EP 47 | kalani hilliker: surviving dance moms

Summary

CHEERS! with Avery Woods – Episode 47 Summary: Kalani Hilliker on Surviving Dance Moms

Release Date: October 7, 2024

In Episode 47 of CHEERS! with Avery Woods, host Avery Woods sits down with renowned dancer Kalani Hilliker to delve deep into Kalani's journey from her early days in dance to her experiences on the reality TV show Dance Moms, and her personal growth beyond the spotlight. This engaging conversation explores themes of childhood, family, body positivity, and personal relationships, offering listeners an intimate look into Kalani's life and insights.

1. Introduction and Early Beginnings

The episode opens with Avery welcoming Kalani Hilliker, acknowledging their longstanding mutual friendship and shared connections through Stevie’s Dance Studio.

Kalani Hilliker [00:47]:
"I haven't had to do this in a while. From Arizona. Born and raised, dancer. Grew up being a dancer."

Kalani traces her dance roots back to her childhood in Arizona, highlighting her early participation in dance competitions and television appearances before gaining fame on Dance Moms.

2. Journey to Television: Dance Moms and Beyond

A significant portion of the discussion centers around how Kalani transitioned from local dance competitions to national TV.

Kalani Hilliker [01:08]:
"So there was, like, the make your mark thing with Shake it Up. And my group, AK Squared, we won it. And people don't realize that that was me."
[01:14]

Kalani recounts her participation in Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition and how her success there led to her stint on Dance Moms, where she remained until the age of 17. She emphasizes the impact of starting her dance career at a young age and the support from her family.

3. Family and Friendships: Staying Grounded

Avery and Kalani discuss the importance of family and friendships in maintaining a grounded life despite the pressures of fame.

Avery Woods [02:23]:
"We like to say a trauma bond. Since you've gone through so much with someone, we always say it doesn't matter if we don't talk for a year, if we don't talk for six months. As soon as we see each other, it's like, nothing's changed."
[20:41]

Kalani highlights the enduring friendships formed on the show, noting how they’ve evolved into supportive relationships in adulthood. She credits her family for keeping her grounded and preventing the typical pitfalls associated with child stardom.

4. Challenges of Growing Up in the Spotlight

The conversation shifts to the challenges Kalani faced growing up in the public eye, particularly regarding body image and self-esteem.

Kalani Hilliker [23:08]:
"Or they want you to be. Yeah, is that something that developed over time because you were in the spotlight? Did that."
[23:01]

Kalani shares her struggles with body image, influenced by stringent dance standards and media criticism. She discusses her journey towards body positivity and how her experiences have fueled her advocacy for self-acceptance.

Kalani Hilliker [25:00]:
"I get my Instagram when I was on dance moms, you know what I'm saying? So I was in those early ages of learning all this and people would just say whatever they want."
[24:00]

5. Personal Growth and Body Positivity

Kalani speaks candidly about her decision to undergo breast reduction surgery to alleviate physical discomfort caused by her dancing attire and to improve her self-image.

Kalani Hilliker [27:08]:
"Truthfully, I was just uncomfortable. It was something that I talked about for a while."
[27:06]

She details the emotional and physical challenges of the surgery, emphasizing the importance of making such decisions for personal well-being rather than external approval.

Kalani Hilliker [32:24]:
"There’s nothing wrong with feeling better about your body, especially in areas that no lifestyle is going to change."
[32:24]

Her openness about her body transformation and recovery aims to inspire and support others facing similar issues, reinforcing her commitment to body positivity.

6. Love and Relationships: Engaged and Excited

A heartwarming segment covers Kalani's recent engagement, detailing how she met her fiancé and the romantic proposal in Italy.

Kalani Hilliker [33:54]:
"We met at a bar... I was stuck with all of his friends. And he is not my type whatsoever. And just, like, I did really like him."
[34:04]

She narrates the serendipitous encounter that led to her relationship, highlighting moments of connection and the eventual proposal.

Kalani Hilliker [40:29]:
"So then we were walking up... Neither one of us. I was like, did I say yes? Did you even ask me to marry you?"
[48:25]

The proposal story showcases the genuine love and thoughtfulness behind the moment, underscoring the deep bond between Kalani and her fiancé.

7. Future Aspirations: Teaching and Entrepreneurship

Looking ahead, Kalani shares her aspirations to teach dance and open her own dance studio, emphasizing her passion for mentoring young dancers.

Kalani Hilliker [53:31]:
"I really want to open my own studio. That's kind of my main thing. And then start a brand. Body positivity, kind of face. Dance wear, swim."
[53:27]

Her vision includes fostering a supportive environment for dancers, prioritizing personal connections over competitive pressures. Kalani also expresses interest in launching a body-positive dancewear line, aligning with her advocacy for self-acceptance.

8. Closing Thoughts and Social Media Presence

As the episode wraps up, Kalani provides information on how listeners can connect with her on social media, continuing her mission to inspire and support others beyond the podcast.

Kalani Hilliker [54:28]:
"Just Kalani Hilliker. Not for long, though. Instagram TikTok."
[54:28]

Avery thanks Kalani for her heartfelt and insightful participation, leaving listeners with an encouraging message about personal growth and resilience.

Avery Woods [54:51]:
"Thank you for having me."
[54:51]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Kalani Hilliker [01:08]:
  "My group, AK Squared, we won it. And people don't realize that that was me."

• Avery Woods [02:23]:
  "Since you've gone through so much with someone, we always say it doesn't matter if we don't talk for a year, if we don't talk for six months."

• Kalani Hilliker [25:00]:
  "I get my Instagram when I was on dance moms, you know what I'm saying? So I was in those early ages of learning all this and people would just say whatever they want."

• Kalani Hilliker [33:54]:
  "We met at a bar... I was stuck with all of his friends. And he is not my type whatsoever."

• Kalani Hilliker [53:31]:
  "I really want to open my own studio. That's kind of my main thing. And then start a brand. Body positivity, kind of face. Dance wear, swim."

Conclusion

Episode 47 of CHEERS! with Avery Woods offers a comprehensive and heartfelt exploration of Kalani Hilliker's life and career. From her early dance beginnings and experiences on Dance Moms to her advocacy for body positivity and personal relationships, Kalani provides valuable insights and inspiration. This episode is a must-listen for fans and anyone interested in the personal journeys behind the public personas.

Connect with Kalani Hilliker:

• Instagram: @kalanihilliker
• TikTok: @kalanihilliker

Stay Tuned for More Episodes: Subscribe to CHEERS! with Avery Woods on your favorite podcast platform to stay updated with weekly deep dives into life’s myriad facets with inspiring guests.

Transcript

[A]

Hi.

[B]

Welcome to Cheers. I'm your host, Avery Woods. Hi, guys. Welcome back to the Cheers podcast. I am your host, Avery woods, and I have Kalani Hilliker. Did I say it right? Yep. Okay.

[A]

Thank you, Hilliker.

[B]

So you and I have been mutuals for a long time, and we met at the dibs event.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And your childhood friend is Ken Craddock, who I love. And she's a neighbor.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But we've wanted you on for so long, and you're here, and thank you for being here.

[A]

Yeah, thanks for having me.

[B]

Of course. So I want to know more about you. So if you want to give just a brief intro for those that don't know you, and then we'll get into it.

[A]

Ooh, I haven't had to do this in a while. From Arizona. Born and raised, dancer. Grew up being a dancer. Did some TV before I was even on Dance Moms. I did some things like I was on Shake it Up. Yeah. Which is. Nobody knows this. So do you know what make your mark is?

[B]

I've heard of it, yes.

[A]

So there was, like, the make your mark thing with Shake it Up.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And my group, AK Squared, we won it. And people don't realize that that was me. I was 9 or 10 when I did that. So that leaded me into dancing on tv, and I did a show. I was a dancer on a show called Bun Heads on abc. I did that, and then that led me into Abby's ultimate dance competition, which I did when I was 11 or 12, and then that led me on to Dance Moms. I guess that's where you would best know me from. So then I was on Dance Moms up until I was 17. From there, I've just been doing social media dance and all that fun stuff.

[B]

Wow. I did not realize it started so young for you.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I started doing this when I was, like, 9 or 10. Yeah. My whole life.

[B]

It's so interesting, too, because that's the majority of people.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Usually they start so young or, like, they'll do more commercial work, but people don't know who they are until they get on something huge. Like Dance Moms. Yeah. And I think. I love. I love so much about you, but I love how grounded you are with your family. You know, you're here in Arizona. I know your family means a lot to you. You have younger siblings.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

But I kind of want to go back to the beginning, because another thing we're connected on is Stevie's Dance Studio.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Is where you started.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Which Is such a small world because it's right down the road from us. And she's been there since she was 23 months.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I remember at the dibs event, you were like, that's where she needs to be. And I was like, okay. And she's been there ever since.

[A]

Yeah. If you're in this area, I mean, that is the best.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Best place to be. I mean, that's where. Where I dance. That's where Kennedy dance. That's where we grew up. I mean, that's literally how we know each other is from Dance. Yeah. I started dancing when I was one and a half.

[B]

Okay. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The earliest they would let us. Well, they said two was the earliest.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But because Stevie was so big, they were like, she was 23 months. And they're like, okay, we'll let her go.

[A]

That works. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. And that was when the season started. But she is so obsessed with it. And I think dancing as a young girl can get kind of a bad rap, especially because it can really affect your body image or, you know, like, the legitimate dance mom side of it, which I've also seen. Like, how obsessed.

[A]

It's crazy. It starts young. My sister's two.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And she'll be three tomorrow, actually. And my mom's like, these dance moms are already insane. They are two years old. My mom's like, I wasn't this crazy at all with you when you were 2 years old. It's gotten shockingly. It's gotten worse. Which I do have to say, maybe partially is from dance moms and stuff, because every. I feel like every child and every mom wants them to be a star. And if we're being realistic here, it's one in a million. Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So it's like, I was a lucky one. I was a lucky pick. There's amazing dancers, but it's hard to say that every single one is going to be totally famous on a TV show. Right.

[B]

And I. That's another thing, is that we're very. We let our kids try everything, and we want them to stick to what they love doing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I'm never, never going to force them to do it. And her entire first year of dance, they only allowed one class a week. She was so little, and she was begging every day.

[A]

That's my sister, too.

[B]

Go to dance. I want to go dance. So finally, when she turned three, they let us sign her up for a second class. So now she does two days a week.

[A]

Oh, nice.

[B]

But I would just. I just can't imagine Taking my kids, trying to get them to stardom or, like, get money from them.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And force them to do something they don't like.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But did you always love it from the beginning? Genuinely.

[A]

Yeah. So nobody in my family danced. It wasn't a thing. My mom played softball. My aunt played softball. Like, there was no dance in the family. And my mom had me very young. My mom had me 18.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So, yeah.

[B]

Your mom is such a MILF.

[A]

Yeah, she's so hot.

[B]

Yeah. She's such an icon.

[A]

It's crazy. Hey, mom. I know. Hey, mom. No, she's so hot. But she put me in dance just because she honestly needed to put me in something. And she would go to work, and my grandparents would take me. It was just something to do. But I did everything. I played soccer, so. Oh, goes back. Me and Kennedy have been best friends since we were kids, but I. So Kennedy's younger sister is my age.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So Kennedy's two years older than me. So me and her sister played soccer together, and we would go from soccer to dance. And not to brag, but we were really good soccer players. And there was a point where we almost chose soccer over dance. We were like, we don't want to dance. We want to play soccer. And my mom was really like, whatever you want to do. Like, it's whatever you want. If you want to go play soccer, you can go play soccer. Right? Like, you're good at it if you want to do that. Like, you can have a career in that, too. Obviously. Probably wouldn't have been to the extent of my career with dance. So thankfully, I chose dance, but it was always just kind of whatever you wanted. I think if you go. If you've ever watched the show or go back and watch, so. My mom always said, I hate this place. I don't want to be here. I have no interest in being on the show. I do it because my daughter wants to be here, and my daughter loves to dance. And I feel like that was kind of the birth of me wanting to be in dance was just. My mom didn't force me to do anything. My mom, of course, pushed me to be the best I could be. So if I was being lazy or, you know, being a brat, my mom would be like, okay, come on, we're here. Like, be a good dancer. You're a good dancer. But she never forced me to be here. She was always like, if you don't want to be here, we can be done tomorrow. This shit's expensive. Like, we don't need to. We don't need to do this.

[B]

Seriously. Right?

[A]

And she was like, I don't need to do this. We don't need to do this. I don't need this. Like, this is for you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so that was just kind of how I ended up in dance. I always loved it, I cared about it, and I really did have a super blessed gift as a young child. It was just what I was meant to do. And, you know, I was just good at it, and I loved it.

[B]

Yeah, well, you obviously did those. Those things in productions prior to Dance Moms. But how did you. How did it come about, you doing the Abby Lee? What was the competition?

[A]

Abby's Ultimate Dance.

[B]

Yeah. How did that come about?

[A]

So they had a. They had two seasons of it. The first season, they asked me to be on also.

[B]

How old were you?

[A]

We didn't do it. I think I was 9 or 10.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Yeah, I was young.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I think I was like, 10, turning 11 when I filmed the second season. So basically, I think the producers. I'm like, my story might be a little bit more botched. My mom probably knows a little bit better than me. But from my side of the story, the producers were just looking and going through each state, each city, seeing who the best dancers were that were winning whatever competitions, right? So they would look online and see, okay, there's these competitions, because this is before social media, where you could just look up somebody's Instagram and be like, oh. So they would, you know, look and see who was winning whatever. They reached out to my mom, and my mom was like, do you want to do it? And I was like, oh, yeah, sure. Like, sounds fun. Like, you know, I didn't know what was gonna come of it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Then we had to do a. We had to go to New York and do, like, a test, you know, run through, like, you do your solo, they interview you, all that. I completely bombed it. I was horrible. Really. My mom was literally laughing at me. My mom was like, you didn't speak? I forgot my whole solo. She was like, this is not like you, because, I mean, I compete and do this all the time. And she was just like, there's no way we're getting chosen for this. But we didn't really care because we had our. We had our lives, right? Like, I was a dancer. I was living. And then I remember I came home from dance one day, and she got me one of those, like, you know, the big pizza cookie things. And it said AUDC season two. And I was like, we got picked she was like, I don't know how we got picked. So then we went and we lived in LA for eight weeks. I literally had no contact to the world. It was really, really weird. It was like the first time they would take your phone all day. So my mom didn't have contact and I had my sibling at home. My other two siblings weren't born yet. And we filmed the show. And Abby was just obsessed with me. She loved me as a dancer. She was amazing. Producers did not love my mom. If you ever talk to the producer of Dance Moms, he'll literally say, I hated your mom. Because my mom didn't cause drama. She didn't care. Yeah, she was. The only drama was caused is because I was like a good dancer and Abby would favorite me because she just really liked me. I couldn't help that as a kid. Right. Like, I was just dancing. Like I just dancing.

[B]

I'll be honest with you too, before you continue. I only watched like the first, like original seasons.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I never, I stopped watching before, like the competition, so I've never seen one episode of you in it.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Which I think is probably good.

[A]

I feel like season four.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

That's when I came in.

[B]

I feel like, because you're like, you're talking about what your mom would say and stuff, and I've never seen that. Yeah, the, the most recent thing I ever watched was your guys's recent special reunion. The Reunion. But I also like that because I feel like reality tv, like that can skew so many things and I feel like it gives you like a pre bias judgment.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I've. I've never seen you on it.

[A]

Oh, that's so interesting.

[B]

Do you think I should watch it?

[A]

You should. I mean, I think it's a. People say I've never really watched it. If I'm being for real with you. Like, we watch clips, obviously, when we did the reunion. I've never watched it, but I hear it's a really entertaining show, so I'd probably watch it.

[B]

Okay, but you said your mom wasn't liked by producers because she didn't cause drama.

[A]

Well, obviously once we were on Dance Moms, then she did, but.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

During Abby's ultimate, which was a spinoff show.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

She wasn't very dramatic, so they didn't really like her because she's not the kind of person where if you tell her to say something, she's not going to go sit down and be like. And say it. And that's how reality TV is. Right. They want You.

[B]

It's so scripted.

[A]

Yeah. They want you to sit down and say something. And my mom was like, I'm not fucking saying that. You're crazy. So they were like, well, let's kick her off the show. Because they didn't care if I was a good dancer or not. That didn't matter.

[B]

Yeah. It's all views.

[A]

It was all about whose craziest mother is going to. Right. So that's whenever. Abby really just loved me and she really wanted me to be on Dance Moms because obviously on Dance Moms, that's. That's her show. That's the show that is constantly going. This was just like a spin off show. So she had me come in and do a duo with Maddie on Dance Moms. That's an episode you should watch. It's really crazy. It's like a big. It's the biggest crazy. I would say one of the craziest episodes of Dance Moms. And I have to say, me and my mom had no clue what we were walking into. When it turned into what it did, what happened? There was just a really big. It was a really big fight between Brooke and Paige's mom Kelly and Abby.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And so they left the show that day. It was like, oh, is that the slap one? Really bad.

[B]

Yeah, I've seen clips of that on TikTok.

[A]

Yeah. So that was. That was my first episode of Dance Bombs. Oh, yeah.

[B]

You're like, what the fuck?

[A]

Well, we had no clue. We didn't. We didn't know what was going on. We weren't like. The whole point was, is that Abby brought me in to do this duo. We didn't know what we were walking into, what was going on. And it turned into this big thing, basically because I was there. So, you know, me, Brooke and Paige have, like, talked about it now and stuff. And we're adults and we're actually really good friends. Like, Brooke and I are gonna be at bridal Fashion week next week. They're the sweetest. So much fun.

[B]

I met them on a brand trip last summer in the Hamptons.

[A]

They're so fun.

[B]

And I was like, you girls are so sweet and down to earth and humble.

[A]

That's all the girls on Dance Moms, every single one.

[B]

And I would have never expected that from such a crazy childhood. Like, so exploited to the world. Yeah, they're really gems. As are you, by the way.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

You guys have all done a great job.

[A]

We thank our parents for keeping us very grounded in what we grew up in, because people always talk about child stars, you know, going and turning into disasters. And we've all, basically, we've all, you know, I would like to say, stayed normal, you know.

[B]

Well, and I love that you guys talked about it now, you know.

[A]

Yeah, no, we talked about it. And, I mean, I don't think it was at the time. We were so young. Right.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So it's hard for any of us to really know what actually was going on, but obviously that was very sad and it's a horrible situation that happened. And that was my first episode. And then I was on the show. Ever since that episode, I was on the show. So it's pretty crazy. But, yeah, we talked about it a lot on the. On the reunion. And, you know, we all were, you know, old now. And we're all old. Well, old. We're in our 20s and we're just like. We're all BFFs. We text every day. And like I said, next week we're going to New York Bridal Fashion Week. So, like, me and Brooke are going to be together. Because you're both engaged. Yeah. So it'll be fun to hang out and. Yeah, it's cool. We're all really good friends. So you're getting hungry. Really hungry. Head to JackinaBox and pick up a smashed Jack. It's a juicy, delicious smashed burger topped with cheese, pickles, grilled onions, and boss sauce. And it's now available on Sourdough, the Smash Jack. Only a Jack in the box. Order one on the Jack app today.

[B]

So growing up, you know, on such a big show, how do you think that affected your childhood and the way you viewed yourself and friends?

[A]

I didn't have a childhood.

[B]

Yeah, my.

[A]

Well, I had a childhood. It was just very different childhood. It's not your average childhood. And I would never change it for the world because I have a career and a life that people dream of. And I got to start that as a kid, and now I get to do all the things that I've ever wanted. And I sometimes say it as I kind of gave up my childhood to be able to have the adulthood that I would want, you know, so it's like I sacrificed. And it wasn't a sacrifice at the end of the day, though, because I had so much fun. Like, even though some days sucked, some days just suck in general. Right. That's just part of life. And I think I'm very blessed to have been able to do what I did. As we will always say, some days were very shitty and very tough. But it made me who I am today. So I will never regret anything that happened because it made me who I am. And I get to live such an amazing life today that I maybe wouldn't have been able to have if I didn't get to do what I did as a kid.

[B]

Do you want to be a mom one day?

[A]

Oh, for sure.

[B]

So. And obviously things will change when your child's born, but would you want that life, like, that childhood for your kid?

[A]

I think at the end of the day, it's whatever they want, for sure. Because my mom really didn't pressure me into anything. She wasn't the kind of mom making me do stuff. She very much so was like, I don't care. Whatever you want.

[B]

Which is amazing.

[A]

If you want to do it, you can do it. If you don't, you don't. She would definitely push me to be like, you know, at the end of the day, like, because moms know best.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But, like, she would at the end of day, obviously be like, are you sure that you don't want to do it? But she always made it my choice. She didn't. She didn't push me to do anything. She was like, I love that. Whatever. Whatever you want to do. So I think I'm very much so. Whatever you want to do. I'm sure that my kids will maybe want. Have interest in it, considering that this is my life and my job. But if they didn't want to, then I would never pressure them to do anything. Obviously, I would love a little dancer, but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.

[B]

I relate to that in the sense of being a mom, because there's obviously a lot of weirdness right now around showing kids on the Internet.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And although people don't see it, if my kids are like, no pictures, no videos, I always respect that. And again, I think no matter how young they are, as long as you listen to their wants and needs, that's all that matters. Because in my eyes, too, when it comes to, like, exploitation, there is a difference to me showing pictures or videos of my kids versus making them be child actors in an ad I get money for.

[A]

Exactly. You know, there's a big difference.

[B]

Huge difference.

[A]

The only thing that was hard for us on our show was that it wasn't really always just our, like, mother's choice. You know, it's. We're filming a TV show completely. Everything's filmed. So we didn't get a choice of what aired on tv, you know what I'm saying? Or what got twisted and turned and.

[B]

That'S the thing is that they pick and choose to make a certain storyline, which I've heard in so many different reality TV shows. For sure.

[A]

I mean, they showed it'd just be like hysterical. Like, this is for us and our dancers because we're obviously all we cared about is dancing. Most of the kids, we just cared about dancing. We didn't really care about anything else.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We just wanted to dance. They literally think about this. We would do a two minute dance, we would watch it on TV. It would be 30 seconds to a completely different song.

[B]

What?

[A]

And so we would be like, like, what are you doing? So that just tells you though, they didn't care. Producers didn't care about the dancing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

They cared about the moms fighting for summer. For us, it was just kind of like, I know what, you know, we all know what happened. And it's just interesting how they switch things around. I mean, think about it. You film 10 hours a day, six days a week, and you only see 42 minutes of it for one episode.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So there's. Think about that. That's like 60 hours of film and you only see 42 minutes.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Imagine what's happening in those hours that you don't see or even think about.

[B]

Like lifestyle vloggers on TikTok. Like, you don't have to film everything. I'm like, girl, you see two minutes of my 24 hour day.

[A]

No.

[B]

Yeah. Like I'm, I'm, I'm choosing what you see.

[A]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

You know, and it's the same type thing where I'm like, it's like, people.

[A]

Know you, but they don't really know at the end of the day. And I think, luckily I've been doing this for so long that I can understand that I can be like, okay, you know, some days hurt more than others, for sure. But I understand that you, you don't know me. You have no clue. You have no clue who I am as a person.

[B]

And you know what? Who I want to mention that is such a testament to not knowing them is JoJo.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

She A hundred percent knows how to work social media and knows what's going to do well. She, at that reunion is, was so poised, so professional. She speaks so well for herself. And I'm like, people don't understand what. It's an act. I'm like, yeah. And there's a difference. Like you, you know what, what to put on and what.

[A]

People ask me that all the time. That's not their first question to me.

[B]

I Have heard from so many people in the industry how, like, what a businesswoman she is.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

How giving she is, like, with small businesses and stuff. I had heard that from. I can't remember if it was, like, a tattoo artist or something that did a tattoo and was like, oh, yeah, she was working with someone and, like, bought out their whole store as, like, a surprise, like, just to support their business. And I'm like, see? But people paint her in such a bad light.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I feel like that's so common in reality.

[A]

That's just how it goes. I mean, people paint what you probably in a bad light, me in a.

[B]

Bad light, or like, your mom, and.

[A]

It'S just like, we're not the people that you're making us seem to be. Yeah. No. Jojo's a really. She's a really great friend of mine. I love her so much. And her mom, also amazing. Like, second mother to me. Very, very, very sweet family.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I. I text them for anything, and they're like, we'll do it for you right now. Like, we got it. Like, they're just like, good, good people. Yeah. Really good people. Everybody on the show. Really, really good people. We've all been a big family, and we could all reach out to each other and text each other whenever. It's kind of like, we like to say a trauma bond. Since when you've gone through so much with someone, we always say it doesn't matter if we don't talk for a year, if we don't talk for six months. I'm sure we all have friends like that. Right. As soon as we see each other, it's like, nothing's changed.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So that's just kind of how all of our relationships are. And we're very, very lucky to have each other because a lot of times when you're in the spotlight, it's really you against everybody. And we have a nice, close group that we can all go to.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And we'll always be there for each other. I also think it's dysfunctional family.

[B]

Yeah. And it's important, too, when stuff comes out or people are talking or whatever the going on with people yapping their mouths that you guys have each other to talk to about it because you are the ones there.

[A]

Yeah. Like, we have group chats where we'll just, like, be like, lol. You see this? It's like. And people think they're like. You're like, people are probably. Yeah. People are like, oh, my God. They probably. I'm like, you guys have no clue. No clue. But. Okay.

[B]

Do you have. Do you still contact Abby?

[A]

I'm not gonna say that she's, like, my friend, but, yeah, I'll talk to her occasionally. Like, she came here, we did an event together.

[B]

I saw that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So we're chill. But I wouldn't say that she's, like, my best year.

[B]

Well, I think that would be weird.

[A]

Yeah. No, I mean, I went on her podcast too, and I told her straight up. I was like, look, I don't agree with a lot of the things you did. I don't agree with how you treated my friends. I luckily was someone that wasn't treated as bad as some of my other friends that were on the show. I go, I don't agree with everything you did. But I do have to say thank you, because I wouldn't have been on the show if it wasn't for her. She fought for me. Producers didn't want me there. Nobody wanted me there. Right. But Abby really wanted me there and wanted me to dance and, you know, be able to share my talent. And it was, you know. So I have to say thank you for that. Right. At the end of the day, you always have to go back and say thing. Thank you to the people that helped you.

[B]

So what was her reaction when you said you didn't like the things that she had done?

[A]

I think she was just like, okay. Yeah.

[B]

She's like, I'm used to that, so I'm doing this.

[A]

Yeah, I know. Like, I feel like she doesn't really. Actually, yeah, she doesn't.

[B]

So one of my other favorite things about you is how body positive you are. I feel like you are such a great example for so many women. And especially as someone that grew up with curves her whole life, like, I was always very out of place. And I also think, which I love how you are still so active in teaching dance. I think that's also a huge impact on the young girls that you're speaking or, like, talking to and teaching for them to see that, especially in the industry of dance, where everyone is the size of a toothpick.

[A]

Yeah. Or they want you to be.

[B]

Yeah. Is that something that developed over time because you were in the spotlight? Did that.

[A]

Oh, no. It goes back to before I was even on tv. I mean, I was very technical dancer. So ballet. I remember my dance teachers coming up and, like, grabbing my fat and being like, this, stop eating. Or like, this has got to go. Like, only chicken. Like, don't eat. And I was like, I'm like, 11. I was like, I'm literally 11.

[B]

And you would never even notice about yourself pointed out.

[A]

Yeah, I would never notice it. And then on the show, obviously you go through puberty. So I wasn't a kid anymore, you know, like, I was going from. And like, looking back then, I'm like, I thought I was fat. I was like, I want my 16 year old body again. But you know, it's like everybody was telling me that I was big. So I was like, oh my gosh, I'm big. I remember going on diets while I was on the show where I would like only drink two shakes a day because I wanted to, like, look good because I was like, I knew I had to be on TV and somebody was gonna say something. And this was also like in the early ages of social media becoming a thing. I got my Instagram when I was on dance bombs, you know what I'm saying? So I was in those early ages of learning all this and people would just say whatever they want. And I mean, I think it's definitely worse now than it was then. And then now being an adult, all people do is body shame me all day being like, oh my gosh, she's changed so much. She's so much bigger than she used to be. I'm like, no shit, I'm a woman.

[B]

I'm not a little girl.

[A]

Yeah. And I'm like, I work out every day, I eat healthy, but everybody's body is different and everybody's bodies fluctuate. And I just think that that's totally okay. And I like to be an advocate to it. I'm like, nate can tell you I can. I sit and cry myself to sleep because I'll be like, so. And I saw so many comments about me being fat today, and I still hurts me. And I think it hurts everybody. And that's why I also encourage people to just be nice and don't say, what is that saying that everybody says? Don't say you have nothing nice to say. Don't say it at all. It's not, it's not that difficult.

[B]

Like, you can block me. I told both time, I'm like, you do have that ability.

[A]

I was like, no worries. You don't have to. You don't have to.

[B]

I'm like, I actually don't need you here as much as you think I do.

[A]

I don't.

[B]

I really don't need you here.

[A]

Yeah. And being a dance teacher now too, I have little kids that look up to me and I teach dance a lot and I just want Everybody to feel comfortable in their skin.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

And it makes me sad that that's something that is such a big topic nowadays. I. Obviously, I. Every body is a dancer body, but in the grand scheme of things, you think of a ballerina that they're this small. And so I just. I never had that. Honestly, I wasn't like that when I was going through puberty. I'm not like that now. And I don't ever see myself.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Being like that. That's just not my body type. And I'm happy with the way I look, and I'm happy with who I am, and I just hope that other people can embrace that.

[B]

Yeah. You're beautiful and you're hot as fuck.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

And I love all your thirst traps when you post bikini pics. Here's my thing. I loved what you said with you work out, you eat healthy. Like, there's a difference between a healthy lifestyle and being thin. Just because someone's thin doesn't mean they're healthy. They could have a fucking incredible metabolism. And exact. And their cholesterol is through the roof. Like, there's just a difference. And I've been like that my whole life. Like, I've talked about how when I was in fifth grade, because before I had kids, I was a 34. Double D, naturally. Yeah. And when I was in fifth grade, I would put on, like, four sports bras to pancake my boobs to my chest.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because I was so ashamed of me in ballet class.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because no one else had boobs at that age. Yeah.

[A]

I got boobs pretty early on, too. I always. I remember being on the show and, like, everybody would be like, oh, my gosh. Like, you have such nice boobs. And I was like, okay. I was like, I don't want boobs. I was like, nobody else around me has boobs.

[B]

Yeah. And then.

[A]

And now I love them. But. Yeah.

[B]

Well. And I was going to talk about. You were very open about a lift and reduction.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Which I've talked about my lift because obviously I breastfed and they were literally touching my legs.

[A]

I will do it all over again after. Kids.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

If I. If I want to.

[B]

Tell me about what you did, why you did it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That kind of thing.

[A]

Truthfully, I was just uncomfortable. It was something that I talked about for a while.

[B]

I bet you're back.

[A]

Oh, I'm so much better. And, like, they're still big. I honestly probably would have gone a little bit smaller, but I got. I got nervous because I was like, I don't want to lose.

[B]

I didn't want to add more later.

[A]

Yeah. I was like, I didn't want to lose who I was. So I think if after. And I was like, I'm gonna have kids at some point, too.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

So I was like, I'm gonna probably end up doing this all over again at some point.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I wanted to be a little bit more conservative with what I did. So I went down a cup and a half.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So I was like. I was like a double. Almost triple. Now I'm like a d. Almost double. And you did reduction. I'm like, depends on the time of the month.

[B]

And you did reduction in a lift.

[A]

Reduction in a lift. Okay.

[B]

Yeah. And I just love that you talked about your recovery, your scars.

[A]

Yeah. I knew nothing about it either when I was going into it. I had no clue. Literally no clue. I just went in being like, I want to feel better.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I had no clue. And if anybody knows me, I have horrible anxiety. Really bad anxiety. I talk about it a lot on social media. One of my biggest fears is doctors. I won't go to the doctor. Like, I'm so desperately afraid of the doctor. Blinds.com's Black Friday sales event is happening now with our best deals of the season. Let our design experts help you make the perfect selection for your home on your schedule. We can send free samples right to you and handle everything from measure to install. With over 25 million windows covered, Blinds.com is the number one online retail retailer of custom window coverings. Save up to 50 site wide, plus door busters and a free professional measure@the blinds.com Black Friday sales event. Now rules and restrictions may apply.

[B]

That's me with the dentist.

[A]

Oh, okay.

[B]

I'm fine with the dentist.

[A]

My grandma's a dentist, so I'm cool with the dentist.

[B]

Is she still working? Yeah, she here Local.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I needed a new dentist, so maybe I'll go see.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What was I talking about? Oh, my tits.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Got it. I'm like, I'll sit here and talk about the multi. But I went in with no clue at all. Literally. I knew nothing, and I was just nervous to even walk through those doors. I was like, oh, my gosh, they're gonna take my blood. I'm like, oh, yeah. You were a nurse, so. Yeah, I'm crazy. I hate my blood pressure.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I won't do it. Like, I won't do it. Like, I'm deathly afraid. It's always so high because I'm so scared.

[B]

Yeah, No, I feel You.

[A]

And so I'm just nervous. Blood drawn? Anything? I hate the doctor. So I go in and I'm like, oh, my gosh. Like, I'm gonna pass out like this horrible. And then he was the sweetest and he was. I went to Dr. Shapiro.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And he was amazing. He basically just told me. Cause I was like. I don't know, like, just look and tell me what you think. Cause I was like, I don't. I don't know what to do. I was like, I just want them. I just wanna feel better.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I don't wanna, like, be running and my nipples are falling out anymore. I just wanna. Cause like, I would go to dance, I would have to wear these, like, really tight and compressing tops. And I feel like I was still falling out. And it was just. It was uncomfortable to live with. And he recommended that I do lipo on my. Here.

[B]

Yeah. Because the boob. I talked to my doctor about this, about how the boob fat will kind of go to your back.

[A]

That's what he said.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's like, it's not your boob.

[B]

Yeah. It's like your bronze. It turns into like a back fat. Yeah. Because the. The tissue, like, shifts.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So we did that. And then he did a reduction. So my boobs sat really far out, like, this way. So most of my, like, boob was out here.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So he basically, like, took out over here and like, stuck some over here.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And then lifted them up. And I mean, it was life changing. The recovery was horrible. I'm not gonna lie.

[B]

The lift was a little.

[A]

Yeah, it was a little rough. I'm not gonna lie. Like, it was. It was pretty rough. I'm really not gonna lie here. It was. It was tough.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But once it's done, like. And now I'm living my life. I'm 6 months post op and like, literally, I think a week ago. Six months.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I feel great. My scars are pretty minimal.

[B]

Amazing.

[A]

Yeah. For six months. I feel good. And I would do it again. So amazing. I loved it. And I think if you want to do it, it's actually crazy because I go out in Old Town a lot because I live over there. Yeah. Whenever I'm at the bars or something, girls will come up to me all the time and be like, I'm gonna get a breast reduction. Like, I saw your story and I love that. Oh, me too. I'm like, you totally should. And I'm not against plastic surgery or anything because if it makes you feel comfortable, then do it. What's like, what's. What's the point?

[B]

Okay, so I was going to talk about this when you talked about body image, because here's my thing. Social media really is a. Damned if you do, damned if you do. Because if I talk about body positivity, people like, but you're so fake because you got your tits done. I'm like, hold on. But the issue is that I didn't need to tell you I got my boobs done. I shared it. Because 99 of the time, it's helping other women. Like you're saying, yeah. To be encouraged to go do it or to find the doctor that they want or to be like, oh, my gosh, yours looks so good. I would feel so much more confident about myself. There is nothing wrong with feeling better about your body, especially in. In areas that no lifestyle is going to change. Like, there's nothing. For example, my C section shelf. There's no lifestyle, diet, exercise, routine that's going to change it.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

That would change me not having a C section shelf would be getting a tummy tuck.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Which I haven't done. But I'm also not opposed to it.

[A]

My mom wants to do that, too.

[B]

Yeah. And I'm like, and if I.

[A]

And what's the big deal?

[B]

And if. What's the big deal? And if I talk about it and it encourages even one woman to be like, you know what? I want to do that. And it makes her feel better. Worth it. Worth.

[A]

All the times, too. People have come up to me and been like, I'm just really scared of the process of this. So it's good that I feel like it's good that I went online and I talked about it. I looked up. I literally, before I went to surgery, I just looked up breast reduction before, after. That's how you do your research, right? Absolutely. And so me talking about it, it encouraged a lot of people to be like, okay, it's not that scary, or, okay, this is what I should ask for. Here are the things I should get for after. So I think body positivity is basically just being happy with anything, you know? And another thing for me was I was like, oh, my gosh, is my boyfriend not gonna like my boobs anymore? Like, you know what I'm saying? I think that a lot of girls, too, feel like looking for an approval. Me, obviously a male approval. I was like, is he going to not like my boobs anymore because they're smaller, or I have scars now or this and that?

[B]

You know?

[A]

And it was like, I was able to do it. And I'm obsessed with myself. And obviously he likes them, too, but it's like, you don't need to do it for anybody else. Like, you got to love yourself. It's all for you. I did this for myself. I didn't do it for anybody else. And I feel so much better. Like, I can run now. My nipples don't fly off.

[B]

You don't have to wear 40 sports bras.

[A]

Yeah, it's. It's amazing. I. I don't wear a bra. I'm not wearing a bra right now.

[B]

Okay. So speaking of your man, because you just got engaged. Congrats.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Tell me about how you met him.

[A]

We met, which I think that this is such a crazy story with the day and age that we're in, People are always like, what? This is how you met? It's nothing special. We just met at a bar. Oh. But I was.

[B]

I thought you were gonna say a dating app, because, like, no, that's why every.

[A]

That's why I was saying, I think.

[B]

That no one meets in person anymore.

[A]

Nobody just meets just to meet anymore. Yeah, we literally met just because we met. So my friend, one of my best friends, was talking to one of his guy friends, okay. And she was like, let's go out tonight. And I was like, I don't want to go out. I'm, like, really not in the mood to go out right now. Like, please. Like, let's not. And it was like a daytime kind of thing. And I was like, I really don't want to go out. Can we, like, not? And she's like, please, I'm begging you. I always go out when you want to go out.

[B]

And I was like, damn it.

[A]

I was like, you're right, because there's going to be a time that I'm going to want to go out and whatever. So we go out, and obviously she wants to hang out with the guy. That's why we're out. I'm not the important one here.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And I can very much so hold my own. When we go out, you'll just catch me with a bunch of strangers, like, talking for two hours. I love that I can leave the group and go do whatever. So she's talking to the guy that she's talking to. And so then now I'm stuck with all of his friends. And so I'm stuck with all of his friends. My now fiance happening to be one of them. He is not my type whatsoever. And just, like, I've. None of them were. My vibe, like, I was just like, cool, I'm gonna hang out with some friends today. Like, what's the big deal?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then one of his friends, which is actually like one of our best friends, he was like, do you want to like, talk to him? Talk to him? I go, no, I'm not talking to anybody.

[B]

You said.

[A]

And yeah, I was like, he's watching this back. Like, no, he knows, he knows. And he was like, I was like, I'm not talking to anybody today. Like, I don't want to talk to anybody. I'm just, I'm doing my own thing. I feel like this was also kind of like right after me and my boyfriend prior to that broke up.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So I was kind of really anti men for sure. Like, I was like, I'm you're single era. Yeah. I was like, I'm just like having fun and doing me. We sat down, we talked the entire, like for four hours. Oh, for like four hours we were just talking. Nothing. Then this girl comes up. This is just a cute little part of the story. This girl comes up to us and she goes, you guys are such a cute couple. Can I take a photo of you? And we were like, we're not, we're not dating, but okay, sure. So then she takes like a photo of us and the photos like so funny. Cuz we look like blackout drunk. Because first of all, I wasn't even gonna drink that day at all. I was like, I don't want to drink. I'm just gonna chill. And then we just kept. He just kept buying us drinks. We were just like hanging out. Then everybody left the bar and it was just us two and we stayed at the bar and we just like kept hanging out.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then one of my friends was like, come meet me at this bar. So I was like, okay, I'm gonna go to this bar. I'm like, this part's actually really funny too. We get to this next bar. I was like, I'm gonna go to the bathroom. I go to the bathroom. He goes to the bathroom. Everybody knows the girl's line takes way longer than the guy's line. Right? Just a known fact. So it takes me like 15 minutes to go to the bathroom. He was waiting outside the bathroom and walked the whole bar because he thought I left him.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

So he thought I left him and was all sa and was like, oh my gosh. Like, she left me, like, I don't know where she is. So he was like, I guess I'm just gonna leave and go back to the bar with My friends.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

And so then I get out of the bathroom like, 20 minutes later, and he's going. And so I'm like, where is he? And we don't have each other's numbers. Like, we have nothing. So then I was like, I don't know. So I guess I did really like him. So then I was like, I need to find his Instagram or something. So then I go and I find his Instagram. He's private, so I'm just like, oh, my gosh. I hope he, like, follows me. He follows me. And then, like, we DM'd each other. This is literally how we got back in contact. We DM'd each other, and we were. This is all within the same night. And he was like, I thought you left me. And then we met outside the bar, and we went back to mine. But we didn't hook up or anything. We didn't. We didn't do anything until, like, a month and a half in.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

Other than Kiss. Yeah. Which is crazy.

[B]

Damn. Yeah.

[A]

So then that night, we were watching movies. He slept over. And the whole next day, we watched, like, four movies. We watched, like, Step Brothers. Just, like, stupid movies. He always laughs. I fell asleep on him for, like, an hour and a half, and I was snoring, and he just, like, couldn't move.

[B]

Hey.

[A]

And then after that, we literally have hung out every single day. Haven't stopped.

[B]

That's amazing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you guys live together?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Amazing.

[A]

Yeah, he moved in with me. Maybe, like. Well, technically, he's lived with me basically the whole time, but.

[B]

Well, yeah, Dave and I were, like, four weeks. I mean, I basically already lived with him. I had, like, a pile of clothes on the floor. But officially, it was four weeks.

[A]

Yeah, officially. I think ours was, like, two months.

[B]

Yeah. Who cares something like that if you know you.

[A]

Oh. We so knew there was no other option. I was like, I have to marry him.

[B]

Tell me the proposal story.

[A]

He's such a little sweetheart for someone.

[B]

By the way, the rock. Please hold it up. That. That camera, that is fire.

[A]

I know. People are always like, it's so basic. It's oval basic. Yeah. You have.

[B]

Opal's my favorite. Yeah, Oval's my favorite.

[A]

Oh, yours is really pretty, too.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

I love your band.

[B]

I. Yeah, I literally just got it in November. December. I never had a wedding band.

[A]

Oh. Ever.

[B]

For 10 years. So we just had it made. Yeah. It was also a morganite. June 1st of 2016.

[A]

How old were you?

[B]

I was 21. Okay.

[A]

People always are like, oh, My gosh, you're only 25.

[B]

I was a mother at 23.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I. We met when I was 18.

[A]

Well, now the whole thing is, which everybody can do their own thing, but everybody's like, live your life. I'm like, I am living my life also.

[B]

I literally have had the greatest 10 years of my life. And I was married. Well, okay. Married for eight of the 10. But, like, don't listen to anyone. If you found your person growing together is so much better. Well, okay, I'm not gonna say so much better. If that journey is for you to grow together as a couple, that's great. And if it's better to grow on your own, then, also great.

[A]

I also grew up so fast. Oh, I've lived so much life.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I've lived so much.

[B]

You're 24?

[A]

Yeah, I just turned 24 like, a week ago. Yeah, I've lived so much life when it comes to being on the show. And I lived in la. I did the party thing. I did the whole everything that it's like, this is the next thing that is the most, like, fulfilling for me.

[B]

And you have your life together.

[A]

Yeah. I'm so excited. I love it because I'm like, I can't believe I. We always tell each other, we can't believe we went 24 years without even knowing each other. So I'm like, I wouldn't want to waste another moment.

[B]

No.

[A]

Without you.

[B]

No. That's how it should be. Okay.

[A]

Anyways, our proposal. So I'll tell you all, like, the backstory stuff, too, because that's my favorite part is all the little details that. It was. Whenever we were done with the whole proposal, we sat down at the end of the night and he just told me all the little details of how stressed he was and stuff.

[B]

Yeah, I bet.

[A]

We left our phones in the hotel room and we literally just talked and then danced. And it was so fun on the lake.

[B]

Oh. I was dying at every photo video. I mean, it was gorgeous.

[A]

It was actual perfection. I mean, I know how he pulled it off now. Back was, whenever he was walking me there, I was like, how the fuck did he pull this off? All the way to Italy? Oh.

[B]

I had tears streaming down my face.

[A]

He's the sweetest.

[B]

It was so sweet.

[A]

And if you. You'll. I'm sure you'll meet him someday. He's literally just, like, the kindest. Like, we're the most complete opposite people, and that's why we're so amazing together.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Anyways, I'm like, I could Ramble about that, but proposal. So we planned on going to Italy just because I've always wanted to go to Italy. I've literally talked about it for the past, like, three years, how every summer I want to go to Italy, and I feel like it's been. The new hotspot has been, like, Lake Como, and everybody wants to get married there, blah, blah, blah. So I always talk about my dream in life. You can ask Kennedy. We just were talking about on the phone all the way here. I've always wanted to get married. I've always wanted just, like, love, and I've strived for that. And Kennedy knew in my last relationship, too. I feel like just every relationship I've ever been in, my goal is always to be a good partner and to ultimately, you know, find my person and get married. That's something that I've always wanted. Like, I can't wait to start a family, have kids. I'm just very family oriented.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's just who I am. So we were going to Italy, and one of my good friends planned our trip. She is a. What's it called? A travel.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Amazing advisor. Yeah, yeah. Travel agent.

[A]

Travel agent. Yeah. And she specializes in Italy. Like, that's what she specializes in. So she planned our whole trip and everything. So Nate secretly reached out to her and was like, okay, I know how much she's been wanting to go to Italy, and I know that her dream is to get married in Italy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So how, like, do we make this happen?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so she, you know, knows people that plan weddings in Italy, whatnot. So she was able to get all the floral and stuff because obviously Nate's never even been out of the country. We went to Cabo for the first time together.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

We had to get a passport. So he's never been to Italy. He knows nothing.

[B]

Yeah, I've never been.

[A]

We know nothing.

[B]

Also, planning stuff in a foreign country is overwhelming.

[A]

Well, it's. You have to be up in the middle of the night to talk to them.

[B]

For sure.

[A]

A whole thing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So we get there, and he didn't act weird or anything, which is actually shocking. He was very normal.

[B]

Nonchalant.

[A]

Yeah, nonchalant. There was no, like. Because I feel like sometimes you could tell.

[B]

They get nervous.

[A]

Yeah, they get nervous for sure. And they're kind of, like, being weird.

[B]

And you're like, what's the. Why are you being.

[A]

Yeah, why are you being weird? He was doing a great job. He was like, I was trying really hard to be good. He was like, I was so nervous.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Then the night before, he told me he was up all night. I was sleeping. I snore.

[B]

Oh, Same David. Lily was telling me the other day when we took a nap in the hotel room. He's like, baby, you're snoring is, like, kind of getting. I was like, yeah.

[A]

I sometimes think, like, I'm like, hot girl snorer. If I'm really tired or if I'm drinking. Those are the only two. I haven't snored recently or I can't breathe.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Like, if I can't breathe.

[B]

Like a good sleep apnea situation.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You, like, have the machine.

[A]

Anyways, I was dead asleep because I didn't know what he was proposing. But he was up all night, like, on his phone texting all the people to make sure it was happening. Because the hotel we stayed at is Villa d'este. Villa Diveste. Wonderful. Definitely a splurge, but absolutely wonderful. They were being so difficult with him, telling him a certain time that he could propose, where it could be. So he didn't even know until the night before that he was proposing the next day. Because they were, like, being so specific on days and times.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All this kind of leads up to the day of, day of. We just went and did some sightseeing, whatever. We go to the pool. We're at the pool and I'm like, vacation. I'm like, I want a drink. I was like, let's go swimming. My hair is all wet. And he's just, like, having a panic attack because he's like, she is not like. And he's like, I can't tell her right now. It's like 2pm so then it started to get closer to 5. He had to be done and out of the area by six for proposal. So it's five o'clock. I'm at the pool. I'm swimming, playing mermaids, like, fully gone. I'm like, can I get another drink? And he was like, we really should get up and, like, go get ready for dinner. Like, let's go get ready for dinner.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I was like, dinner's not till, like, 6:30. I don't give a fuck what I look like tonight. I was like, I don't care what I look like tonight. I was like, I'm just gonna go in wet hair.

[B]

Oh, my God. Oh.

[A]

Or maybe we should just, like, order room service. I was like, let's not even do the dinner tonight. And he was like, no, like, let's go to dinner. Like, we're in Italy, like, He keeps, like, trying. I was like, no. I was like, can you go get me an espresso martini? I'd rather just sit here and wait until the sun goes down. And so he was like, okay. So he goes and gets the espresso martini. He comes back and he goes, it's time to put the white dress on. And so I was like, oh. And we joke about it because he was like, in the grand scheme of things, I probably should have, like, said that to you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But it's, like, part of our story. We're like. I was like, what's the difference in three?

[B]

And, like, how else can you be, like, as a respectful man, like, get the fuck out of the pool. I need you to be put together, or else you're gonna be pissed at me because this video. You're gonna look wrecked.

[A]

No, literally. And he knew that I. I would want to, like, look pretty and be. It's a memorable moment, and it actually made it even more fun because then I was like, like, my face. He always talks about it. We started crying, like, looking at each other, because we were like, oh, my gosh.

[B]

Like, it's happening.

[A]

So we were so excited. So then now I'm like, oh, shit. Like, I got. I had 30 minutes to get ready. Literally 30 minutes. Because we were already 30 minutes behind because of my stubborn ass.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So then we're walking up and from the pool to the. Like, get to our hotel. You walk right past where he was proposing. And so he was like, look at the lake. He was like, look at this. Brussel martini only has two beans. That should always, like, have three beads. Like, he was just making up anything.

[B]

Yeah, it worked.

[A]

I didn't see anything. We get up. It was so cute. There was, like, this one really special, like, white dress I've just, like, loved I was gonna wear no matter what. Like, just in. Like, in Italy, I went when I was taking a shower. I came out of the shower, and he was steaming the dress and, like, getting it all ready. And he was in, like, a little suit. And you could just tell he was so nervous.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Well, he was really nervous. He left the box out. I was like, babe, that's what I'm saying. When. He was just, like, a nervous wreck.

[B]

Like, he's like, well, now that you.

[A]

Know the box out, I was just like, it's okay. Like, you're nervous. Like, I didn't tell him until after that I saw the box because I was like, he probably would have been sad. Now we laugh about it because it's whatever this episode is. Brought to you by Allstate. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First. Like, you know, to check the date of the big game first before you accidentally buy tickets on your 20th wedding anniversary and have to spend the next 20 years of your marriage making up for it. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.

[B]

Also, it's like, sometimes it's just easier if you both are on board.

[A]

Yeah. You know, it was, like, literally 30 minutes of knowing, so it wasn't that deep. To me. It's, like, funny because it also doesn't.

[B]

Take away any of the.

[A]

Oh, it took away nothing. Because I knew nothing of what it looked like, even that it was happening. Like, I didn't care. So I was getting ready. He, like, steamed the dress for me. I put it on, and he was like, okay, let's go. And so I didn't know where we were going, like, if we were getting a car, like, what was going on. So he grabbed my hand, we walked. And it was, like, such a, like, cute, like, moment because we were just, like, so excited. We're both, like, shaking, and we were so nervous. And then when we were walking up, it was, like, all rocks. It actually took me five minutes to get up this walk because they kept getting in my heels, and it was funny. Then we got to the top, and we blacked out, like, neither one of us. I couldn't tell you what happened in that moment. I have no clue. I was like, did I say yes? Did you even ask me to marry you? Like, I was like, I have no clue.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What happened? Like, I was just, like, shaking. Like, he was like, this.

[B]

It's for your whole life.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So then literally, forget it all.

[A]

It's all I've ever wanted, like, in life and with him, because he's literally. He's perfect. And so he opens the box. Whatever. And what was so sweet, too, is he got the photographer.

[B]

Yeah. Photos were insane.

[A]

He's. He's genius. He's really smart, Nate. He. I reached out to this photographer because I just wanted to take photos when we were there in general.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I plan to shoot for the next day, just. Anyways, like, we were gonna just do it like, a little boat shoot. And it was gonna be.

[B]

And that shoe was also so iconic.

[A]

Yeah. It was so good. So we were gonna do that no matter what. Like, I planned it myself. So Nate knew the photographer. So Nate reached out to the photographer and was like, hey, I'm gonna propose on this trip. Is there any way, like, you could take the photos for us, for the proposals? I was like, you're so smart, Nate. Like, you're a genius.

[B]

Yeah, that's amazing.

[A]

So he hired him to do it, and it was cute because Nate really wanted a video because he knew that, like, at the end of day, I would want a video. Of course, I love to capture. Like, I can't wait to show our kids that video and stuff. But the photographer was so sweet. He filmed it and was taking photos at the same time.

[B]

Oh, what a king.

[A]

He was a king. Oh, no, he's king. We love him. He's our favorite person in the world. Roman, shout out if you ever go to Lake Como. Need photos.

[B]

We are actually planning on.

[A]

Okay, well, then you need to use him. He's amazing. He's doing our wedding. And then.

[B]

Are you gonna get married? Lake Como?

[A]

Yeah. Fuck, yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We just had our date.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Yeah, he proposed and then we went to. We went downstairs and we had dinner. Actually, this is funny, too. I'm like, I'll give you all the tea.

[B]

Please do.

[A]

It was so funny. My stepdad. So I called my family first. Like, my mom, my mom, my stepdad, my dad, my stepmom. I called them and, like, showed them the ring. My stepdad posted on Instagram within two seconds.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

And we weren't on our phones because we were just, like, living in the moment. Then, like, an hour goes by, and I'm like, all these people are texting me, and people are, like, posting how they even get these photos. I'm like, my stepdad posted it, and it's very. My stepdad. That's a very thing that my step. I would do. I'm like. Wasn't mad at us. We were gonna wait, like, three or four days to post it. Like, we weren't gonna post it right away. And then we were kind of like, we just gotta do it at this point, because it's like, I would rather it be for sure. Me too. I don't want. Not that it matters that people be mad at me, but I was like, I don't want people, like, finding out, not, like, throughout me that I want. It's like my grandparents and stuff. I wanted to be the one to tell them, not them seeing it on social media. So then we ended up, like, Literally posting it right away. And I just, like, called and text Everybody for, like, 30 minutes. And then we left our phones upstairs because we were like, we don't want to deal with it. We want to go live in the moment. We went downstairs, and then he told me that he booked venue, like, venue tours for the next day.

[B]

Oh, that's so cool.

[A]

Yeah. Because I don't think I would have chose to have gotten married in Lake Como if we didn't go do that while we were there.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Because I wouldn't have been able to have seen anything, you know, or understood it. I just don't think I would have done it. And it was just like, the sweetest thing, because also, all of the villas, there are wedding venues. So you're.

[B]

That's what I've heard.

[A]

You're basically going sightseeing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, we took a boat and went to Villa Bablianello.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And it was like, where the Star wars was filmed and stuff. We did a full tour, like a tour of everything. Like, learned about all of the history of it all. And then also did, like, like, a wedding tour. That's on top of it. But no, it was amazing. He just. He really thought of everything to make it absolutely perfect.

[B]

And what a gem.

[A]

No, he really is. I don't know how I got so.

[B]

I love.

[A]

He's just. He's very thoughtful. He's very loving.

[B]

But you deserve that.

[A]

I know.

[B]

I don't know how you do.

[A]

I do deserve that. And he deserves it. Everybody deserves it. I say that every day. I'm like, everybody deserves. We literally will, like, lay in bed and be like, do people feel this kind of love? Because I really hope that this is however everybody feels, because there's no other way to live. It's the best way to live.

[B]

What does he do?

[A]

He's an engineer.

[B]

Oh, amazing educated king.

[A]

Yeah. We couldn't be any polar opposite.

[B]

Yeah. But I feel like those kind of couples just mesh so well together.

[A]

Oh, it's. It's.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Perfect.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, so obviously, weddings next. And then what about career wise, what do you have on the horizon? Anything.

[A]

I just want to keep doing dance. That's. That's really my passion. I think growing up, I always loved dance. And then after the show, I went through a phase where I kind of was like, f Dance. Like, it was really hard.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And now I've just really found my passion for teaching. It's what I love. I love kids.

[B]

I wish you taught Stevie one day.

[A]

One day I'll teach her. I'M like, I don't teach two year olds. Yeah, she's two or three.

[B]

She's three.

[A]

Yeah. My sister's about to be three. I'm like, I don't teach them.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But I started like five or six.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So you. You let me know when she's ready. I got her first solo down.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But I want to do that.

[B]

And hopefully I'll give you caffeine, because you're gonna need it.

[A]

Oh, trust me, I. I know how to do it. Don't you worry.

[B]

She's a hurricane.

[A]

That's. That's my sister too. Hopefully open up my own dance studio.

[B]

I was just gonna ask you that. Yeah, I really think you should. And I also think in Arizona, we need more of them.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

More like high quality, competition type studios.

[A]

Yeah. I want to keep it smaller and just really be able to connect. Because my favorite thing is, like, connecting with all my students. Like, all my students. I would say I have a really good relationship with them and like their parents. And I want to have that relationship because I think it makes it better for the dancer and for the parent. So I really want to open my own studio. That's kind of my main thing. And then start a brand. Body positivity, kind of face.

[B]

Amazing.

[A]

Dance wear, swim. Yeah, everything like that.

[B]

Let me know about the studio. I'll be your first client.

[A]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

Will be.

[A]

Stevie. Yay. I'm like, you will be.

[B]

I know. See, one thing about me is I don't have rhythm. So that started. We started Stevie Young, so hopefully she can develop something.

[A]

For sure, my sister and your daughter can be duo partners.

[B]

Okay. Perfect.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, my God. Can you imagine? God help them.

[A]

God help me. Yeah. Seriously.

[B]

Oh, my God. I'm gonna bring you coffee every day. Well, where can people find you on socials?

[A]

Just Kalani Hilliker. Not for long, though.

[B]

Instagram. Tick Tock.

[A]

Instagram Tick Tock. I feel like those are mine.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I use. Do you use YouTube for this?

[B]

Yeah, not really. Not really. For personal, I'll document, like, every once in a while. But for Cheers, we do. Yeah.

[A]

I was gonna say. Yeah.

[B]

It's a visual.

[A]

I don't really do too much YouTube, but it's just Kalani Hiller on everything.

[B]

Okay. Amazing. Well, thank you so much for being here. It was to have you on.

[A]

Thank you for having me.

[B]

Bye, guys. Cheers.