Why Ciara Miller Made Carrie Ann Inaba Cry on Dancing With the Stars Premiere

Indeed, before she took the dance floor, Miller—whose pals Lindsay Hubbard and Mia Calabrese were in the ballroom for her first dance—detailed the inspiration behind her emotional performance, expressing her gratitude toward those who supported her during a dark time in her life.

“There were days and nights with my friends, behind closed doors, that were hard—really hard—to get through,” she wrote in an Sept. 16 Instagram post, “and I’m eternally grateful to them, because without them, I wouldn’t be walking out on this stage tonight.”

“This dance is for my village who have held me up, and allowed me the space exhale,” Miller continued. “No lights. No cameras. Behind closed doors.”

To see who Miller and Armstrong are competing against for the Mirrorball Trophy, keep reading…