Ciara Miller Discusses Lexi and Jesse, While Bailee is Absent from Summer House Promotions
Having officially joined the cast of Summer House five seasons ago, Ciara Miller has learned quite a bit about being part of the Bravo family.
“It’s challenging to enter as a newcomer. We’ve been together for some time now, and we consider ourselves a family—even if it can get quite toxic. Stepping into that environment with so much history and so many personalities is not easy,” Ciara, 29, told Us Weekly exclusively. “As a newcomer, it’s often best to take a step back, observe the dynamics, and lend an ear, since it’s tough to form an opinion given our interconnectedness and the years of drama we share.”
During the season 9 premiere on February 12, fans met two out of three new cast members: Lexi Wood and Bailee Henderson. Lexi quickly bonded with Jesse Soloman during the first weekend, while Bailee was noticeably absent from the recent premiere party in New York City.
“I adored Bailee. She was so charming, hailing from Kentucky with the cutest southern accent, always bubbly and willing to party. She had a really cool girl vibe,” Ciara shared with Us. “[Lexi and Bailee] entered together and were an adorable pair. Lexi hit it off with Jesse right away, and Bailee would hang out with the girls a bit. Bailee was sort of balancing her time. It’s common to stick with other newcomers, but I really liked Bailee. I know she’s not really featured in our Summer House promotions, but I hope viewers get to see more of her.”
Ciara also had a favorable first impression of Lexi, commenting to Us that she’s “so cute” and “super nice.”
“When I think of Canada, Lexi comes to mind; she’s just so nice. Plus, her ‘o’s are really drawn out, and she loves ketchup chips,” Ciara said, revealing she advised Jesse to take things slower with potential romantic interests. “Lexi calls herself a lover girl. I don’t think it was uncharted territory for her. I was like, ‘Jesse, just an FYI, you might want to pump the brakes. I’m not telling you what to do, but I’ve been in your shoes.”
In the season trailer, Lexi accuses Ciara of being flirty with Jesse over the summer. “Honestly, I’m not quite sure [what that was about],” Ciara told Us. “I’m going to watch and figure it out alongside everyone else because I’m still in the dark. To me—maybe this is just my perspective—it doesn’t seem that significant. Once we review it, we’ll see, and I’ll catch you at the reunion.”
Ciara emphasized that she and Jesse are merely friends.
“[Going into the summer], Jesse and I were pretty close. We still are. Honestly, I think our arguments are fine. We usually just get past them. It’s typically me who’s upset over something he did, or vice versa if I’m too upfront or honest. That’s just how our dynamic is,” she revealed.
She noted Jesse’s inherent flirtatious nature.
“He’s a flirt. He enjoys flirting. He loves his female friends and appreciates women in general,” she explained. “If you want the latest gossip, Jesse’s your guy. He’s always like, ‘Got any tea for me?’ I love chatting with him over FaceTime, and him getting cozy in bed is totally normal.”
The final new addition is Imrul Hassan, who Us reports had quite an eventful summer with various women “outside of the house.”
“Imrul’s a party enthusiast,” Ciara remarked to Us. “He’s been dubbed the ‘Orgy Beast.’”
She also mentioned that he has “a fascinating background” and “a really great family” that fans will get to know better.
“I genuinely enjoyed getting to know him this summer. But on the flip side, he loves to party,” she said. “I can’t keep up with everyone, but he jumped right in and honestly outpaced us. It was seriously impressive. There were moments where we just thought, ‘What is even happening?’”
Summer House airs on Bravo Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
