Ciara Miller is finally getting her shot at the mirrorball. The Summer House cast member and Love Island: Aftersun host is competing on Dancing with the Stars season 35, and she’s discovering that the show is every bit as demanding as she’d imagined.
“I’m getting a run for my money,” Miller says. She describes the experience as one for growth, and she’s leaning on a carefully curated arsenal of recovery tools and snacks to keep pace with pro partner Brandon Armstrong.
Miller has wanted to do the show for years, and her background in ballet, hip hop, and jazz gave her a head start. But she’s quick to note that she’s not as limber as she once was. “I’m not flexible anymore,” she says. “I’m sore everywhere.”
Brandon Runs the Dance Floor, Ciara Runs Everything Else
Armstrong handles the choreography and technique, but Miller has carved out her own lane. She’s involved in creative calls and oversees other aspects of their partnership, including Armstrong’s outfits. “Brandon is in charge of dancing,” she says. “I’m in charge of everything else.”
That division of labor means Miller is on her feet for hours, and her body is feeling it. Her recovery routine has become almost as important as her rehearsal schedule.
Hot Baths, Epsom Salt, and a Foot Spa
Soaking in the tub is non-negotiable for Miller. She takes daily hot baths lasting at least 20 minutes, using Dr. Teal’s epsom salt in the sleepytime and muscle recovery varieties. The product retails for $5.89 to $7.49, making it one of the more affordable items in her rotation.
Her feet take a beating too. Miller calls the HoMedics foot spa, priced at $34.99, one of the best purchases of 2026. She describes it as a pedicure bath that helps with achy feet after long rehearsals. She also gets massages to aid recovery.
For her skin, Miller uses the Currentbody red light therapy mask, which costs $469.99. She likes that it’s flexible and travel-friendly, and she uses it both to relax and to treat her skin.
Bala Bangles and the Battle to Keep Arms Up
One of Miller’s biggest challenges has been keeping her arms in the right position during frame moves. Her solution: Bala Bangles, the $55 arm weights. She wears a pink pair for the entire practice to train her arms to stay up.
“They’ve been a game-changer,” she says, though she admits the added resistance makes an already tough rehearsal even tougher.
Snacks, Hair Care, and a Well-Stocked Trailer
Miller keeps her energy up with Solely fruit jerky, which she swears by for maintaining blood sugar. The snack ranges in price from $6.21 to $19.99. She also keeps Celcius in her refrigerator, having previously worked with the brand on a Spritz Vibe launch.
Her DWTS trailer is stocked with Nexxus hair care products, a brand she’s worked with throughout the year. Her favorite is the Air Shape Workable Hold Texture Spray, priced between $15.97 and $19.99. “I like volume and big hair,” she says, explaining why the spray is essential for the various hairstyles she wears on the show.
Miller also has a practical trick for breaking in her heels: she wears socks with them around the house.
A New City and a New Challenge
Miller recently moved from New York City to Los Angeles, a transition that coincided with her DWTS preparation. She’s the first Summer House cast member to compete on the show, following her time hosting Love Island: Aftersun in Fiji and modeling for major brands.
If she had her way, she’d bring a familiar face into the ballroom. Miller says she would cast Kyle Cooke, her Summer House castmate, on DWTS if possible.
Dancing with the Stars season 35 premieres Sept. 15, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
