How Maddie Ziegler Went From "Dance Moms" to Major Fashion Influencer

At the tender age of eight Maddie Ziegler burst onto our radar via the hit Lifetime reality TV show, Dance Moms. Another five years would pass before the now 21-year-old would venture out from her dancing days to land a breakout role in The Fallout and become a mainstay at the hottest fashion and A-list events — Miu Miu's Paris Fashion Week show included. Ziegler has also joined the ever-expanding pool of cover stars with a Cosmopolitan cover and an exclusive Teen Vogue feature in this year's "New Hollywood 2024" edition. "I'm not always going to be that little girl," she spoke of her evolution. "I'm also changing and growing. It's scary when people are like, 'But you're not who you were when you were younger.' And I have to explain, 'Yeah, because that's just not realistic."

As fans become gripped by Dance Moms: The Reunion 2024 (airing now) they will be disappointed to learn that Ziegler (and her mother Melissa Gison) won't appear alongside the cast. Why? She's busy cementing her status as a major force in fashion with14 million followers on Instagram. If you're not familiar with the cult of Dance Moms, it centered around dance instructor Abby Lee Miller and her young cast of dancers and the intensity they faced by Miller and their momagers to fulfill their dreams of dance stardom. Ziegler's former peers appearing in the reunion are dancers Brooke and Paige Hyland, Chloe Lukasiak, and Jojo Siwa.

Ziegler's reawakening also brings her budding style to the surface, which has us predicting that she'll be one of the newest "it girls." She's worked with stylist Siena Montesano Gones to effortlessly nail multiple trends since her entrance into fashion, from the gray-and-white tweed skirt suit she wore for Thom Browne's Saks Fifth Avenue capsule shop that screamed office siren, to donning a naked dress straight from Alexander McQueen's 2003 archive at the SAG Awards in February. The Bloody Hell star has even crossed over into model status with various campaigns for brands including Acne Studios and American Eagle.

As the young star continues her style metamorphosis, take a scroll at her best fashion moments thus far.

Maddie Ziegler Wearing Thom Browne

For the designer's Saks Fifth Avenue pop-up shop in LA, Ziegler wore a full look from the New York-based brand that featured a gray-and-white tweed skirt suit with matching knee-length socks, and black heels.

Maddie Ziegler Wearing Prabal Gurung

Ziegler attended Prabal Gurung's NYFW show in a captivating, red long-sleeve maxi dress with exposed ruffle detailing.

Maddie Ziegler Wearing Carolina Herrera

Ziegler went Barbiecore for Carolina Herrera's spring 2024 ready-to-wear show with a pink crochet minidress, caged-net heels, and a matching square clutch.

Maddie Ziegler Wearing Miu Miu

Ziegler has developed an affinity for incorporating Miu Miu into her looks, and her appearance at Elle's Hollywood Rising event was no different. She wore a gray, burgundy, and white skirtsuit over a demi bra-and-briefs set and white pumps.

Maddie Ziegler Wearing Acne Studios

While attending one of her dream shows, Ziegler went almost topless in an extremely sheer nude top, low-rise gray distressed pants, and chunky studded boots. The best part? A silver trench coat covered in edgy spikes.

Maddie Ziegler Wearing Michael Kors

A modern take on the timeless power suit, Ziegler wore a lime-green suit with a coordinating bra top and open-toed white heels to the Michael Kors show.

Maddie Ziegler Wearing Tory Burch

Ziegler and Gones experimented with during her New York Fashion Week marathon. The pastel-themed ensemble featured a see-through purple maxi dress with a lace bralette underneath, layered under a cream-colored miniskirt with ruched detailing. She also wore a blue-white trench coat over her arms, abstract gold jewelry, nude heels, and a baby blue baguette bag.