Val Chmerkovskiy has formally weighed in on the growing public campaign from Summer House star Ciara Miller to secure him as her professional partner for the upcoming Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. ABC officially announced Miller’s casting for the fall lineup on April 22 alongside Love Island star Maura Higgins. Since the reveal, Miller has been openly lobbying the network for Chmerkovskiy.
Miller made her preferences clear right out of the gate. She stated she is looking for a partner who will give her “tough love” and “mold her appropriately” without “any funny games.” The veteran dancer finally addressed her requests directly during a live iHeartPodcast summit on April 25, though he kept his cards close to his chest regarding the final pairings.
Chmerkovskiy compared the show’s matching process to an arranged situation while promising to commit entirely to his eventual celebrity counterpart. “Ciara seems very, very dynamic and very positive, and looks like she’s excited to do the show,” he said. “It’s kind of like quiet dating or an arranged situation so whoever the casting director puts me with, I will give my all.”
The reality star’s pivot to the ballroom comes on the heels of her highly publicized fallout with Summer House co-star West Wilson. Brands and fans have already started rallying around her new television venture. The official Victoria’s Secret account even jumped into the conversation, cheering on her transition by commenting, “From West to Waltz.”
Chmerkovskiy is entering his 20th season as a professional dancer on the series. He is coming off a strong run in Season 34, where he secured the runner-up spot alongside influencer Alix Earle. While discussing the upcoming roster, the dancer also shared a specific casting hope. He told the audience he wants “less politicians” on the show, emphasizing that the dance floor should act as a vehicle to unite people away from real-world political divisions.