'Dance Moms' Star Nia Sioux Exposes Abby Lee Miller's Alleged Racism, Abuse & Sabotage

Summary

“Just Trish” Podcast: Nia Sioux Exposes ‘Dance Moms’ Secrets & Her Journey – November 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this intense and moving episode of “Just Trish,” Trisha Paytas and co-host Oscar Gracey welcome former “Dance Moms” star Nia Sioux. Nia, now a 24-year-old author, performer, and advocate, opens up about her formative years under the harsh spotlight of reality TV, the alleged racism and abuse she experienced from Abby Lee Miller and how her life and identity were shaped by those challenges. The conversation covers Nia’s new memoir “Bottom of the Pyramid,” healing, resilience, and her vibrant life after reality TV.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Weight of Reality TV on a Child Star

• Entering Fame Young: Nia started performing at age 2 and joined “Dance Moms” at 9, staying through all original seasons. Trish highlights how Nia has "basically lived two decades as a performer" at just 24. (03:07)
• Writing the Memoir: Nia waited years post-show to write her book, explaining:

  “If I’d written it right after, I would have said things I would’ve regretted. I was just really upset about the whole thing.” (04:28)

• Post-Show Adjustment: She struggled at 16 to “figure out how to be a normal kid” and make friends—especially as her formative years played out on TV. (05:10–05:23)
• Emotional Maturity: Nia remarks on how her unusual upbringing forced her to grow up quickly, experiencing many adult situations before her brain was “fully developed.” (05:41)

Abby Lee Miller: Racism, Abuse & Sabotage

• Normalization of Mistreatment: For years, Nia chalked Abby’s behavior up to “tough love” but realized,

  “Once it got really bad, I realized… this actually isn’t tough love. This is hatred. This is hatred, racism.” (07:17)

• Things the Show Didn’t Air: Nia reveals physical incidents and racist comments were deliberately omitted by producers to “protect” Abby’s TV persona:

  “They protected her. They made her likable for TV. If they really showed everything that she did… people wouldn’t like her.” (10:48)

• Microaggressions and Isolation: Nia details ignored requests for basic accommodations—like knowing the week’s hairstyle—met with dismissiveness, and being the only Black girl both on screen and backstage, leading to deep loneliness and “brushing stuff under the rug.” (09:10–10:03)
• Sabotage and Exclusion:
  • Abby allegedly offered pop star Aubrey O’Day $10,000 not to work with Nia, trying to block her career off-camera and on. (14:36)
  • Producers edited out Nia’s emotional breakdowns, further erasing her experience. “You saw the call, but not the reality… I was bawling my eyes out. They didn’t show that.” (16:49–17:32)
• Body Shaming: Abby’s insults about Nia’s body and thighs, even at age 10, left lasting scars:

  “Her calling you fat, right? Her talking about your thighs, like, I was—I don’t know. How do you treat children like that?” – Trish (12:00)

Surviving and Thriving: Nia’s Response to Trauma

• No Apology From Abby:

  “I don’t think I’m ever going to get an apology and that’s okay. Honestly, it wouldn’t mean anything now anyway.” (12:33)

• Narrative Control: Nia’s main motivation for telling her story:

  “I just want to give baby Nia her flowers, you know, because she went through so much.” (25:08)

• Redefining Success:

  “You are the only person that gets to define success for yourself. Just because you don’t think that’s not your idea of success… but it’s mine.” (23:35)

• Not a Victim, but a Survivor: Nia sees her journey as one of “resilience and overcoming any obstacle,” refusing to be defined by victimhood despite the trauma. (76:41)

Healing, Friendship, and Family

• Mother’s Support: Nia credits her mother with guiding her through isolation and pain:

  “She instilled in me how to be my own best friend… your friendship is a gift.” (28:21)

• Friendship After Trauma: Despite rough experiences with peers on the show, sorority life at UCLA and new friendships in LA restored her faith in female friendship. (67:09)
• Creative and Academic Balance: Nia graduated from UCLA with a degree in American Literature because “I love writing. I wanted to broaden my horizons.” (64:10)
• Siblings and Family Values: Her entire family, including ambitious siblings and supportive parents, remain close and central to her wellbeing. (75:08–75:49)

Life, Career, and Activism After "Dance Moms"

• Continued Success Despite Sabotage: Nia describes working with the White House, major producers, and on TV, film, and Broadway—accomplishments often ignored by “Dance Moms” narrative. (13:58–14:07, 24:04)
• Mental Health and Advocacy: Writes, directs, and produces content highlighting marginalized voices, including dancers with disabilities. (58:11)
• Broadway & Other Dreams: Nia talks about roles she’d love ("The Wiz," "Chicago") and her stint on "Bold and the Beautiful" (47:03), outlining a goal-driven ethos: “I like checking them off.”
• On Being a Role Model:

  “You saved my life… You inspired me to dance. I got into dance because of you.” — Nia on fan encounters during her book tour (56:48)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Realizing It Was Abuse:

  “Once it got really bad, I realized I was like, oh, no, this actually isn’t tough love….this is hatred, racism.” — Nia (07:17)

• On Sabotage and Racism:

  “She wanted to make sure that her narrative, [that] me, the Black girl… couldn’t keep up… she really wanted that story to shine through.” — Nia (13:07)

• On Not Getting an Apology:

  “I don’t think I’m ever going to get [an] apology and that's okay. It wouldn’t mean anything now anyway.” — Nia (12:33)

• On Triumph Over Adversity:

  “You are the only person that gets to define success for yourself.” — Nia (23:35) “No matter what happens, you can always overcome it, and things always get better.” — Nia (76:41)

• On Parental Support:

  “She instilled in me, like, how to be my own best friend…your friendship is a gift.” — Nia (29:20)

• On Representation & Art:

  “A dancer is so many things… dancers come in every shape, size, color. It was beautiful to do that and share it with the world.” — Nia (58:11)

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Important Segments and Timestamps

• Main Discussion Begins/Background & Book Inspiration: 02:58–06:05
• On Abby’s Racism, Abuse, and Producer Complicity: 06:25–11:28
• Sabotage by Abby (Aubrey O’Day Incident): 14:35–17:20
• Cry Editing and Hiding Nia’s Pain: 16:49–18:57
• Making Peace With It & Family Support: 18:57–21:18, 28:21–29:20
• Body Image, Racism, and Never Making the “Top of the Pyramid”: 21:46–22:20
• Redefining Success and Confidence: 22:20–24:05
• Life and Advocacy After TV: 51:32–59:11
• Friendship, Sorority Experience, & Family Ties: 64:06–68:33
• Lasting Takeaways & Closing Thoughts: 76:41–77:50

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Final Takeaways

The episode is a powerful story of perseverance in the face of systemic abuse, racism, and emotional manipulation. Nia Sioux shares firsthand the cost of child stardom, the necessity of controlling your own story, and the healing possible through family, friendship, and self-validation. Her message to listeners is universal:
Know your worth. Don’t let anyone dim your light. You alone define your success.

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Endorsements & Impact

Nia’s book, Bottom of the Pyramid, is praised by major figures (Misty Copeland, Sherri Shepherd, etc.), and she continues to inspire countless young people and adults alike—including mothers and fellow former child stars—by her example and advocacy.

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For more, get Nia’s book and follow her book tour. Trish’s closing reminder:

“You are a true star. You are really a star. And I can’t wait to see all the other stuff you’re doing.” (78:06)

Transcript

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[Nia Sioux]

And for a while, I just chalked it up to be like, tough love, you know, and that's the reason why I stayed so long. Like, there's. There's so many factors that go into it, but that was one of them. I'm like, oh, my gosh. Like, it's just tough love. Like, I don't understand.

[Interviewer]

So, like, off camera, is she also saying, like, you can't do this? Is she, like, pissed at you for trying to, like, do your own career?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. Because she couldn't be your manager all the time, you know? I know some people are like, well, you're harping on it. If it was so bad, why are you talking about it? Or da, da, da.

[Interviewer]

I'm like, cause you never got a chance to.

[Nia Sioux]

I guess I never got a chance to. I'm finally ready to talk about it. I wasn't ready to talk about it before, but now I'm ready.

[Announcer]

Yay.

[Interviewer]

Welcome back to the Just Podcast. I am so excited for today's guest. You may know her from dance moms or you may have seen her at the Victoria's Secret fashion show recently. Now she is an author again. Actually, twice. Author. Nia Su. Hi, Trisha.

[Nia Sioux]

Hi. How are you?

[Interviewer]

This is your second book, right?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, this is my second book.

[Interviewer]

First memoir. You did a children's book and now this is your first. You meant exactly.

[Nia Sioux]

This is my first, like, chapter book, which is really cool.

[Interviewer]

Bottom of the pyramid. Oh, my gosh. You were wonderful. As soon as you walked in. You have Such, like, a brightness to you, and it made me so happy. Like, you just have such a good energy.

[Nia Sioux]

Thank you so much.

[Interviewer]

I love it.

[Nia Sioux]

You have great energy. Thanks.

[Interviewer]

I was excited. I was so excited because I obviously, like, watched you for so long. Like, I was a dance moms watcher back in the day, like, when it was awesome. Really? Yeah, I really was. Which is like. Yeah, it's a whole thing. We'll get into it. But it's like, you've been doing this for so long too. We were talking earlier. I was like, yeah, after a while, you just don't know how to, like, stay relevant. I forget, even though you're a decade younger than me, you've also been doing it for just as long. You've been dancing since you said two.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

So wild. Longer than, like, you've been doing over 20 years just being a performer.

[Nia Sioux]

Isn't that crazy? I didn't even think about it that way. But, yes, it has been over 20.

[Interviewer]

Because you're 25, right? You're 24.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, 24. Oh, my gosh.

[Interviewer]

So that is a wild life. Oh, my gosh. Did you ever see yourself writing a book? Like, starting as a dancer where you're like, one day I might write a book too?

[Nia Sioux]

Honestly, yes. Because both of my parents. Well, when I was younger, my dad wrote a book, and I thought that was the coolest thing ever. The coolest thing ever. I was like, I'm gonna write a book one day. Didn't know what it was gonna be about, but I was like, I'm gonna write a book one day. Wow. And then on the show, my mom wrote a book, so then both my parents had books. And then I'm like, I'm next, obviously.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. You're like, that makes sense for me.

[Nia Sioux]

To do this too. Exactly, yeah.

[Interviewer]

Oh, so you have the example. You're like. Cause to me, I feel like publishing a book seems almost impossible. Like, how do people even go about that? But you knew the steps. You're like, I got it.

[Nia Sioux]

Well, I didn't know I had to learn the steps still. But yeah, both my parents have written books, and I look up to them so much with so many things. But, yeah, girl, even after the show ended, I was like, I'm gonna write a book. I'm happy. I waited. I was gonna do it right after it ended, and I'm so happy I waited. I would have said things that I wouldn't. I would have regretted.

[Interviewer]

What do you think back then would have been different? Cause I read that in your book. I read that you're like, you know, I thought about doing it right after, and you're like, thank God I didn't, because it gave me time to reflect. Like, what would you have written that you may have been like, ooh, not. Or, like, just a topic that you would have been like, ooh, maybe that wasn't it.

[Nia Sioux]

I think I just would have been so, like, angry at everyone. I feel like I would have blamed a lot of people for things also. I just wasn't in a great mental health, like, a mental state. I was just really trying to figure things out because I was, like, a year removed from the show and I was kind of struggling, trying to readjust back into regular teenage years.

[Interviewer]

Are you 17 when the show ends?

[Nia Sioux]

I was 15 the last time I filmed the episode, but by the time it came out, I was 16. 15. 16, yeah.

[Interviewer]

That is a crazy adjustment because you just did your whole life as a TV show.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. Those are really formative years, too. 9 to 16. Like, that is. Oh, yeah.

[Interviewer]

So, yeah, like, without a show, just no matter how awful it was or great it was, you're still like, what a shock to be done with it.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes. It took a lot of time to kind of, like, readjust, figure out how to be like a normal kid. It took some time to make friends, too, Right.

[Interviewer]

Outside of the show.

[Nia Sioux]

Of course. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Cause I feel. Yeah. Like, your brain is not fully developed at, like, any of those ages. Really?

[Nia Sioux]

Up until 20. My brain still isn't developed.

[Interviewer]

Well, you are ahead of your years, for sure. But I know. Yeah. They say 25.

[Nia Sioux]

They always say 25. I'm like, I don't know. I feel pretty developed.

[Interviewer]

But, yeah, I think you had a lot. I think your life experiences made it that way, which makes sense. Yeah. If you wrote a book at, like, 16 or 17, which I'm sure you would have been capable of.

[Nia Sioux]

Right?

[Interviewer]

Like, yeah. Your emotions are just so different.

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, yeah, for sure.

[Interviewer]

You can't take emotion out of it the way you could now.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly.

[Interviewer]

Which is. That would have been an interesting book, though.

[Nia Sioux]

It would have been. Honestly. It would have been an interesting book.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, it would have been an interesting. Like, how you felt as a teenager getting off that show versus now.

[Nia Sioux]

I think I was just really upset about the whole thing.

[Interviewer]

Really?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. Because. Upset?

[Interviewer]

You stayed on from the beginning. You're the only one who lasted all seasons.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

So that's interesting to hear because we saw the show. I read the book. It's okay. I did watch Dance Moms, but I have. I'VE always held this position about Abby. Like, I'm like, she, like, abused children on tv. And whether it was, you know, for show, for shock, which, you know, when. After I read your book, I'm like, okay, it wasn't just for show shock, because a lot didn't even air.

[Nia Sioux]

Right.

[Interviewer]

But even if it was just, like, pretend or acting or whatever, I'm like, it's still, like, abusive to do that.

[Nia Sioux]

Right. Even if it was pretended acting, it's still, like, shouldn't be doing that, you know? And for a while, I just chalked it up to be, like, tough love, you know? And that's the reason why I stayed so long. Like, there's. There's so many factors that go into it, but that was one of them. I'm like, oh, my gosh. Like, it's just tough love. Like, and I'm not. Like, I'm a pretty strong person. Like, I let a lot of, like, a lot of stuff, like, roll off my back, and I'm like, I'm fine. I kind of just do things.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

But once it got really bad, I realized I was like, oh, no, this actually isn't tough love. Yeah, this is. This is hatred. Yeah, this is hatred, racism.

[Interviewer]

Like, just so much. Like, so much stuff that you wrote in here that didn't even air. I was like, that is, like, the stuff that she would do is almost criminal.

[Nia Sioux]

Right?

[Interviewer]

I mean, it's wild. And you said they didn't show the part where she, like, you talked about, like, she grabbed you, like, physically.

[Nia Sioux]

They did not show that to me.

[Interviewer]

I'm like, they didn't show that. How is that even allowed? Like. Like, there was TV people filming. Everyone's filming. And how is that even. A lot is, like, wild, so.

[Nia Sioux]

And it's also crazy, too, because, you know, that incident happened, and I actually can't believe I'm the first person to talk. Talk about it, because, like, so many people were there yet, like, all of us just kind of, like, brushed under the rugged, under the rug, and, like, kept going about our lives. Yeah, I'm surprised, Like, I'm the first person to even bring it up. I mean. I mean, it's my thing, but still, you know, I feel like so much has, like, been out there.

[Interviewer]

To me, after reading your book, I'm not surprised. Cause it seemed like they brushed so.

[Nia Sioux]

Much under the rug, especially with my stuff. Like, they brushed a lot of my stuff under the rug because a lot of it was racism, and they didn't want to talk about those certain things. And Even if they did, they wouldn't have. You know, it's just like a whole thing. They couldn't have. They couldn't have.

[Interviewer]

It's extreme. Like, the stuff you talk about in your book is, like, extreme. Like, how. No. And that's. And so the producers, everyone involved in that show should be ashamed because. What do you mean? You were like, letting that happen on camera and off camera to you, right?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Cause like, for anyone to go through that is crazy. You at 10 years old having to deal with all of. All of it. Like, there is like, racism. There's also all the microaggressions about. You would say the way you're like, I need to know the hairstyle for the week because it's like, harder for me to prep. And her just like shutting it down and be like, why do you care? Like.

[Nia Sioux]

And I will say, like, it doesn't make it okay. But after, like post 2020, we can talk about race in a different way than we could than prior. You know what I mean? So it's like, I don't want to. I'm not making excuses, but also, like, just in general, we weren't talking about race and just like, other subjects, like serious subjects like that as casually as, you know, as much like it wasn't in the media as much, you know.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I suppose you're right. Like, people. Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

So a lot of. I feel like a lot of, like the producers, even castmates, whenever things were said, I mean, my mom and I would. Would clock it, but because we're black women, like, obviously, like, we're going to notice things and we're going to pick up on it, but everyone else is white on the set, so they're not going to pick up on those certain things. They're not going to pick up on the microaggressions, you know?

[Interviewer]

Yeah. I just feel like some of the stuff that, like, they didn't choose to air, I feel like, why. Why did they choose it? Right. Like, some of the. Like, there was one. Let me. I have. I had to write notes on these because there was.

[Nia Sioux]

There's so much.

[Interviewer]

There was so much. There was one where she talked about how you been a mom at the age of 12. Like, if it wasn't for her, like, she would be having kids. There was one about your flat feet that it's because of your race. The shades, like, she wants. This one is crazy. This one to me was the wildest thing because no matter, like, what era we're in, unless we're in, like, the 1800s, saying she only wanted skinny blonde girls with blonde hair and blue eyes.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

Like, how can you. How could. That to me is a wild thing that. How can someone go, like the producer go with good faith. Continuing to platform her was like, right.

[Nia Sioux]

Because she makes really good tv. So. And they protected her. They protected her. And that's why I always say they made her likable for tv because if they really showed everything that she did at a certain point, people wouldn't like her. People wouldn't be. Because people still root for her. People still. There's a lot of abbey lovers out there. There's a lot of like people love her still. And I'm like, whatever. Like, it's, it's fine. She's always gonna have her supporters. This honestly. And another thing too, this book isn't like to bring her down. I'm like, I genuinely like, I just want to tell my story because this is crazy. This is crazy.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, you're. And I'm like, I'm not kidding at all when I say this because I got the book late. I like emailed it. I need it. So I got it literally last night. And I like read the entire thing. And like I was, I was so upset like for you as like, like a 10 year old. Her calling you fat, right? Her talking about your thighs, your. Like I was. I don't know. Like, I just don't know. Like, I actually, I've always said this. My husband always tells me not to hate anyone. I. I've always hated Abby. Cause like, how do you treat children like that? Like, again, let's say, which it's not, but let's say it was for show. Oh, you amped it up. It's for ratings. Like, those are still children. They don't know it's acting if it was. But the fact that this was like real, of course, is like, it's abuse. Like she's abusing children on television and never apologized.

[Nia Sioux]

Oh my gosh, never.

[Interviewer]

Never to you.

[Nia Sioux]

Because that would mean that she would have to take accountability.

[Interviewer]

But after all these years, she goes through cancer, she goes to jail. Like, don't you think at some point, end of life you're like, maybe I should apologize. I really, I will.

[Nia Sioux]

I don't think I'm ever going to get apology and that's okay. Honestly, like, it's just, it wouldn't mean anything now anyway. You know, so much has happened. I'm like, it honestly wouldn't even mean anything.

[Interviewer]

It's. It's awful what you, what you went through was actually terrible. Like, more than I even saw. Like, I hear other girls share their stories and stuff like that, but I think it is so important you share your story because, like, it does get looked over. People will say just stuff that, you know, they hear. Oh, like, she's. She's not a good deal. She's all this stuff like that because Abby didn't use you the right way. Like, she just didn't care about you.

[Nia Sioux]

And she wanted to make sure that her narrative. Me, like, the black girl, the one little black girl, couldn't keep up. She was the weak link. You know, she really wanted that story to shine through. And, I mean, she didn't. She didn't, but she did.

[Interviewer]

I mean, ultimately, she didn't. Cause now you're like, shinee. You are getting all the brand deals. I saw a recent interview of her doing, talking about you, and I don't know who the interviewer was, but being nasty, being like, and where's Nia now? I'm like, no. And she's just like, Disney World.

[Nia Sioux]

Like, she's just still, yeah, girl, I love Disney.

[Interviewer]

Like, what?

[Nia Sioux]

But it's like, I'm like, do you know how much Disney costs? Like, please.

[Interviewer]

But that alone, I was like, to discredit, and I didn't even know because it's not spotlighted. It wasn't spotlight on the show. Like, bold and beautiful after the show and off Broadway.

[Nia Sioux]

I've worked with the White House. That part, like, literally sat at the table with Kamala Harris, which, I mean.

[Interviewer]

That is just transcends, like, anything else. Like, you're. You're not yet. You're a performer, but you're also, like, this advocate, and you're. Yeah, you're at the White House and you're using your platform for mental health and for the LGBTQ community. You're doing your videos, you're doing all this. Like, you're working with top producers for your songs. And it's just, like, how is that not spotlighted? And what really upset me, and I remember this happening in the show, and I reread it in your book and you can talk more about it, is when she offered Aubrey O' Day $10,000 to not work with you.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Can you explain? Like, was that real? Was that for show?

[Nia Sioux]

So real. It was so real. It was so real. I. I don't get. I didn't get upset that often. Like, for a while, I was so used to things that she would say to me. I just became so numb to anything she would say. I mean, at the very beginning of the show, I was a very, like, bubbly, bright girl. Like, so excited to learn all these things. And then little by little, you see, like, I don't smile as much. And I honestly think it happened with, like, a lot of the girls. Like, you don't see a smile. And especially, like, season five was by far the worst season for me. The worst season for me.

[Interviewer]

What happened in season five? This was this season.

[Nia Sioux]

This was this season in la. In la. I just felt so alone because it was just like my mom and I and like, we were just like. It was just us, like, on our little team, and everyone else was like, against us. So already I felt kind of like on the outs. And then on top of that, like, the one good thing I had going for me, she was trying to take that away, too. And it's like, what? Like, I'm honestly so grateful for Aubrey. Like, I'm honestly also surprised. Cause she did not have to help me.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

At all.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. She saw something and you're like, oh, yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

But I truly like that. An act like that is so, so evil. Like, I don't understand.

[Interviewer]

So, like, off camera, is she also saying, like, you can't do this? Is she, like, pissed at you for trying to, like, do your own career.

[Nia Sioux]

Because she couldn't be your manager all the time? You know? Yeah, it's. It's interesting because, you know, you see. You do see a lot on the show, but there's also so much that just, like, never made it, never got filmed, never. You know, and for a while, like, again, I kind of just like, roll, roll with the punches. Like, I'm truly, like, okay most of the time, but it's certain things that were truly hurtful. And that moment was one of, like, the worst days of my life. Like, when you brought that up, I was like, I still was like, you felt it? Yeah, like, I still, like, feel that.

[Interviewer]

I mean, how old are you? You're like, are you like, 13? 14?

[Nia Sioux]

I was 13. I was 13. Yeah. And I also. What's really interesting, I talk about in the book, the way that they aired that part was totally different than how it actually happened, too. Like, you saw her call Aubrey, but then. But, like, the moms were in the room, but they weren't actually in the room. And there was. So they edited it like, crazy. Crazy. I was bawling my eyes out. They didn't show that because I had to go back and rewatch some of.

[Interviewer]

The episodes because you couldn't like to just jog your Memory.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly. Because also I remember something a certain way, but I'm like, but what happened on tv? What did the people see? And I looked back and I was like, there's no way they didn't show.

[Interviewer]

Your crying your eyes out.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. Cause usually they're all over that.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Nia Sioux]

But because it was so bad, I think they were like, yeah, no, she's gonna look really not likable now.

[Interviewer]

That is wild. To protecting.

[Nia Sioux]

Like, they protected her. Yeah, they protected her. They protected her because you had talked.

[Interviewer]

About how you were, like, scared to cry, because early on, if you were crying, they would, like, follow you. Like, you come out of the bathroom, and they'd have a camera in your face.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. And there were a lot of reasons why I wouldn't cry. You know, she had her saying, save your tears for the pillow, like, so already. I was like, crying is bad. Crying is bad. But then knowing that crying is bad, but then the cameras really want to see you cry makes it even worse. Cause it's like, oh, if the camera catches you crying, that's really bad. That's really, really bad. You're not just crying, but now everyone can see you cry, and that's the end of the world. You don't want anyone to see you cry. You're weak, you know?

[Interviewer]

Oh, my gosh.

[Nia Sioux]

And it's taken a lot of time for me to not get rid of that idea of having emotions of crying, because, you know, it stayed with me for a long time, and I cry now, you know? But it's even, like, nowadays, like, it's really hard for me to, like, cry in front of people I don't know. Yeah, But I'm better now, though. But, yeah, it's definitely, like a weird kind of. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And what. What were the first steps to, like, get process all of this? Right. This sounds. Correct me if I'm wrong, traumatic. Like a trauma like this sounds like a traumatic childhood.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. But it's so interesting because it's like, yes, it is traumatic, but, like, I don't. I don't, like, it is very much traumatic, but I don't see it as something, like, super negative. You know, there's a lot that went wrong. But I also, like, I had good times on the show, and by the end, like, the bad did outweigh the good. But I loved dancing every week, you know? Like, I. I loved traveling. I loved being a part of a team. Like, that was part of it. Like, I didn't really have many friends at school. I just loved, like, the teamwork aspect. I Love how we all kind of, like, became a family. It was like a love hate relationship, you know? So it's like, even though it's kind of toxic, it's still like. I don't know, I just. I still had a lot of fun. I still have a lot of good memories, but, like, it's just, like, unfortunate that the bad outweighed the good. And it was more towards the end, like, the later seasons where it felt that way too well.

[Interviewer]

And at such a crucial stage. I think when you started the show, being so young, being nine, it's kind of like. Yeah, you maybe are maybe not as aware as to when you get into. Become a teenager, you start getting aware of, like, embarrassment and body image.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly.

[Interviewer]

You know, how cruel this person's being. So she calls Aubrey, you said you're crying. Are you thinking, like, possibly she may not want to work with you because of Abby? Like, you may be getting blackballed?

[Nia Sioux]

Absolutely. Because who wants to work with someone who has to put up with that? You know, they don't. Like, no one wants to put up with that. Yeah. That's crazy.

[Interviewer]

But she continued to. She was like.

[Nia Sioux]

That just made her want to work with me even more.

[Interviewer]

I love that. I love that shout out I have.

[Nia Sioux]

Like, there are some people that have walked into my life who have truly helped me and, like, truly, like, brought me out of my shell, who have just really, like, I connected with that were rooting for me. And I'm so grateful for that because they didn't have to do that, you know, And I'm just like, some random kid.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

And they just kind of, like, took me under their wing and showed me the way, you know.

[Interviewer]

Well, they probably saw, like. They definitely saw, like, star potential. That wasn't being. That was being wasted.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I think.

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

For sure. For sure. And it's real that. Which says a lot, because the position I was in, I didn't get to really show, like, my full potential. So the fact that people still saw my talent, even with everything going on, and even with people saying. Or Abby saying that I wasn't good enough, that, you know, that I'm not worthy of, like, any attention. I'm really, like, grateful for the people that helped me. Yeah. That saw it.

[Interviewer]

That was. That's the thing. Because it's one thing to be like, okay, if you weren't as good as other people, but you were. You won a title in 2014 and it never aired that you won a national title.

[Nia Sioux]

No. Cause it wasn't even. It wasn't Part of Dance Moms. But.

[Interviewer]

But they didn't talk about it.

[Nia Sioux]

They didn't talk about it.

[Interviewer]

If one of your. If you did place in a competition, you still weren't at the top of the pyramid. Like, you still would.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I placed, and it still wasn't good enough.

[Interviewer]

And that was such a beautiful line that you did. Right. It's like, it was. No matter how good you were, you were never gonna be at the top of the pyramid. But it wasn't your problem with Abby's problem.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly.

[Interviewer]

Which I thought was so beautifully said. And that's true. Sometimes you'll just never be good enough for someone, no matter how amazing you are.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly. Exactly. And that's like. That's another, like, huge point that I want to, like, make in the book. Because, yes, there's a lot of bad stuff happening, but how can we turn this around? How can we make it into a positive? Because it's like, yes, this happened, but how can we leverage whatever happened and make it into something beautiful? You know? So it's like, maybe you don't view this as successful, but I see it as successful.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Nia Sioux]

Even her comment is like, where is she, Disney? But it's like, girl, like, just so busy. I'm really proud of myself and, like, what I'm doing. Like, I would classify myself as successful. And I've had so, like, I've had so much success. And just because you don't think that's not your idea of success, that's okay. But it's not mine. Like, but it's mine. You know what I mean? Like, I want people to realize that. Even if, you know, whoever. A meanie. Bobeanie.

[Interviewer]

Right. So that's a good way to put it. You're much nicer than me.

[Nia Sioux]

You know what I mean? Yeah. Says that you're not good enough, that you're not gonna achieve, that you're not doing enough. And you're like, you're doing. You know, and you're doing the most.

[Interviewer]

You're doing the most, and you're doing the most.

[Nia Sioux]

That doesn't define you. You are the only person that gets to define success for yourself.

[Interviewer]

That's very. That is. And that is so true. Whatever success means to you, because it's like, entertainment wise, I would say of all the girls, like, you really are one of the most successful. You're doing Lifetime movies, you're acting, you're doing literally everything you wanted. So. But to someone else, maybe, like, someone getting married, like, maybe that's success to them. So you're Right. It just depends, Right.

[Nia Sioux]

It just depends what you're looking for.

[Interviewer]

So I know with Abby, she was all about, like, oh, if you're a performer and you're, like, on a stage and you've been on all the stages.

[Nia Sioux]

Like, well, I have been on stage.

[Interviewer]

Like, pop star, off Broadway, the two books, like, the Lifetime movies. Like, it really is, like, I wasn't even, like, fully aware of all the stuff that you did, and I was like, wow, all that you accomplished at 24. And almost, like, someone was, like, dragging you down, right? Abby's, like, dragging you down. And, like, I know you don't look at yourself as, like, a victim, and I think that is a beautiful thing, right? Like, you have to share the bad stuff to show how you got out of it, to show people, like, you can get through.

[Nia Sioux]

And that's. Yeah, that's.

[Interviewer]

That's the main thing you want to tell.

[Nia Sioux]

That's the main thing I want to tell people because it's like, like, yes, this happened. But, like, it doesn't have to, like, just be that. Like, it. That doesn't define me. And I think. I think some people are, like, worried, or even fans are like, oh, it's gonna be like, it's gonna be tea. It's gonna be drama. But it's like. It's like, yes and no. Like, it's. I'm not trying to put people down. I'm not trying to even, like, have a pity party, you know? Like, I just. Just. I just want to give, like, baby Nia her flowers, you know, because she went through so much.

[Interviewer]

I think that's so important because. And I agree, when you, like, reading your book, like, your book didn't make me hate Abby. I already hated Abby. But then your book kind of was just like, wow, all the struggles that you had to go through, which I think people don't see, because people can say what they want about you based on what they saw in the TV show. So now you get to say. And then people have so much more of an understanding. I mean, I think you always were a favorite, because people could say, see the unfair treatment you got? Like, and you did last the longest, and you stayed with her throughout this stuff. And I like what you said in the book, too. You're like, I could have quit. I could have done that. You're like, but I deserve to be on tv. I just deserve that spot. Which I thought is such a strong thing, because, yeah, I think if you were to quit, it would have been so valid. But I think Also, you being like, I deserve to be here. I started this and I want to, like, finish this out. And good for you because it did get you right noticed in all these things.

[Nia Sioux]

And.

[Interviewer]

And now you have a story to tell.

[Nia Sioux]

You know, I have a story to tell.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

And now I have so many lessons that I've learned.

[Interviewer]

You know, I mean, that book, I mean, you have so, like, your resilience. What do you attribute, like, at your.

[Nia Sioux]

Like.

[Interviewer]

Like in the low moments, what do you attribute or who do you give credit to that helped you through that?

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, I mean, my mom. Absolutely. Like, it's like, it's always my mom, always her. Because she went through it with me and, like, even. Yeah, like, she just. She went through it with me and she saw, like, she saw how bad it.

[Announcer]

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[Interviewer]

Like the ASPCA, helping support more than.

[Announcer]

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[Interviewer]

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[Announcer]

Love event, Subaru and its retailers will make a minimum $300 donation to charity. Visit subaru.comshare to learn more.

[Nia Sioux]

And she was always there for me, no matter what. No matter what.

[Interviewer]

Because there you talk about a time when you were in LA and it was you and your mom and you asked the girls to hang out and they were like, I don't know, they didn't respond or something. And you're like, okay, just text me later. And you saw them, like, all hanging out with, like, Todrick and, like, another YouTuber and you're like, I had a great day with my mom. But like, it hurts.

[Nia Sioux]

It hurt.

[Interviewer]

So what does your mom tell you in that moment? Or even you as a 13 year old? Like, how to process it, right? As a 13 year old, probably, oh, my God, my friends ditch me. How does your mom help you through that?

[Nia Sioux]

Well, she just let me cry. That was one of the times like, that I just cried. Like, we went back to the hotel room and I cried. And she instilled in me, like, how to be my own best friend. And she would constantly remind me, too, that she was like, I don't have many friends. And she was like, it's not because I can't have friends. But she was like, but I like myself. I like spending time with myself. And she was like, you have to be your own best friend. You know? And that's something that she kind of taught me through all of those moments whenever I'd be left out. Because she was like, you. You technically don't need a lot of friends. You know? She was like, you have me, you have your family. You still have friends back at home, you know, so it's like, you're not in this alone. And just because some people, you know, leave you out doesn't mean that you're not fun to be with. She always says. She's like, your friendship is a gift. She always tells me that she was like, people would be lucky to be your friend.

[Interviewer]

She's that mom.

[Nia Sioux]

That. She's definitely that mom.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God.

[Nia Sioux]

You know how people on TikTok are always joking? They're like, well, my mom's the one who told me that, like, I'm the prettiest in school, you know, like, they.

[Interviewer]

Should tell you, your mom should be your hype man.

[Nia Sioux]

For sure. My mom was definitely my hype.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God. Because that part of the book broke my heart, like, as a mom, too. I just couldn't imagine girls, like, excluding my daughter from something and having to see that with social media. Now, I didn't have social media at 13, so, like, I couldn't imagine knowing I was. I could feel I was excluded, but, like, seeing it right is.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I thought about that too, recently as well. Cause it's like, I went through it, but I can't imagine, like, my mom and how she felt. Oh, my God.

[Interviewer]

It would just break.

[Nia Sioux]

It would break my heart. It would break my heart.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God.

[Nia Sioux]

And the fact that I was like, it's okay, like, we're still gonna keep going. And I know that probably just broke her, you know, like, you are.

[Interviewer]

You really are, like, so strong. And I feel like children and teenagers should not have to be strong like that. Like, they just should not have to. Like, that just shouldn't happen. And it just is devastating. You did say later on, like, Todrick and the other YouTuber didn't know.

[Nia Sioux]

And then they were just like, they had no idea. They had no idea. And they. They made things right. Todrick and I are cool. And yeah. So it all turned out fine. And, you know, it just. It was just like some manipulation that happened, but it's okay. And I also, like, I don't blame the girls too much for that either because, like, you know, they were under Abby's thumb and, you know, like, it was definitely her driving the boat there, but still hurts. Doesn't hurt any less.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Yeah. You're so valid to talk about. I'm glad you. I'm glad you are talking about it because the show you really did show. You always show strength. People always said, like, there's so many edits I see of you, like, Nia, like, showing, like, so much, like, class when responding to Abby. I think she was talking about your slay music video about the arm fat.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

And you were like, the song's like, about not making fun of people. And, like. And Abby couldn't fathom.

[Nia Sioux]

Couldn't fathom.

[Interviewer]

And then she's like, who do you think? And you're like, well, it's a character. Like, I play a character and dance. Like, you are so classy with your responses, and it's beautiful. Did your mom, like, she. You talk about in the book, like, how she was, like, helping you, like, express yourself. Cause you had to be. And you make such a good point. Right. Some of the girls on the show, and they're young girls. This is why I don't think anyone should be on reality tv. But, like, young girls specifically come across bratty. Cause they're young. They can act up. They can be mouthy. Jojo was mouthy. Or Abby. But you talk about in the book.

[Nia Sioux]

How I would have done that. Oh, my gosh. It would have been another story. And that's would have been another story.

[Interviewer]

So at a young age, you have to keep it together even more.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Because you don't want to be stereotyped. You don't want to be edited a certain way, perceived a certain way by the girls or. But all those other girls can act. Even the moms themselves.

[Nia Sioux]

Even moms themselves.

[Interviewer]

Physically. I don't even remember her name, but the one, the mom with the two daughters, short hair, Kelly, she got, like, in A physical altercation. And, like, people are just like. Like you said, they're still fans of both of them. And I'm like, that's wild. Because if it was your mom or, like, do, like.

[Nia Sioux]

No, if it was my mom, it, like, it was. It would have been different. It would have been different, you know? And it's so interesting to me how my mom just kind of, like, knew what to do, even though she has never, like, been on TV or, you know. But the thing is, like, she's from the Bronx. She's dealt with people, you know, and she's very well educated, so she always just handled herself with grace.

[Interviewer]

And it's so beautiful to watch. And even you as, like, a child, like, just. Just the way you handled yourself is amazing. I don't think any, like, any other person could be that. But your whole family is, like, a line of academics, which I didn't know. Like, they all are very. And you as well.

[Nia Sioux]

My parents are, like, very accomplished.

[Interviewer]

That's like. Well, they wrote the books. Yeah. So you had. So it's interesting because you're such a creative. And then I saw that.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. You know, it's so different than them.

[Interviewer]

Right. Like, did your mom or your dad perform at all? Did they have any of that in them?

[Nia Sioux]

No.

[Interviewer]

So it's just you?

[Nia Sioux]

It was just me. I mean, my mom danced recreationally when she was younger and did African dance when she was in college, and my dad did not do any of those. I mean, I think they both did, like, the gospel choir at some point, but it was never like, their passion or anything. Like, they. Yeah, yeah. I've had. I have an uncle who was a tap dancer, which is cool.

[Interviewer]

Oh, professionally or just.

[Nia Sioux]

So, yeah, was like, literally a professional tap dancer. I'm like, so that's cool. But, like, that's, like.

[Interviewer]

That's about it.

[Announcer]

That's it.

[Nia Sioux]

Wow. Yeah. So even with competition dance, my mom, when I first started competition dance, she was like, what is this? Right? Yeah.

[Interviewer]

A whole different world.

[Nia Sioux]

A whole different world.

[Interviewer]

She just went, like, right in with you. She just jumped in with you as well.

[Nia Sioux]

She just jumped in with me. And it's so crazy. Cause it's like, girl, I was literally. I was nine. But both my parents, I think they saw how much joy, like, just performing brought to me, and they always just, like, fostered our interests, you know, Like. Like, my brothers and I, like, they really just. Whatever we wanted to do, whatever we were, like, good at and passionate about, they really, like, poured into. They let us pour into those Things, which was really nice because they didn't have to. They didn't have to. I mean, they're like, this is risky. Yeah, let's try and be a doctor, you know, or let's try to do something else.

[Interviewer]

Go the path they know you come from. Really smart people. They're like, let's just keep going down that path. Because dance is hard for anyone. But then also, you're in Pennsylvania, so it's like, what? Like that scene middle of nowhere, you know? And it's kind of like, wow, it's really amazing. So then you talk about that she's the opposite of a stage mom being nine. The show comes around and you have to ask her to be a part of the show. Like, you get, you audition, they pick you, and you're like, I really want to do this. And she wasn't like, you need to do.

[Nia Sioux]

She was not excited about that. She was just like. My parents were like, this isn't real. But they let me do it. They're like, okay, fine, whatever. Like, it seems. As I explained it, they're like, it seems sort of legit. So whatever. My mom told me, she was like, girl, like, we're way too boring. You're not getting this. And I was like, it's fine. Like, at least we tried, you know?

[Interviewer]

And. And then you got it. You guys got it.

[Nia Sioux]

Like, the odds are crazy. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I suppose when you audition with all the other girls and you get picked, like, how could you say no? I'm like, how could you say no? Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm like, okay, sure. And obviously, we have no idea what it's going to entail. Like, honestly, I'm sure if we knew everything that was going to happen, I think my parents would have been like, no.

[Interviewer]

Really?

[Nia Sioux]

Probably they would have been like, yeah, no, but it is what it is. And I know my whole family. No one regrets anything.

[Interviewer]

And led you to where you're at.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes, exactly. And again, it shaped who I am. And again, like, I was so excited. I'm a performer. So I hear a TV show, I'm like, yes.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. At nine.

[Nia Sioux]

Absolutely. At nine.

[Interviewer]

Covering a TV show about dance is crazy.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

A TV show about dance that revolves around you girls. It's called Dance Moms. Probably. Cause they couldn't call it Dance Kids, but, like, it was literally about you kids.

[Nia Sioux]

It was. So I was like, yes.

[Interviewer]

And it was great. I remember watching at the time, but then. Yeah, now looking back with such different, like, glatons, like, oh, my gosh. Like, what was happening on that show? And I guess in the moment, like watching it, I guess you just think like, like it's, it's pretend, it's whatever. But watching it back, it's like, I don't know if that show could fly anymore. I don't know if they could do that now.

[Nia Sioux]

I don't think so. Yeah, I don't think so.

[Interviewer]

A dance mom's like, if they rebooted it.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, there is.

[Interviewer]

Oh, there is.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. It's like a different, like it's like a spinoff, but it's still called Dance Moms. But not Abby, I guess. But no, it's not her. It's a different dance studio. I haven't watched it. I just, I can't. It's no shade. I just can't.

[Interviewer]

Of course, of course the drama comes back just like now. It's like, woo. What do you mean?

[Nia Sioux]

I just can't watch it. But I don't really know what that consists of. But I'm sure it's not like, it's not the same. It definitely. I don't know how it could be the same.

[Interviewer]

No, I don't think it could fly at all. Would you. If you had a daughter and she's like, I need to do this show, would you let her?

[Nia Sioux]

I don't know. It depends. It depends.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

I don't know. People ask me that all the time. I genuinely do not know.

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

Because reality, like people ask me, would you do another reality show? Unless it's Dancing with the Stars. Probably not.

[Interviewer]

Have you not been on it?

[Nia Sioux]

No, I've never been on it. I love Dancing with the Stars.

[Interviewer]

How have you not.

[Nia Sioux]

But like it's. I like those, like those kind of shows. Like light hearted.

[Interviewer]

Nice.

[Nia Sioux]

Like say yes to the dress, you know, and like a baking show. Yes. But anything to do like with that kind of thing. I can't. I don't even really like watch reality in that way. Yeah. Types of reality show that are very like, like catty. A lot of drama. Toxic. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Especially. I mean, it's one thing with adults. I can't do it either. But like, I don't know if there's another show with kids that is toxic like that. Like that.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

To watch that is like, it's like horrific. I don't know if there's like anything like that now as there shouldn't be. I still don't. I will never. I believe like everybody, there's a redemption arc, there's growth. I think there's just none for Abby Lee. I really don't like the fact that she has fans is crazy because at the end of the day, there's no, like. What is the word? There is no remorse. Right. Like, that's watching on that podcast. After everything she's been through, I'm just like, how can you sit there and still make fun of you?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Not doing anything and, like, it's just. And no. No apology, nothing. And you try to go visit her in the hospital. All of these things. It's like, you really tried. You said, even her coming to your show, you're like, you're off Broadway show. You were just like. It meant a lot that she was like. You still were trying. Because you're still trying to, like, form some sort of relationship with her.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And just. I just. I think there's just redeeming qualities about her because she has, like, zero remorse for any of this. It's. I wish more people. I've said this before. Even before I knew we're gonna be a guest on here. I've always said this. I was like, how. I just. It runs deep with me. I just really dislike this person. Yeah, but you're very. Like I said, you handle it very well, and you're very classy, and everyone online says it, and I love seeing you in. So. So after the show. Now after the show's done. Because they did a reunion. You didn't. You didn't partake in the reunion.

[Nia Sioux]

No, I didn't.

[Interviewer]

That was two years ago.

[Nia Sioux]

It was two years ago.

[Interviewer]

And you said no.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes. Yeah, I said no.

[Interviewer]

Just because you wanted to tell your story.

[Nia Sioux]

Starting to write my book.

[Interviewer]

So you're like, yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

And two. I was like, oh, my gosh. No, I. After. I just. I'm like. I just shared with you. I'm like, how. I'm like, I don't know. Like, I couldn't do, like, real. Like, that's. Yeah, that's reality, and that is very much reality. And I don't have control over the edits. I don't have control over, like, what anything anyone says, you know, and there's things that I would want to talk about that they would not talk about or they would cut out or people wouldn't be happy with it. People wouldn't understand where I'm coming from. Yeah. And also, like, it's no shade to the producers, but they did have, like, seven seasons, seven years to kind of help me out and defend me and make my story better, you know, and they didn't. They failed to do so. And it's like, why would I give them another chance to do that.

[Interviewer]

I'm so happy for you. I'm so happy for you.

[Nia Sioux]

I was like, I just don't trust that.

[Interviewer]

Why would you?

[Nia Sioux]

And it's nothing against. It's just like, I just. Because it's their job, you know? But I'm like, I just can't. I can't.

[Interviewer]

But you were a little girl, too, you know, just like, the fact that someone couldn't. Like, they couldn't protect you or look out for you or show some light. Like, you know, when you were doing your music videos in your music career, those were big videos, and you had big people involved. Mikey Minden was your creative director, which is like, he's humongous. Preston, makeup. Doing your makeup. They do Eric, Janet, Jackson. It's a huge, huge deal. And the fact that they couldn't highlight it. All they could highlight was Abby trying to sabotage this is like, I had.

[Nia Sioux]

Legit people behind me.

[Interviewer]

Huge. When I was reading all your people, I'm like, that's crazy. That's wild. And so. Okay, that makes sense. And then the reunion didn't happen. And I'm so happy. You had, like, a boundary, and like you said, you can just tell your story your own way. So much better. And you're doing the rounds now. I've watched so many podcasts that you've been on. I'm like, thank God people are listening, because, again, you're.

[Nia Sioux]

I. I'm happy people are listening because that's also something that, you know, I not really worry about, because I'm like, if people don't listen, I. I don't care. You know, like, if people don't read it, if they don't listen, like, that's. Everyone's busy. They live their own lives. If no one cares, it's okay. But it's like. But I care, and I deserve to still tell my story. I know some people are like, well, you're harping on it. If it was so bad, why are you talking about it? Or da, da, da.

[Interviewer]

I'm like, cause you never got a chance to.

[Nia Sioux]

I never got a chance to. I'm finally ready to talk about it. I wasn't ready to talk about it.

[Interviewer]

Before, but now I'm ready, and I think you're allowed to talk about it for the rest of your life. Cause it's so right. I'm like, it's my life. It's your life. It's so. And it's such a cautionary tale, too. Like, obviously, you made it out, and you're this you're an influencer and you're succeeding in every way. Like every way. You make. It's amazing.

[Nia Sioux]

I made it out whole.

[Interviewer]

That's the thing. Yeah. Like, that would have torn someone apart mentally, of course. Physically, like all the, all the issues that, the body issues that she was putting on you, all the stuff that she was projecting, it's like, it really is like a cautionary, like I said, for parents, for kids, for anyone to be like, let's look out for these signs that may not be healthy.

[Nia Sioux]

Right, Exactly. And you were talking about kids in entertainment. It's like, I do feel like there's a way where kids can do it. I do. Because, because as someone who was a kid and in it, like, I, I loved that aspect. I loved working as a kid. I really did. Like, I, I always looked forward to, to working with Venmo Stash A taco on one hand and ordering a ride.

[Interviewer]

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[Nia Sioux]

Sea terms included.

[Interviewer]

Venmo.me.

[Nia Sioux]

If we knew more about our sleep, what would we do differently? Would we go to bed at a consistent time or take steps to reduce interruptions to our sleep? With the all new sleep score, Apple Watch measures your bedtime consistency, interruptions and sleep duration. Then every morning it combines these factors into an easy to understand score from 1 to 100. So you'll know how to take the quality of your sleep from good to excellent. Introducing the new sleep score on Apple Watch, iPhone 11 or later required performing like I, that was my thing. That's what made me happy. I, I liked being around cameras and in costumes and all of that. And so it's like I, I don't know what the balance is, but, but I do think that there is a way. I just don't know the way.

[Interviewer]

I think they'll figure it out. I think with all the stories people have told, it's gotten better and better. Right. There's been certain laws put into like traditional actors, but now like the reality kids is a whole different genre is.

[Nia Sioux]

Totally different and yeah, that's a whole different ball game. Yeah, whole different ball game. And again, like, honestly, I, I feel like for the most part we all kind of like made it out okay and are pretty well adjusted.

[Interviewer]

Thanks to your parents, probably thanks to.

[Nia Sioux]

Our Parents, you know. But it also, like, could have not been.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, it could have been really disastrous.

[Nia Sioux]

Could have not been.

[Interviewer]

Yes, because we saw that even, like they could have been a whole different thing, I think. Was it. I think JoJo had a. Did she have a reality show about kids? Like kids were competing?

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, I think she did, yeah.

[Interviewer]

I mean, I don't really know the full outcome, but kids were like complaining about the process of like she was trying to create a group or something. And I was just like, I just don't know if competition based shows are right for kids, you know, because it's even America's Account, which I love. It's like the rejection. Right. Like a rejection for a young kid is a lot, but having to deal with rejection on top of being bullied and all that stuff, I. Is a whole, whole different thing. But you made it out. Like you said. You made it out. You're. You said you were 14 when the show ended.

[Nia Sioux]

I was like 16. 15. 16, yeah.

[Interviewer]

So you go from the show you do homeschool. So you're done with school at this point?

[Nia Sioux]

Well, no, actually. So I went to traditional school up until sixth grade, so seventh and eighth. I was homeschooled. And then I went back to traditional school freshman through sophomore year. But I was still filming dance moms that first year, so I was out in la. Most of the time I was just doing it remotely. And then the year after I booked Bold and the Beautiful, and so I was not like there at all. So I ended up just after like that sophomore or halfway through sophomore year, I ended up switching to cyber school to finish out high school.

[Interviewer]

Are you having to do set school? Like, do you have to go?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, it's very interesting. Yeah, yeah. You're like filming school on set, huh? Because I didn't, I didn't do the. I think it's like the emancipation, like, I didn't get. I didn't do like the legal 18 thing or anything. I wanted to. My mom was like, no, like, you're staying a kid as long as you can. Like, it's good for you to have three hours on set for school.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

Like, she was like, that's good for you that you don't work work adult hours because you're not an adult because you're.

[Interviewer]

You're 16 at this.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. Wow.

[Interviewer]

16 on like a soap opera that's been on for like 50 years.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. It's crazy. They're having like their 30th or 31st anniversary. When I joined. When you joined. When I joined something like that.

[Interviewer]

Did you know how, like, monumental it was or not really?

[Nia Sioux]

No, I did. No, I did. I did. I did. Like, seeing the. Working with the actors that have been literally doing this job since before I was born. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Interviewer]

You're like, this is. This is like education.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly, exactly. And they were so nice. They were all so welcoming.

[Interviewer]

And no acting experience prior?

[Nia Sioux]

Not really. I did, like, a couple, like, movies, like, very, like, small, like, independent film type of things. And I was doing acting classes, too.

[Interviewer]

Got it.

[Nia Sioux]

But then, yeah, that was like, my first like. Like, that was like, my first, like, big thing, though. That's my first scripted television show.

[Interviewer]

And soap operas are no joke. You can tell me if I'm wrong, but you, like.

[Nia Sioux]

Do you.

[Interviewer]

Do you film, like, so many scenes a day? Like, you start, like, 5:00am and go.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, they film, like, two episodes a day. Well, at least Bold and the Beautiful. Did they film two episodes a day?

[Interviewer]

Was this at NBC? Is this at NBC or cbs? Okay. Because I remember doing tour of one of the studios. Like, this is where they do Bold and Beautiful.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. From. Oh, my gosh. James Corden, Days of Our Lives. I think it's.

[Interviewer]

Oh, in the same.

[Nia Sioux]

It's is. It tastes. I can't remember. Okay. It's the other iconic one because they're, like, the same. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Sound stages or something.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my gosh. What is it? What?

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, I thought you knew. I was like, you know.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, maybe he's a fan. So that was at CBS where they do Dancing with the Stars and stuff. Is that that one on, like, Third Street?

[Nia Sioux]

Yes, it's literally right there.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God. So you're like, oh, my God. I meant to. That's, I think, one of the biggest. Like, to me, I'm like, how do more people not talk about this? How many. How long were you gone for? How many episodes did you do?

[Nia Sioux]

I was there for two seasons. I don't know how many episodes, but two seasons. So about, like, roughly two years, that is. Yeah, until I was 18. I started when I was 16. It ended and I left when I was 18.

[Interviewer]

Wow. Yeah. And did you choose to leave? Were you like, okay, I want to go on to better things?

[Nia Sioux]

They killed me off, unfortunately.

[Interviewer]

Two years is amazing.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. Two years is really good. When I was only supposed to come in as, like, a. Like, a guest star. Only for, like, a couple episodes. Yeah. And then they extended my contract and made me a series regular.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my. So every single day, you're, like, going into work and you're Filming this?

[Nia Sioux]

Yep.

[Interviewer]

And you're memorizing those lines. And is your mom with you?

[Nia Sioux]

My mom was with me the whole time.

[Interviewer]

Because you talk about. There was like, you had to do, like, some, like, love scenes and stuff like that. Like making up 16, 17, 18. It's like, I know.

[Nia Sioux]

They made it really sweet, actually, because they were. They were very tasteful, you know, like, they were very.

[Interviewer]

Are you, like, like, nervous about. Are you like, I don't know about this or you're just like, it's acting. Let's just go for it.

[Nia Sioux]

I really care. I was like, it's acting.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, okay.

[Nia Sioux]

The guy was fine. Like, I was like, okay.

[Interviewer]

Like, I need to watch. I was trying to find. Cuz I was like, I need to watch these. Because that's like, I. I don't watch soap operas, but I know how major they are, and I feel like that's everyone's dream.

[Nia Sioux]

I love soap operas.

[Interviewer]

Did you get to go to any of the conventions or Emmy awards or any of those things?

[Nia Sioux]

I went to the Daytime Emmys.

[Interviewer]

Do you guys win?

[Nia Sioux]

The show didn't. Well, the show wins some things. I can't remember that. What they won that year. I know that Jacqueline, one of the actors, she won. The actresses, she won something a lot of some of the actors won overall.

[Interviewer]

But not like an overall, because we were talking about this the other day.

[Nia Sioux]

I think maybe wardrobe won an award, but the show itself, I don't think that year didn't.

[Interviewer]

Because I'm like, if the show itself won, technically you could have gotten an Emmy, right? Like, you're part of that season.

[Nia Sioux]

Technically, yeah. Technically. Technically, yeah. And I got a pre nomination, like, for me, like, for, like, the young emerging actresses. Whatever. I got a pre nomination. So I didn't get nominated, but I got a pre nomination.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my. Like, yeah, you kind of made, like, a short list.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I made a short list. Which I'm like, that was pretty cool. That was pretty cool. That is literally my dream.

[Interviewer]

I feel like you actually could, when I think about it, right? Like, it's like, Emmy, you've done tv. So, like, that makes sense that you would do that easily. Grammy, of course you're singing. You could do easily. And I know you love Broadway. I just. I was reading this. Yes.

[Nia Sioux]

Are you. You're gonna be in. Oh, my gosh. I just saw your post.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I'm doing Beetlejuice.

[Nia Sioux]

That's incredible.

[Interviewer]

I'm on Broadway, too. Please.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm. See you.

[Interviewer]

You have a book signing November 5th there. My opening night's November 4th. So if you can make it, I'm there for three weeks, so that'd be amazing. I would love. I would be so amazing.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm see you. I'm see you anytime I have a friend in a show, I always go see. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. All the time.

[Interviewer]

I know. Reading your book. You're talking about Broadway, and you're talking to Sherri shepherd he did a movie with, and she is just like, we're, like, waiting for you to do it. You did off Broadway, which is, like, huge. Like, that's amazing. And how old were you when you did that?

[Nia Sioux]

I was. Or maybe young. 14.

[Interviewer]

Right. Because you were talking about going back.

[Nia Sioux]

To the show, and you're like, yeah.

[Interviewer]

You don't want to go back.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I was 14. I think I was 14. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Right before the end of the last. Before the last season started, it seemed.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I was 14 or 15. I can't remember.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my. Well, that makes it even crazy.

[Nia Sioux]

14 or 15.

[Interviewer]

My timeline is wrong. I was thinking, like, after the show, you did that, but no, no, it.

[Nia Sioux]

Was, like, literally the one. The longest hiatus we've ever had for dance moms. We usually didn't have long hiatuses, but that was the longest hiatus we had for some random reason, and I ended up booking that, and I did that during the hiatus. Wow. At 4, it just happened to work out.

[Interviewer]

That is amazing. So Broadway seems to be in your future. If there was a Broadway show current or any time, which one would you want to do?

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, my gosh. That's a really hard question. Probably the Wiz.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God.

[Nia Sioux]

That's my favorite movie of all time. So good. But probably the Wiz. And I'd be Dorothy.

[Interviewer]

Oh, you'd be so good.

[Nia Sioux]

Or I would be Roxy in Chicago when I'm old enough.

[Interviewer]

Oh, yeah. I just saw. They put. I know. Same. Like, I was like, you know what? Like, I see. They put, like, people in their 50s. I was like, we've got time. You know what I mean?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, we've got time for that one. Cause I want. I remember I just went to go see it again. I love Chicago in May with my mom. We went to New York and had, like, a little trip. It was because it was her 55th birthday, and her birthday was on Mother's Day this year. So we, like. We did a whole thing. May 11th.

[Interviewer]

I'm May 8th. Sometimes mine falls on it. Yeah. Oh, so cute. She could play Roxy, your mom.

[Nia Sioux]

She actually.

[Interviewer]

She could if you said she danced a little. Like, I feel like, does she sing?

[Nia Sioux]

No, but most of them don't.

[Interviewer]

Most of the Roxies don't sing. Like, that's why I gun for that part, because I was like, you know what? A lot of times we wanted to.

[Nia Sioux]

See it because Ashley Graham was in it.

[Interviewer]

Oh, did you see it with her?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, we saw it with her. She did a great job. I love her.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I think she's one of. I mean, plus size. I use that term loosely. But she is one of the first, like, plus size Roxies, which is, like, really fun to see. But the Wiz. The stage production's really great. Have you seen the stage production?

[Nia Sioux]

I saw it in la. Yeah, I saw it in La Pantages or.

[Interviewer]

Where was it?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Oh, I had. I didn't get to see. I saw. I follow this one. Tiktoker. Her name's Mona Swan. Do you know her?

[Nia Sioux]

I love her.

[Interviewer]

I love her. She just.

[Nia Sioux]

We went and met Kamala together.

[Interviewer]

Wait, oh, really? Oh, I didn't know that either. She's so amazing. She just did, like, sister act, but she was just recently in the Wiz at one of the regional theaters, and I was just like, oh, she looked so.

[Nia Sioux]

I love her. I love her too. I think she's so talented.

[Interviewer]

Oh, so you guys, like, met each other, you know?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I know Momo.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, she did. Yeah, she did great in that. That was amazing. That would be great if it came back to Broadway.

[Nia Sioux]

I know, I know, but yeah.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my gosh. That would be so good. Especially, like, her Mamma Mia.

[Nia Sioux]

Like, oh, my gosh.

[Interviewer]

Did you see that? Have you seen that?

[Nia Sioux]

I've seen it, but I was like, oh, my gosh. I was probably, like, a little.

[Interviewer]

Cause it's there right now at the Winter Garden, right? Yeah, that would be amazing, too. Oh, my God. Know you. You'd be a good Sophie for sure.

[Nia Sioux]

Thank you.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah, I see it. I see it in your future, for sure. I think Broadway is just such, like, an escape. It's just so, like, fun.

[Nia Sioux]

There's nothing like performing live in a theater with, like, the lights down low and, like, you're in this beautiful theater and you just, like, you really do just, like, go into a different universe, you know, you just transport to a different and everybody.

[Interviewer]

The audience, too, is in that different world with you. You talk about it in the book when you did your show and you said, like, every night is a new audience, so it's a new energy. And I think that's like, anything can happen. Yeah. Which is Fun. Right. Which is so fun.

[Nia Sioux]

I love the chaos. Like, organized chaos.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. And just getting to be like a different role. It's really just. Yeah. Everything that you embody. Right. It's acting and singing and dancing and you get to do all of it. So I. For sure. I mean, you're very busy, but I. For sure. Cause it is a commitment too. Right. Like Broadway is.

[Nia Sioux]

But I'd commit.

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You're like, I'll go to New York.

[Nia Sioux]

I'll go to New York anytime. Anytime.

[Interviewer]

I'm so excited for your Broadway era. That is going to be amazing. That has to be. That's your Tony and then the Oscar that, you know, I think that's. You've done movies.

[Nia Sioux]

I've done movies. We'll see.

[Interviewer]

You've done Lifetime movies. Oh, my God. Which is crazy. Lifetime is another goal. Like, all the stuff you've done, soap operas and Lifetime, like, these are all, like, goals of so many people. And you just accomplish. You just check them off your list.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm a goal oriented person. Like, I have a ton of goals and I just like, checking them off.

[Interviewer]

I love that.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

What's your checklist for 2026?

[Nia Sioux]

I haven't even started that one yet.

[Interviewer]

No. Okay. We're still in 2025.

[Nia Sioux]

Still in 2020. Still in 2025.

[Interviewer]

I'm always like, next year, what are we doing?

[Nia Sioux]

I am, like, starting a plan at this time, but with the book and everything, I just have not. Yeah. I'm like, stay focused, girl. Like, and I'm doing a book tour, which I've. It's just crazy.

[Interviewer]

Is this your first, like, meet and greet tour? Somewhat.

[Nia Sioux]

Basically, like, by myself. Yeah. I mean, I did. I did the tours when I was, like, little and on Dance moms, but. But that was like, probably pushing 10 years.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

Like, it's been a minute since I've done something like that.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God. Are you excited?

[Nia Sioux]

I'm so excited. I'm so excited. Very excited. Like, doing book signings, meeting people.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my gosh.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. I feel it's gonna be very emotional.

[Interviewer]

I was gonna say people. You're gonna meet so many people that you've impacted. Like, people your age, people younger people like me that are older. Like, you're gonna, like, meet so many people that have, like, a story to, like, resonate with you or you resonated with them or just supporters. Just people are like, you did it.

[Nia Sioux]

You know, I think a lot of people are like, will resonate with the book and. Because even now when people come up to me, every now and then there's someone coming up to me crying. They're like, you. And I'm like, oh, my God. And they're like, you saved my life. Or like, they're like, you. You've inspired me so much. You inspired me to dance. Like, I. I got into dance because of you. It's just.

[Interviewer]

I can't. I can't even imagine. Impact is amazing to so many generations too. Like you said, like, young girls can read it and be like, okay, like, give hope. But then also someone like, as a mom, I read it and like, okay, what? Not like cautionary tales. Like, and like you said, your mom didn't know the unknown, but just so many things to look out for and how to manage it, how to, like, get through and what you, like, needed and stuff. So I think there's just so many levels to it that people are gonna really like. If you did a movie based on Bottom of the Pyramid, who would you cast as Nia?

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, my gosh. I don't know.

[Interviewer]

I guess you can play yourself. You're still young enough.

[Nia Sioux]

I mean, I think someone did that. I guess so.

[Interviewer]

I think Fantasia might have casted herself in the movie. Yeah, I was like, someone did that recently, which I love. I would love to play myself in my own movie. I just don't know if I know.

[Nia Sioux]

Sam and I would love that. But I actually don't know who I'd have to play.

[Interviewer]

There's no one that you can thought of?

[Nia Sioux]

No, I haven't even. I haven't even thought that far.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Yeah. I think it could be a book. I feel like that always happens where everyone wants IPs. Now bottom of the Pyramid is gonna be like number one. New York Times. They're gonna be like, we need to turn this into a book. I think that's where it's gonna go.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Interviewer]

That would be. Have you produced. Have you done any of that yet? Produced?

[Nia Sioux]

I have. I've produced and directed before, but it's like. Like more commercial or social media projects. Yeah, I directed my first campaign. It was for ad council and it was. Yeah, it was for mental health.

[Interviewer]

Was it Capture the Convos?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. Capture the Convo. Sees the Awkward campaign. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You directed it?

[Nia Sioux]

I directed it, yeah. So I directed it and then I think it was 2021. I produced my first thing and it was like a Facebook watch series and it was called Dance with Nia. But it was great. Cause it highlighted dancers who have Disabilities. Oh, my gosh. And it was really, really cool. I danced with them. I heard their stories. Like, I got to, like, interview them and hear, like, how their experience has been. And, you know, it was really amazing just seeing how, like, dancers come in every shape, size, color. Like, a dancer is so many things, you know, and it was beautiful to do that and share that with the world, and people loved that, like, option of that was. Was great. And. And those dancers, like, I still. I still keep in contact with, like, they're great. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. It's cool, because now you have such a platform so now, like, to get to highlight.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly.

[Interviewer]

Dancers or dancers who don't have the exposure you do. It's really amazing.

[Nia Sioux]

I love doing that. Anytime I can, like, lift someone else up, I will, like, I will, like. I love. I love helping people. I do. I just.

[Interviewer]

That that's what we need more of in the world.

[Nia Sioux]

We all win, you know, Like. Like, there's a. There's space for all of us.

[Interviewer]

Is that part. There's space for all of us.

[Nia Sioux]

So true.

[Interviewer]

And you see it now. We're talking about Broadway. Like, did you see. Did you see the Sunset Boulevard revival? Did you get a chance to see it?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. With Nicole. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Did you see it? It's beautiful. It's a beautiful show. But what I loved about it is, like, the diversity as far as, like, you said, like, ability and race, but also, like, body size. And it's just like. And it had nothing to do with, like, if there was a bigger dancer, like, it wasn't. Oh, she's big. That's why we can't. She was just, like, a part of it. You know what I mean? And I just love that it is becoming that and not the abbey where everyone's, like, needs to be skinny, white, blonde, blue eyes, you know, like, it's such an old thing. And it's just, like, beautiful to see because, like, you said, there are so many talented.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm like, that's so dated and racist. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And also, like, missing out on such a talent.

[Nia Sioux]

Missing so many things.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Or even, you know, people's, like, ability and stuff, too. You know, there's so many, like, talented, you know, dancers in, like, wheelchairs. My friend Cedric choreographs for all wheelchair dancers. And it's, like, so beautiful, like, the way they move and their strength and the movement of body. It's just, like, it's. Yeah, you miss out on that when you just look at, like, one thing.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly. Diversifying things. Definitely. Like, it makes an impact. One because, like, representation does matter, but also it just makes everything more interesting. Yeah. Interesting to watch, you know that it does. Like, it just makes it makes it better, makes it more whole.

[Interviewer]

Right. And you and you and you get inspiration from different walks of life. You were talking about Shangela being like your fairy godmother, just showing a whole different type of, like, dance and movement and performance. And it's, like, so cool to get to draw inspiration when you, like, open up your. You know. Right. Because you said you had never met a drag queen before. Toast the holidays in a new way and raise a glass of rumchata, a delicious, creamy blend of horchata with rum. Enjoy it over ice or in your coffee. Rumchata. Your holiday cocktails just got sweeter.

[Announcer]

Tap or click the banner for more drink responsibly.

[Interviewer]

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[Nia Sioux]

Oh, yeah, I think it was. I think it was like 11 or something. 10. 11. Something like that.

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

And had never met a drag queen before, but she changed my life.

[Interviewer]

You just saw glitter and glam and you're just like.

[Nia Sioux]

I was like, yeah, yeah, that's me.

[Interviewer]

This is what I want.

[Nia Sioux]

I want that. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And you can tell, like, it just inspires and same. It's just being inspired by so many different performances and art and stuff. It's a big part of art and making. Moving it forward and making it amazing. And I love that you're doing that in collaboration with other performers as well. I think it really is beautiful, all the stuff you're doing and the stuff you do with LGBTQ community. Like, it's all. It's all beautiful to see.

[Nia Sioux]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Interviewer]

You know, it just. It's. It's inspiring. It's. I don't know, it just. It needs more of that. Needs more of that in the world. You know, there's so many.

[Nia Sioux]

There's still. So, like, we still have so far to go, but, like, we have still come a long way.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, no, we love and love to see that because I also think a lot of people use, like, social media and stuff now because you really are a bonafide social media. Like, you're kind of influencer.

[Nia Sioux]

Right.

[Interviewer]

Would you consider yourself.

[Nia Sioux]

For sure.

[Interviewer]

Like, you come from traditional because you're on a reality show.

[Nia Sioux]

Right. But I definitely, like, that's kind of like my thing now.

[Interviewer]

You love the world of it.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I love the world of it.

[Interviewer]

I love when people can do that too, when they come into it, because you are so talented as, like, a dancer and performer. But I love that you can use social media as somewhat of an influencer or a person.

[Nia Sioux]

Exactly. It's kind of like a. Like a. Like an outfit for me as well. I feel like people get to see me for me, and that's why I like it, because it's like people see me from the dance mom's lens, whereas they get to kind of just see me for me when they see my social media.

[Interviewer]

And you started that at a young age. You said you did musical ly when the show was still going on.

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. I got my Instagram when I was, like, 10. Wow. My mom literally looked at every single photo before. But, yeah, I had an Instagram when I was 10. And then when musical ly came out, I did musically. And then. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my. I can't even imagine, like, having that at such a young age.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. Like, I love YouTube. Yeah, I just.

[Interviewer]

Did you do YouTube?

[Nia Sioux]

At the time? I was vlogging. My brother. My younger brother would edit my YouTube videos. Like, we had a whole thing going on.

[Interviewer]

You guys were really close, you and your younger brother.

[Nia Sioux]

Really? Yeah, he lives with me now here in la.

[Interviewer]

What's he doing out here?

[Nia Sioux]

He's. Right now. What is he doing right now?

[Interviewer]

Just having fun?

[Nia Sioux]

No, he has a job. He literally has a job. He just graduated from film school in May, but he got it. He got a job already.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God. You guys are very ambitious and family.

[Nia Sioux]

He is very ambitious. Oh, my goodness. I do have a very ambitious.

[Interviewer]

A year younger than you.

[Nia Sioux]

Is it like a year and a half?

[Interviewer]

Okay. Because you were pretty close and.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, because he's. He's 22. I'm 24. My older brother is 26.

[Interviewer]

Wow. Okay, so you're all, like, pretty close.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. And you just graduated from UCLA last year.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God. This is also something that kind of shook me. Congratulations.

[Nia Sioux]

Thank you.

[Interviewer]

Did you get your. Your bachelor's? I guess I'm so bad with colleges. I'm always like, okay, so you got a bachelor's. Was it in arts or American literature? Oh, my God.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. It was, like, totally different than most people are like, oh, you got it in dance? I'm like, no.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my gosh. Wait, why did you pick? I mean, fitting. Literature.

[Nia Sioux]

I love writing. I do. And I wanted to do something different than dance. Dance. Yeah. I just wanted to do. I wanted to broaden my horizons. I wanted to, like, stretch myself, and it was great. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You went all four? Did you go four years straight?

[Nia Sioux]

Four years straight.

[Interviewer]

And you. Did you live on campus or.

[Nia Sioux]

My sophomore year. Cause my first year was online because of COVID Oh.

[Interviewer]

Oh. Oh, gosh. How awful to have Covid when you're, like, young and just trying to start college. So then you went and lived on campus and you joined a sorority. Are you living in a sorority house?

[Nia Sioux]

No, it's different. So I'm like. I'm in the black Greek orgs, which is, like, a little different.

[Interviewer]

Oh, okay.

[Nia Sioux]

What is that? Explain it. I'm an aka, which is like. Like, I'm a part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Incorporated.

[Interviewer]

Okay, well, that's Okay. I love that.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes. So I'm an aka. My mom's an aka.

[Interviewer]

Oh, did she. It has to be at the same school, the sorority. Oh, it can be across.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, we have different chapters, different at different schools. And then you can also do grad chapter. So once you're in the sorority, you're in it for life. They have conventions. It's beautiful.

[Interviewer]

Does your mom still go to the conventions too?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, she's a part of a chapter in Pittsburgh. And. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I'm surprised you wanted to join. It's sorority, right?

[Nia Sioux]

It's sorority. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I'm surprised you'd want to join a sorority after just surviving just, like, all those years of being with girls and not being the best experience.

[Nia Sioux]

Well, it's a little. It's this. It's a little different than, like, what, Pan Hellenic? It's a little different than, like, the other sorority.

[Interviewer]

Okay, what's the difference?

[Nia Sioux]

Well, it's a majority of, like, black sorority, so it's like, it's just different.

[Interviewer]

Culturally, you're out here.

[Nia Sioux]

Culturally, it's like, just very different. But also too so much of my life, like, on Dance Moms and, like, I didn't have girls that looked like me on the show. And then also when I got to ucla, my major, I was, like, one of, like, very few black people in the major. So it's like, okay. And then I joined my dance club, and then I was, like, the only black girl in my dance club. I'm like, I want. I would love to meet some people who are black and, like, minded women, you know, and it was a perfect way for me to, like, meet other girls my age that have similar interests, and we connect in that way. It's really great. We lean on each other and it's awesome. So I've met some really great women from that community.

[Interviewer]

And it was great to watch. I was watching videos. It's cool too, the shared experiences. Because you talk about in the book. You don't blame the dance mom kids because you're like, maybe just. They resonate with each other culture.

[Nia Sioux]

They couldn't exactly.

[Interviewer]

They couldn't like, know how you were experiencing the world.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Which is. I mean, it's very generous of you because again, you know, that's maybe not the best excuse, but going to this. Going to this sorority, it was beautiful. Like, I was watching you guys. Like, you did like this dance. You guys were in pink boots.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And it just looked so. Like you just had your brightness back. Cause you said you were very bright and bubbly when you started Dance Moms. It got there where you weren't smiling, where you're very serious. You're very scared to now back.

[Nia Sioux]

Back. I feel back.

[Interviewer]

Just getting bubbly and just being yourself. And it was like, it was so cool to witness. And I was like, oh, I love that because sororities, I don't know anything about them, but I always think, like, hazing, like scream queens. Like, I'm like, oh, are they mean? Whatever. So it's good to have like a positive experience.

[Nia Sioux]

Everyone has different experiences, but I thankfully have had a good experience.

[Interviewer]

And it's all females.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. And have had some really good friends and relationships from that. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

That makes me happy. Because I feel like it could have jaded you from female friendships.

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, absolutely.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. And you're like, it definitely could have, but no.

[Interviewer]

Ah, you'd like, trust women again.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I mean, I. I'm a people person, you know, I'm just a people person. So I'm always gonna be meeting people.

[Interviewer]

I'm so happy. I'm so happy for that. Cause Even me at 37, I try to have a female friendship and then it goes to. I'm like, you know what? Maybe this is not for me. Even male friendships.

[Nia Sioux]

I have, like, I've been so fortunate to have some really, really great friends. Like, truly, like, it's taken a long time to find. I had to kinda like weed through some people. Yeah. But you found em. I found em. I have really, really, really great friends LA too.

[Interviewer]

And that's all. That's like another added level difficulty. Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

They're like my. They're like my family. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Are they in entertainment too, or.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Nia Sioux]

A lot of them are. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I love it because I saw last night. Yeah. You were at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

[Nia Sioux]

Not everyone, but a lot. A lot of them. Yeah, yeah. I have good friends that I lean on.

[Interviewer]

Again, shared experience. You kind of know what you guys are going through, like social media and all that stuff. Like that is. Is so important. Who were you with last night? The. It was Beverly Hills Hotel. You were with a friend.

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, my best friend, Jake.

[Interviewer]

I love him. I don't know him, but I love him. After those, I was like, oh, my God, is he an influencer?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, but he's like, he. He's an influencer, but he's a musician. Like, he. He's a singer songwriter.

[Interviewer]

You guys were giving, like Glyndon Fierro. Like, it was giving.

[Nia Sioux]

We didn't even mean to.

[Interviewer]

That's what I was like, wait, I love this little performance duo happening. It's so cute. So you guys are like besties?

[Nia Sioux]

My best friend.

[Interviewer]

You met him out here?

[Nia Sioux]

I met him out here. Oh, my gosh. I think I was like 17 or something like that. So it's been a minute. We've been friends for a while, like best friends for like a long time time. You've lived my ride or die.

[Interviewer]

So much life.

[Nia Sioux]

You live so much life. It's really crazy at 24.

[Interviewer]

And what's like so great is you have like so much more life. Like, oh my God, between 24 to like 34, so much will happen. And then, then you'll get into your Roxy era and your 40. Like, there's so much happening in your life. Like, it's amazing. Are you gonna write more books?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, absolutely. I don't know what about. I don't. I probably can even write more. No, I absolutely could write a part two. I absolutely could. Could write a part two of a part of.

[Interviewer]

We need more. I think we need more. Especially life after Dance Moms. It is such like a small chapter. And I was like, I need to know more because you glazed by it as if it's nothing. Bold and beautiful off broad. I was just like, wait, but there's so much Lifetime movie. You threw that in there. And I was like, but what was the movie? What did you do? What did you do with Sherri Shepherd? Like, there are so many details. I'm sure there's so much more now, even since writing the book, that you're like, oh, well, there's a whole other level.

[Nia Sioux]

So much.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. The Victoria's Secret fashion.

[Nia Sioux]

I always say this, but I'm like, there's always, always going to be Dance mom every year. Write a book every year.

[Interviewer]

Which is. Yeah, they better give you a 10 year publishing deal. They'll Be, like, every year, right?

[Nia Sioux]

One every year? Yes.

[Interviewer]

I think you could do that. Absolutely. What does your mom say, like, when you go to, like, when you're at the Victoria's Secret Fashion show? I know you're 24. You're an adult, but, like, does she. Is she ever, like. Because it is such a different Nia, right? We're, like, seeing. Obviously, we know you as, like, a child performer, but now you're all of a sudden, like, sexy. Like, you show body, you show everything.

[Nia Sioux]

No, she loves it.

[Interviewer]

She loves it.

[Nia Sioux]

She loves it.

[Interviewer]

Okay, great.

[Nia Sioux]

All she's ever wanted for me is to feel confident in my body. Like, that's all she's ever wanted for me. So she wants me to be, like, very proud of how I look. She's like, you're young. Like, be young. Show it. Like, she's like, you're just like. Because she's like, you're not. You're not. You're not. Like. What's the word? She's like, you're doing it in a classy way.

[Interviewer]

Right?

[Nia Sioux]

You know?

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Nia Sioux]

So she's like, no, like, go have fun.

[Interviewer]

You're young.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, it's empowering.

[Interviewer]

Especially Victoria's Secret, that one. Especially Victoria's Secret.

[Nia Sioux]

So, like, yeah, she looks great. She's just so proud.

[Interviewer]

Would you walk the Runway?

[Nia Sioux]

I mean. Yeah, they asked me. Absolutely.

[Interviewer]

Next year. I see that, like, literally, I work.

[Nia Sioux]

With pink, so maybe that's.

[Interviewer]

I saw before, because I was going through your, like, entire Instagram, and I had seen that. You did, like, ads for them before.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah, I love them as a brand, and I think it's so interesting, too, because I never thought that that would even be an option, you know? And I know there were, like, a lot of critiques about, you know, having influencers walk, you know, but in my eyes, I personally really love the show. I love seeing the diversity. I know some people still have their whatever, but for me, I'm like, it was so beautiful to see everyone up there. Everyone so hot.

[Interviewer]

Everyone looked amazing.

[Nia Sioux]

The criteria is you have to be hot.

[Interviewer]

You have to be hot.

[Nia Sioux]

And everyone was hot, and everyone was hot. Okay?

[Interviewer]

And they brought the glitz and glamour.

[Nia Sioux]

All I ever want is to be in rhinestone.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, same. We're the same. When he came in here with the pink, I was like, pink forever.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm like, that's all I want. So, yeah, I didn't even think it would be a possibility. But after this year, I'm like, oh, I guess I can still reach. I can reach for the Star. I could if I really wanted to, I guess maybe.

[Interviewer]

I think that's gonna happen.

[Nia Sioux]

But no, I thought it was amazing, so.

[Interviewer]

It was so cool that. Yeah. Because you're. And you're flying to New York tonight.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

So there's like.

[Nia Sioux]

Do you know Misty Cobalt?

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm seeing her in her final performance with ABT before she retires tomorrow night.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God.

[Nia Sioux]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

That's gonna be, like, so emotional.

[Nia Sioux]

Oh, it's so emotional. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my gosh. That's so exciting.

[Nia Sioux]

Wow.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my go.

[Nia Sioux]

I'm going with Chloe. Chloe's going with me. Oh, I love.

[Interviewer]

So you still keep in touch with Chloe?

[Nia Sioux]

With Chloe, yeah.

[Interviewer]

You and JoJo? Somewhat. You keep in touch?

[Nia Sioux]

Like, we're. We're chill.

[Interviewer]

I saw you guys, like, together in something as adults, so I was like, okay, maybe they're still close.

[Nia Sioux]

Okay.

[Interviewer]

Hey, and are those the only two you keep up with?

[Nia Sioux]

Paige and Brooke? Yeah. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

They're just living their life privately. Right. They're just.

[Nia Sioux]

They're. They do. They're influencers as well now.

[Interviewer]

I need to keep up with this. I guess. I never see. I saw one. Just got married. Kalani, is it?

[Nia Sioux]

She just got married.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. So that's cool.

[Nia Sioux]

Really happy for her. And then Brooke gets married next year, and so I'll be going to her wedding soon.

[Interviewer]

And I guess they're all like, we're a little older than Yuhan.

[Nia Sioux]

Brooke was the oldest.

[Interviewer]

Okay. Okay.

[Nia Sioux]

I forgot how old she is, but I think she's. I think she's 27.

[Announcer]

Okay. So.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, that's quite. That's a big difference.

[Nia Sioux]

Maybe 28.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

Between there. That's.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, that's a big chunk of life. You and JoJo are the same age.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. How old is Jojo? I think she's 22.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Nia Sioux]

So, like, around the same age. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

So you also. It's good to keep up with Chloe. She wrote. Did she write the intro for your book or.

[Nia Sioux]

She wrote the forward for the book. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

It was so good. It was. It's cool to see all the people and Taylor, like, everyone who wrote their little, like, pages about you.

[Nia Sioux]

It means the world to me to have people, like, supporting me and those endorsements, like, truly. It. Like, truly meant the world because it makes me just feel my story feel validated. Not that I needed validation, but, like, it's always nice to have. Always nice that validation.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

People. And Misty Copeland wrote an endorsement as well.

[Interviewer]

That was. That's what made me huge. When I saw all the endorsements, I.

[Nia Sioux]

Was like, I literally cried. I was like, oh, God.

[Interviewer]

My.

[Nia Sioux]

My.

[Interviewer]

Like, yeah. Because you don't know what they're saying or anything.

[Nia Sioux]

That's crazy. Oh, my gosh. She. Especially as a dancer. When I was on the show, I looked up to her a lot. Like, I read her book Life in Motion, and I just resonated a lot with her story.

[Interviewer]

So, yeah. So for now, for her to write.

[Nia Sioux]

In a full circle moment.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, the. I. I read all. I saw those, and that's why I was like, I need to see this book. So they're like, oh, we're so sorry we didn't get to. So I'm glad I read the full thing because I had seen all the. The, like, blurbs about it and reading it in its entirety, like, from front to back. It just really. It was an emotional rollercoaster. There's so much going on. I'm so happy that you, like, made it through and you're thriving, and I just can't wait to see everything else. Now you're embarking on the book tour, which is wild, and that's gonna be so fun. Any holiday plans?

[Nia Sioux]

Well, my family and I were going to St. Martin for Thanksgiving, so that's nice.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God. The whole family.

[Nia Sioux]

The whole family. Oh, my gosh. My nana, my aunt. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Wow.

[Nia Sioux]

My brothers, my mom, my dad, my older brother's fiance. Yeah, we're all gonna be there. Oh, my God.

[Interviewer]

What? That's so much fun.

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. I'm excited.

[Interviewer]

I love how close you are with your family, too, and that you kept close, you know, through everything. Cause I'm sure that was hard on everybody, as you wrote about your book, your older brother and your dad.

[Nia Sioux]

It takes a toll on the family.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. And you wrote something beautiful. You're like. And I feel this so much as mom now, like, taking a village to, like, get you to where you need to be to raise all your brothers and stuff like that. Like, it's not easy. So the fact that your dad could hold it down, but also have your grandparents involved. You talk about having nannies and stuff. Like, it really does take so many people.

[Nia Sioux]

It does.

[Interviewer]

To make sure.

[Nia Sioux]

It took so many people to, like, make sure everyone got to where they needed to be. Because both of my parents were in very demanding jobs. Me and my siblings, like, all of us were in everything, and I truly mean everything. Like, in sports, I was in dance. Like, you were taking tv. We were taking piano lessons. We were taking. Yeah. Like, it was crazy.

[Interviewer]

It takes a lot. I love that you gave the acknowledgment to all that, because it's like, sometimes you'll see it and you'll be like, damn, how are they, like, keeping it all together? And it's like, it takes a lot of work, and you turned out great, so I'm glad that it worked out. Is there any sort of. If there's, like, one takeaway from the book that you want people to really know, you kind of mentioned it a bit little earlier, but is there something like, your song star in your life is so perfect. That's such a good message. Is there another message that you could just put out there for everyone?

[Nia Sioux]

Yeah. I mean, I think the biggest message is to just know your worth. I think that's the biggest takeaway from the book. To not let anyone dim your light. No matter what happens, you can always overcome it, and things always get better. Always. You know, And I think that's. That's something that I really want people to get from the book. Like, yes, there's, like. I talk about some of the drama. Yes. I talk about, you know, some of, like, the crazy things that went on. But the core of the book is a story about resilience and overcoming any obstacle. So that's.

[Interviewer]

You did, and you never gave up, Ever.

[Nia Sioux]

Never. I'm just. I'm not a quitter.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Oh, man. As much as they tried, and it's just like, you're like, I. I'm still here.

[Nia Sioux]

I know people think I'm crazy for it. They're like, your mom kept. I'm like, no, she, like, did it.

[Interviewer]

Like, I deserve to be here. I'm staying here. No one's gonna bully me out of this.

[Nia Sioux]

I just. Yeah, no one's gonna believe me. Which, as I got older, I'm like, okay, well, sometimes you don't. It doesn't make you a quitter to leave certain situations. Absolutely.

[Interviewer]

But I love that you kept going. Right?

[Nia Sioux]

I'm like, it's just who I am.

[Interviewer]

I don't know if anyone else could have done that. And it was. It's really amazing. And it does. It'll give so much strength to people. So I love getting to know you. I'm, like, so honored. Like, I thought I knew so much about you or read the book, knew so much more. And not getting to see you in person, like, your light is. I'm not just saying this, like, you have such a light in you, and I'm so happy to see you just be, like, a true star. You are a true star. I mean, you really are. Sweet. And I can't wait to see all the other stuff you're doing for this book. I know you have to get to another interview today. Like, it's like, back to back to back. You went from one day. Now then you're doing, like, access. I'm like, you were booked and busy.

[Nia Sioux]

Booked and busy.

[Interviewer]

And I love to see it.

[Nia Sioux]

I couldn't miss this.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Nia Sioux]

This is, like, the highlight of my week. Aside from Missy Copa, it's you, too.

[Interviewer]

I am so honored to be even considerate girl. I love you. I've always loved you. And everyone, go get bottom of the pyramid. It's out now. And go to the book tour and support Nia sue everywhere. Thank you for coming. Thank you.