Ciara Miller's Emmys Dress Has Whitney Houston & DWTS Connection

Which is why when it came to attending the 2026 Emmys Sept. 14, the Dancing With the Stars season 35 contestant chose to rock a dress belonging to one of the greats: Whitney Houston.

“This was Whitney Houston's dress,” Miller shared during the Live From E!: Countdown to the 2026 Emmys. “She wore this in 1993, 1994. This is a Mark Bauer. It was a gift to me, and it's so special because in a couple days on Dancing With the Stars, my first dance is to Whitney Houston's ‘Exhale,’ and so I thought, ‘what a better there's a better event to wear it than now.’”

And if you're wondering whether the Summer House alum felt a transformation, Miller joked that her ensemble brought the greatest love of all.

"When I put it on," she shared, "I was like, hopefully my vocal cords will improve, and I'll be a better singer. but hasn't quite happened yet.”

Ahead of her debut on the ballroom floor, the Bravo star shared a glimpse at how she was preparing to waltz into the competition.

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"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Miller told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."

And with the ABC reality competition series only a few days away from its season 35 premiere, the 30-year-old admitted she's "got a long way to go" in her training.

"I'm just trying to get in shape because I don't want to be wheeled out on a stretcher," Ciara jokingly added. "That'll be the saddest thing that happens."

For a look at all the stars on the 2026 Emmys red carpet, keep reading...

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Don't miss the Emmy Awards 2026 live telecast tonight, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and streaming on Peacock. E!'s red carpet kicks off at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.