11
The ballroom is officially heating up. While fans have been speculating for months about who would compete for the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 35, the first two names out of the gate have sent shockwaves through the reality TV multiverse.
At LocalPaperDaily, we’ve tracked the evolution of Dancing with the Stars from a standard celebrity competition into a high-stakes arena for the modern “Influencer Economy.” The addition of Ciara Miller (Summer House) and Maura Higgins (The Traitors/Love Island) isn’t just about dance—it’s a masterstroke in audience engagement.
Credit : Kevin Mazur/Getty; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
The “Maura Higgins” Factor: A Global Viral Engine
If you’ve followed Maura Higgins from her breakout days on Love Island UK to her high-stakes maneuvering in The Traitors, you know she isn’t just a contestant; she is a “moment-maker.” For a show like DWTS, which thrives on social media clips, Maura is pure gold.
From my analysis of past casting trends, Maura represents the “International Wildcard.” She brings a fearless, unfiltered personality that often clashes—in the best way possible—với những quy tắc khắt khe của sàn nhảy ballroom. Her Irish charm combined with a massive digital following means ABC isn’t just getting a dancer; they are getting a global marketing machine that will likely dominate TikTok and Twitter from Week 1.
Ciara Miller: The “Discipline Dividend”
On the other side of the spectrum, we have Ciara Miller. While she is widely known for the drama of the Hamptons on Bravo’s Summer House, her real advantage lies in her background as a frontline nurse.
In my years of covering this show, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern: contestants with high-pressure, real-world jobs often outperform traditional actors. Why? Because they understand the “grind.” The 10-hour rehearsals and the physical toll of learning a Jive or a Samba are nothing compared to a 12-hour nursing shift. Ciara’s modeling background also gives her a natural edge in “lines” and posture—two things that judges like Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli scrutinize heavily.
The Strategy: Why These Two, Why Now?
Disney+ and ABC are clearly pivoting away from “celebrities of the past” and leaning into “fandoms of the present.” By casting stars from the Bravo and Peacock ecosystems, they are effectively bridging the gap between traditional broadcast TV and modern streaming audiences.
This is a move to ensure Dwell Time on the streaming platform. Fans of Summer House and Love Island are famously loyal; they don’t just watch the show—they vote, they comment, and they defend their favorites. This “built-in” audience is exactly what Season 35 needs to maintain its ratings momentum in an increasingly crowded media landscape.
What to Watch For in the Premiere
As an avid ballroom observer, I’ll be looking at the Pro-Partner pairings very closely.
For Maura, a pro with a high-energy, “no-nonsense” style would create the perfect TV tension.
For Ciara, a pro who focuses on technical precision would allow her nursing-level discipline to shine.
Regardless of who they are paired with, the message is clear: Season 35 isn’t playing it safe. They are bringing in the heavy hitters of reality TV to ensure this is the most talked-about season in years.
