Ciara Miller is clearing up the confusion surrounding her facial expressions during the “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 premiere. After viewers noticed that the “Summer House” star appeared unusually serious and quiet throughout the night, Miller explained that nerves—not unhappiness—were behind her reaction.
Miller made her ballroom debut with professional partner Brandon Armstrong on September 16. The pair performed an emotional foxtrot to Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” a song Miller chose because its message connected deeply with what she had experienced over the past year.
Although her performance earned encouraging comments from the judges, cameras continued showing Miller looking tense. Some viewers interpreted her expressions as disappointment or discomfort, while others wondered whether something had happened behind the scenes.
Miller soon addressed those reactions herself. She explained that she had been “petrified” throughout the evening and asked viewers not to read too much into her facial expressions because she was simply trying to control her overwhelming nerves.
The reality star also revealed that she had been close to having a meltdown before the live show. Performing a ballroom routine in front of judges, a studio audience and millions of viewers created a level of anxiety that was difficult for her to hide.
Armstrong played an important role in helping her through those emotions. Miller later described feeling as though she was standing on a ledge while her professional partner was slowly helping guide her away from the edge.
Despite her nervousness, the dance itself produced one of the premiere’s most emotional judging moments. Carrie Ann Inaba became tearful while discussing Miller’s performance and said she could see and feel the emotion she was carrying through the routine.
Inaba encouraged Miller to continue believing in herself and praised the beauty of her dancing. Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli also saw potential in her performance while offering technical advice that could help her improve as the competition continues.
Miller and Armstrong ultimately received 15 points out of 30 for their opening foxtrot. For Miller, however, the performance represented more than simply earning a score from the judges.
She explained that the dance symbolized closing one chapter of her life and beginning another. After an emotionally difficult year, she wanted the performance to recognize the friends and people around her who had supported her through challenging moments away from the cameras.
Miller later found a humorous way to respond to the online discussion about her serious expressions. She posted a playful rehearsal video showing herself smiling repeatedly and joked that she promised to smile from then on, with Armstrong supporting her lighthearted response.
So while viewers may have initially wondered whether Miller was unhappy about being on “Dancing With the Stars,” her explanation paints a very different picture. She was nervous, emotionally overwhelmed and trying to make it through one of the biggest live performances of her career. Now that her first dance is behind her, Miller says she wants to relax, have fun and allow viewers to see more of her personality as her ballroom journey continues.
