Ciara Miller Shares What Isn’t Shown on Summer House & Teases Season 9, Plus Hints at Needing to “Protect [Her]self,” & If She’ll Keep Her Nursing Career Amid Victoria’s Secret Success

When Ciara Miller joined the cast of Summer House, she was fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic as an ICU nurse. Now in the limelight, she’s been hit with endless opportunities – including a modeling contract for Victoria’s Secret.

On Tuesday, Ciara met up with us in Times Square, teasing the new season and hinting at needing to “protect [her]self.” She also addressed what cameras don’t see, and she revealed if she plans to stay a nurse as success pulls her in other directions. 

Speaking at the NYC press conference to promote Raising Cane’s new fashion line, Ciara told Reality Blurb what she wished fans knew about her.

“I’m so sensitive … I am a crybaby,” said the star, whose strong demeanor is much depicted on the screen. “I think that will unfold more and make more sense this season, people getting to see [that side of] me. And I get to peel back layers a little bit on why I’m a tough lover and why I take my [relationships] so seriously.”

“I just really value my friendships, and I hope that that translates across the screen when [I’m] having — not altercations — but going back and forth with my friends,” she added.

Last season, Ciara tearfully revealed her split with newbie co-star West Wilson – who ended the relationship because, according to him, he couldn’t handle dating in the spotlight. Now, thousands of fans wonder how Ciara felt filming season nine with her ex.

She compared the upcoming season to the previous one.

“I’m genuinely being myself and keeping it real. And if you don’t like it, if they don’t like it, it’s whatever,” she said. “It’s what I have to do to protect myself but also move forward … [I’m] just being unapologetically me this season and rolling with all the punches.”

“I feel like it was just yesterday that I was brand new to this group, but I feel like now — these people [my castmates] aren’t going anywhere. I can’t get rid of them, they can’t get rid of me,” she said. “I feel so much more comfortable in the house, and I feel like I’ve grown up [there] almost. I started when I was 24 … [Now] I don’t feel bad for making boundaries. I don’t feel bad for expressing the way that I feel.”

Will Ciara leave nursing in her past life?

“I love my nursing career. I don’t want to lose that,” she said. “I’m trying to maintain it. [With] modeling, I’m a year in so far in New York City, being signed … I’m trying to take every opportunity as it comes … [and] stretch myself as thin as possible, and honestly, just turn over every stone in New York.”

“But I’m tired,” she went on. “And people wonder why I’m always in the bed [on Summer House]. It has a connotation that we’re lazy, but [I’m doing a lot].”

Her workload isn’t the only thing hidden from cameras.

“My [apartment] building won’t let me film,” she said. When asked what she wished could be shown on screen, Ciara mentioned her cat, Jasper. “I would love to feature him some more … all the cats [and] all the interactions between our animals, between Amanda [Batula]‘s dogs [and Paige DeSorbo’s cat] Daphne, who’s new to the family … [Also] probably more of our bedtime [conversations] between me, Amanda, and Paige.”

As for her new partnership with Raising Cane’s, Ciara couldn’t be more excited.

“I think I am a chicken tender,” she quipped, wearing the restaurant’s bronco rider denim jacket from the Western Ballad collection. “Chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, Coke. That’s … so me. Also, if you give me a theme or something to dress up for, we know that I’m gonna go all out. I’m probably wearing the biggest cowboy hat in Times Square at the moment.”

“I just feel this is a perfect partnership,” she shared. “I love to eat food, specifically chicken tenders, and Raising Cane’s has some of the best food ever.”

The restaurant is now debuting its Western Ballad and Varsity collections.

Summer House season nine is expected to air early next year.