Both Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller emerged as the earliest confirmed contestants for Dancing with the Stars Season 35 in April 2026, fueling their near-even market positioning as frontrunners among the limited announced cast. Higgins, the Love Island UK and The Traitors alum with no prior dance training, brings strong international fan support and recent social media momentum from light rehearsal clips, though her novice status creates uncertainty. Miller, the Summer House star and fellow Traitors alum who trained in ballet for a decade, benefits from perceived natural rhythm and performer instincts that resonate with viewers and align with historical DWTS advantages for those with movement backgrounds. The tight implied probabilities reflect comparable reality-TV followings, high voter engagement potential, and the absence of fuller cast reveals or early rehearsals that could shift sentiment before the fall premiere.