Ciara was rumored to be joining the cast for season 34, but this year, it’s finally happening! She even has a dream partner picked out: Val Chmerkovskiy. As she told Us Weekly when the rumors first began, “I want someone who is hard on me. Like, ‘You got to get this down.’ We’d have to work so hard. I don’t want any funny games. We’re in there to work!”

Known for: Summer House, The Traitors, and Love Island USA: Aftersun.

Dance experience: Ciara actually grew up dancing, and revealed to Us Weekly that she took ballet for 10 years.

Maura was also rumored for months before her casting was announced. Back in March, she even told The Hollywood Reporter that DWTS would “be a huge challenge,” but one she was willing to take on. “I know I’d throw myself into it and all the looks and glitter,” she added.

Known for: Love Island, The Traitors, and Love Island USA: Aftersun

Dance experience: Maura told THR that she did “a bit of Irish dancing” when she was younger.

Back in December 2025, Jackson replied to a fan who asked whether he would “go on Dancing With the Stars next season” with a video compilation of dance clips, which he captioned, “Long story short... yes, yes I would.” Dreams do come true!

Known for: The Savannah Bananas baseball team and TikTok

Dance experience: Though he’s done plenty of choreography since joining the Savannah Bananas in 2022, Jackson surprisingly has no formal dance background.

As Jimmy Kimmel joked when his onscreen sidekick was announced as the latest DWTS season 35 contestant: “Guillermo will become the first-ever parking lot security guard to dance with the stars.”

Known for: Jimmy Kimmel Live! (though he first rose to fame while working as a parking lot security guard at the Hollywood Boulevard Masonic Temple studio)

Dance experience: None that I know of, but I’m excited to see him bust out some moves!