and who it is for — is likely to last a lot longer.
Related: Dancing With the Stars Grammy Night; Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa Get Matching Tattoos.
Sources: Apex News (10 Nov 2026).
