When the world first learned of Maddie Ziegler, it was on Lifetime’s Dance Moms. The young star was a force to be reckoned with even at 8-years-old which caught the attention of fans across the world. As many know one of those who saw Ziegler’s talent was music legend, Sia, who has featured Ziegler in her music videos. The pair became fast friends, and she now looks at Sia like a second mom. Talk about a powerful pair.
So what does life look like for the now 15-year-old? Well, like it’s still just getting started. Ziegler’s ambitions go far beyond the massive success she’s already achieved. In our conversation with her, she actually said that her dreams were once very different from what path she’s on now. From theater to the big screen – she’s found herself in an industry that can be very hard to break into.
It stands as a testament to Ziegler’s talent and her passion. She remains humble and works hard for everything she achieves, and she’s still got a light in her eyes. Most important is that light, it keeps her grounded but believing in a future that sees all of her dreams coming true.
Congratulations on all of your success so far. If 6 year old you were looking at your life now, would you believe you’d have achieved everything you have so far?
If my 6-year-old self were looking at what I’m doing now, I would’ve had completely different goals. When I was 6 I wanted to be on Broadway and I wanted to be in that scene. I wanted to be a theater, musical type of girl. I never thought that I’d ever come into acting and be in a movie. So, I think my 6-year-old self would be shocked…but proud.
From Dance Moms to your acting, modeling, and writing career – what is it like balancing everything you do and still being able to be young?
With all of the crazy things that I do like jobs and things like that, it is really important to stay a kid and remember to have fun. A great example – I went to Kalahari recently and that was incredible. Being in the largest indoor waterpark in America was so fun. It really reminded me that I am a kid and I’m still able to go have fun. It was a great experience.
That being asked, what do you do to unwind? Are there any spots you can go to and feel totally relaxed?
There are a lot of things I do to relax. When I went to Kalahari, there was amazing water slides that we went on, an arcade, and an escape room. What I love is that its family owned, so it just felt like a really great environment to be with friends and family.
To unwind with my friends is awesome. Getting to hang out with them, watch movies together, and eat ice cream. That’s another thing that really makes me happy and relaxed.
Sia is one of the greatest artists of all time, and her videos hold so much power and conviction. What was it like getting to work with her?
Getting to work with Sia is one of the best things to happen in my life because she’s helped me shape into the person I am today. It doesn’t feel like work when we’re together. It just feels like we’re having a great time and we’re just hanging out. We make the set so much fun – we play pranks on people, we’re always laughing and giggling. We never take things too seriously on set so I’m always in a good mood. Sia is like a second mom to me. We love each other to death. I love it. We are constantly cuddling and having a good time.
What is next for you? What milestone do you hope to reach next?
A milestone I would love to reach next would be to continue doing movies. I would love to be the star in a feature film. Maybe a huge drama that would win an award? That would be incredible! I know that won’t happen now, but in the future, I would love that to happen.
My big dream would be to have a makeup line. I think that would be really, really cool. I would also love to help teens figure out what their makeup style would be. Because I am a teen, it would be good to create makeup that’s not too glam – that teens can wear every day.
Last, a lot of people look up to you. What advice would you give them to chasing their own dreams?
For the people that look up to me, first – it’s a really big honor and very humbling to know that people are inspired by me. My advice for girls and boys – go for something and don’t let the nay-sayers push you down. Don’t let people tell you that you can’t do something – because you can. If you have the passion for something, you’ll achieve it one day. And you can eventually prove them wrong!
We think Maddie is on her way to great success, and not just in dance. When you’ve got a good head on your shoulders and a focus and drive for what you want most, anything is possible. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Maddie and as far as feature films go – we think she’d be an absolute star.