Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins join 'Dancing With the Stars' cast

• Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins are the first confirmed contestants for season 35.
• Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro return as hosts for the autumn series.
• Ciara Miller expresses gratitude for reality television amidst recent personal relationship drama.
  

The hit competition "Dancing With the Stars" has officially been renewed for a 35th season, scheduled to air this autumn.

The announcement, made during Wednesday’s "Get Real" event, confirmed that the first two celebrity contestants are "Summer House" star Ciara Miller and "The Traitors" personality Maura Higgins.

While their professional dance partners have not yet been revealed, the show will see the return of hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro.

The judging panel remains familiar, featuring Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.

Ciara Miller, 30, enters the ballroom following a series of personal headlines involving her "Summer House" co-stars. Last month, her former partner, West Wilson, and ex-best friend, Amanda Batula, confirmed a secret romance on social media.

Despite the public drama, Miller expressed her appreciation for the medium that launched her career. "I want to be clear: I’m always grateful and thankful for reality TV," she told Glamour.

She credited the genre for giving her the confidence and financial means to support her family, including purchasing her grandparents' home.

Maura Higgins, the Irish model and "Love Island" alumna, joins the cast after a narrow second-place finish on Peacock’s "The Traitors."

Despite being betrayed by a friend in her previous competition, Higgins remains resilient. "I’m not a sore loser," she stated in a recent interview.

The upcoming season follows a victory by Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, who took home the Mirrorball Trophy last year. Fans eagerly await the full cast list to see who will join Miller and Higgins on the dance floor.