Ciara Miller is opening up about the emotional side of her Dancing With the Stars journey. The Summer House star said the competition brought out more anxiety than she expected. She also found some confidence while facing those difficult moments. Miller is now learning to stay focused under pressure in the ballroom.
Ciara Miller jokes about increasing her Prozac dose as she opens up about anxiety and the emotional pressure of Dancing With the Stars
Miller spoke with Us Weekly on September 22 after another tough week on DWTS. She and dance partner Brandon Armstrong earned 18 out of 30 points for their tango. Miller joked that she told Armstrong, “I need to up my Prozac.” She also said, “I just feel like at this point, I’m a crier.”
Miller explained that she currently takes 40 milligrams of Prozac. She joked that she thinks the limit is 80 milligrams and that she has room to increase it. “I think it’s so crazy because I know that I have anxiety, obviously, being on reality TV,” she said. Miller also joked about taking medication while living in the 21st century.
Miller said her reality TV experience had not prepared her for the ballroom. She has spent five years on camera through Summer House and recently co-hosted Love Island USA’s companion show, Aftersun. “I underestimated the impact of everything,” she told the outlet. Miller added, “Stage fright is a real thing. Being anxious is a real thing.”
Still, Miller said the experience helped her build confidence. She wanted to “get tunnel vision and stay focused” despite outside noise and distractions. Armstrong agreed and said DWTS makes contestants face their fears instead of running from them. “You can’t run away from the moment,” he said, adding that contestants must “take it on the chin” and dance.
Armstrong also called the show “therapeutic in its own way.” After two weeks, he said he felt “happy” that he and Miller continued to learn and improve. Miller admitted she felt “so scared” before their week two tango. She also said she hoped the judges noticed that she kept “working” and would continue trying as long as she remained in the competition for the Mirrorball Trophy.
