Summer House star Ciara Miller paid tribute to Whitney Houston at the 78th Emmy Awards just days before making her Dancing With the Stars debut to one of the late singer’s most iconic songs.
While serving as a correspondent for Live From E!: Countdown to the 2026 Emmys, Ciara revealed that the beige, collared gown she wore on the red carpet was previously worn by Houston.
“This was Whitney Houston’s dress,” Miller said. “She wore this in 1993, 1994. This is a Mark Bouwer. 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 better event is there to wear it than now?’”
The velvet tuxedo-style evening gown was custom-made for Houston by designer Mark Bouwer, who frequently collaborated with the singer throughout her career. Bouwer created numerous looks for Houston, including her wedding dress and outfits for her “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “The Bodyguard” tours.
The sentimental gown recently went up for auction through Julien’s Auctions, where it sold for $5,120. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation.
Now, Ciara is set to bring that same Whitney connection to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom, where she will perform her first dance to “Exhale.”
