Ciara Miller is disappointed that her Dancing With the Stars journey has ended, but the reality TV star is leaving the competition with a meaningful experience and a newfound appreciation for her dance partner, Brandon Armstrong.
The Summer House star was eliminated from Dancing With the Stars season 35 on October 6, 2026. Two days later, she reflected on the experience during the show’s official companion podcast, sharing her sadness about leaving early and expressing gratitude for Armstrong’s patience and support. Source: Us Weekly
Although Miller had hoped to remain in the competition longer, her brief time on the show gave her an opportunity to challenge herself, develop new skills and build a partnership that meant more to her than dance alone.
Ciara Miller Says Her DWTS Elimination Came Too Soon
Miller admitted that she had expected her time on the ABC competition to last longer than four weeks.
During the October 8 episode of the Dancing With the Stars companion podcast, she described the experience as enjoyable and challenging. She also expressed disappointment that her journey had ended earlier than she anticipated.
For Miller, the competition involved more than learning choreography. Each week required her to step outside her comfort zone, adapt to unfamiliar routines and perform in front of a live audience.
Her emotional response reflected how much she had invested in the experience. Despite the disappointment, she made it clear that she valued the opportunity to participate.
Brandon Armstrong Earns Ciara Miller’s Gratitude
One of the most emotional moments came when Miller spoke about Armstrong, her professional dance partner.
She praised his patience throughout their time together, particularly as she worked through the challenges of learning ballroom and other dance styles. Miller also acknowledged that dealing with anxiety during the process was difficult, but said Armstrong consistently supported her without making her feel uncomfortable about it.
Armstrong joined Miller on the podcast and offered his own thoughts about their elimination.
He praised her character and said he quickly recognized her thoughtful approach to important issues. He also highlighted how the competition allowed viewers to see a different side of the reality star.
Armstrong expressed disappointment with the way their journey ended, suggesting that Miller deserved a better outcome after the progress she had made.
His comments underscored the respect that had developed between the partners during their time on the show.
How the DWTS Partnership Helped Miller Emotionally
Miller also discussed the personal significance of working with Armstrong.
Earlier this year, her personal life attracted attention amid the Summer House storyline involving West Wilson and the show’s season 10 relationship drama. Her experience on Dancing With the Stars offered a different environment, where she could focus on learning, performing and building a new professional partnership.
Miller explained that having someone show up consistently, encourage her and remain supportive throughout the process had been meaningful.
She described the experience as healing, emphasizing the importance of reliability and encouragement during a challenging period.
Her comments offered insight into why the partnership mattered beyond the competition itself. While their time together was relatively short, Miller appeared grateful for the sense of stability and support she experienced.
Why Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong Were Eliminated
Miller and Armstrong’s elimination followed their performance during the show’s Mariah Carey-themed episode on October 6.
The pair performed a jazz routine to Mariah Carey’s song Emotions. Their performance earned three scores of seven from judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, giving them a total of 21 out of 30.
According to TV Insider’s recap, the judges recognized Miller’s improvement, with the performance marking her strongest score of the season at that point.
However, the competition combines judges’ scores with audience voting. Their combined result was not enough to keep them in the running, and the pair were eliminated at the end of the episode. Source: TV Insider
Their exit demonstrated how unpredictable the competition can be. Even when a celebrity shows improvement, the combined results can still lead to an early departure.
What’s Next for Ciara Miller After DWTS?
Although Miller’s run on Dancing With the Stars has ended, the experience gave her a chance to show audiences a side of herself beyond her established reality TV persona.
Her reflections suggest that she is taking away more than memories of rehearsals and performances. She also gained experience in a demanding new environment and developed a meaningful connection with her professional partner.
For Armstrong, the elimination also marked the end of their shared competition journey. His public praise for Miller highlighted the progress he had seen in her and the personal qualities he believed viewers had the opportunity to discover.
Miller may not have reached the later stages of season 35, but her emotional response shows that the experience still had a lasting personal impact.