Reality Star Eliminated in Shocking 'Dancing With the Stars' Upset
Maura Higgins scores highest mark of the season but is voted off in week four.
Ciara Miller, a reality star from Summer House, was unexpectedly eliminated from Dancing With the Stars during its fourth week, a night dedicated to Mariah Carey's music.
Miller and her professional partner Brian Armstrong opened the show with a jazz routine set to Carey's hit "Emotions." Despite a positive reception from judge Derek Hough, who called it "a great way to start the show," the pair ultimately received a score of 21 out of 30, with all three judges awarding them a seven.
Despite their performance, Miller and Armstrong found themselves among the last three couples awaiting their fate. Their elimination was announced at the end of the episode, ending Miller's journey on the competition. "I'm so grateful" for her partner, Miller stated, calling the experience a "moment of a lifetime." Armstrong expressed disappointment, believing Miller was improving each week and that her time was cut short.
Fans reacted to Miller's elimination on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with one user writing, "storming the ABC headquarters as we speak for ciara miller!!!!!" Another added, "CIARA MILLER YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS TO ME."
Irish TV personality Maura Higgins achieved the season's first score of nine for her waltz performance with partner Mark Ballas to Carey's "If It's Over." Judges praised Higgins' performance, with Carrie Ann Inaba noting it took her "to another world" and Derek Hough appreciating its classic waltz style. Higgins and Ballas, along with two eights, earned the nine, resulting in a score that positioned them favorably.
Other notable performances included.
Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach performed a rumba to "Anytime You Need A Friend," earning a score of 24 out of 30. Frech described the experience as being on "cloud nine."
Grey's Anatomy star Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson delivered a tango to "It's Like That." Carrie Ann Inaba called their performance "masterful and beautiful," and Hough commended Shum Jr. for taking chances. They received a score of 24 out of 30.
Step Up star Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy danced a rumba to "My All." Dewan expressed frustration over previous scores, but Hough praised her performance, stating, "All I have to say is, there she is. I feel like this is the first time I saw you in this competition." The duo scored 24 out of 30.
Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess performed a foxtrot to "Beautiful." Cameron reflected on how dancing had made him feel "so alive" and shared that DWTS was a show his late mother had dreamed he would be on. Judges noted his "improvement," with Inaba remarking he appeared to be "another person" this week. They earned 21 out of 30.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson performed a samba to "Obsessed." While judges noted the dance was not a traditional samba, they agreed it was "still a lot of fun." Rodriguez and Carson received a score of 13 out of 30.
Jackson Olson and Emma Slater performed a waltz to "Without You." Olson, celebrating his birthday, received praise for being "well done." They scored 21 out of 30.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik danced a jazz routine to "Fantasy." Hough observed Ali "blossoming" on stage, while Inaba suggested she could hit the moves harder in the future. Ali described the experience as "liberating." They received 20 out of 30.
Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold performed a rumba to "Touch My Body." Hough commented that Wood was "stepping into that leading man" role. The pair scored 19 out of 30.
Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa performed a Viennese waltz. Judges noted her "wonderful movement," "elegance and grace," with Inaba seeing a "breakthrough." Stiles and Sosa earned 21 out of 30.
Olympic gold medalist Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov danced to "Hero." Inaba described Glenn's movements as "powerful and divine" but suggested she could "pull back" slightly. Hough applauded their "partnership." The duo scored 23 out of 30.
Next week's theme on Dancing With The Stars will be Super Bowl Night, with the remaining 11 couples competing.