The ballroom is calling for two reality TV veterans. Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller, both known for their roles on the hit series The Traitors, have been announced as the first celebrity contestants for the upcoming 35th season of Dancing With the Stars.
The reveal came during Hulu's Get Real House Live event on April 22, where both stars shared their excitement and nerves about the impending challenge.
"I'm a strong believer in manifesting," Maura Higgins told co-host Julianne Hough at the event. "I had it on my vision board. And now it is happening, which I cannot believe. I know it's going to be so, so hard, but because I really want to do it, I'm going to put my all into it."
Higgins, a Love Island alum, admitted to having "two left feet" and noted that her Traitors co-star and DWTS professional Mark Ballas had already warned her the experience would be "tough."
Ciara Miller, a Summer House alum, shared her casting news via a video message, framing it as the start of a new chapter.
"I had some unfinished business here in New York City that I needed to wrap up, but I am so excited to join season 35 of Dancing With the Stars," Miller said. "I feel like this is the perfect moment. I feel like I'm opening a new chapter, and I'm so excited to share it with all of you guys. Can't wait to put my energy on the dance floor."
She added a special message for her fellow "Faithful" from The Traitors: "And Maura, I can't wait to share the dance floor with you."
This announcement follows a record-breaking 34th season, which saw over 72 million votes cast during the finale. Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and professional partner Witney Carson clinched the Mirrorball Trophy, with Irwin overcoming a rib injury sustained just before his final performance.
"Witney was amazing at changing up some of the moves that we had to do," Irwin told Good Morning America after his victory. "We had to change on the fly, but our last dance, that freestyle, was a way to say thank you to everybody who'd been on that journey."
While Irwin's time as a contestant has concluded, he remains connected to the franchise. He is set to host the upcoming spinoff series Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, which will feature dancers competing for a chance to become a professional on the main show. The spinoff is expected to air this summer on ABC and Hulu, with Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas, serving as judges.
In a March interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Maura Higgins hinted at the challenge ahead, describing it as a daunting but welcome prospect.
"It's something that'd be a challenge for me," she said. "I've never danced. I'd done a bit of Irish dancing when I was younger. It'd be a huge challenge, but I know I'd throw myself into it and all the looks and glitter."
The full cast for Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is expected to be revealed in the coming months, with the season slated to premiere this fall.