Elliana Walmsley burst onto the scene as a captivating young dancer on the hit reality TV show Dance Moms. Known for her incredible flexibility, expressive performances, and unwavering determination, Elliana quickly became a fan favorite. But life after Dance Moms has been just as exciting for this multi-talented teen. Now at 13, Elliana is navigating the worlds of acting, social media influencing, and maintaining a balanced teen life, all while staying true to herself. In this exclusive interview, we delve into Elliana’s journey, exploring her experiences on Dance Moms, her role in Chicken Girls, her perspective on social media, and her aspirations for the future.
When asked to describe herself, Elliana’s infectious energy shines through. “Energetic, bubbly—I’m bouncing off the walls sometimes,” she laughs during our Zoom interview, her adorable chihuahua Lola nestled comfortably in her lap. Beyond her vibrant personality, Elliana reveals a thoughtful and grounded nature. “I’m a realist—I can be optimistic but I do think about what the outcome will be,” she explains, showcasing a maturity beyond her years. “And I can be adventurous, too, but overall I’m a rule follower.” This blend of youthful enthusiasm and grounded realism perfectly encapsulates Elliana’s approach to life and her burgeoning career. She embraces her multifaceted identity, comfortable in the spaces between dancer, influencer, and teen, and navigates each role with authenticity and grace.
Stepping into Claire’s Shoes in Chicken Girls
Transitioning from the competitive dance world of Dance Moms to the scripted realm of acting, Elliana has embraced new challenges and opportunities. Her role as Claire in the popular Brat TV series Chicken Girls has allowed her to explore her acting talents and connect with a new audience. While Claire and Elliana have distinct personalities, Elliana finds relatable aspects in her character.
Girls’ Life: How do you relate to your character Claire on Chicken Girls?
Elliana: Claire can be rude and conceited at points, which I don’t relate to. But I do love her style this [upcoming] season. Last season, it was a little questionable, I had a few fits that kind of looked like a grandma. But that was [the costume designer’s] job, so they did a great job making those bad outfits! My fits this season are so cute, though. This season, Claire’s running for class president, so she holds herself with pride and cares more about how she looks and tries to be more genuine and confident. So I can really relate to that. No matter the situation, Claire tells it like it is and says what she means. I respect that, but for her it sometimes comes out the wrong way.
Elliana appreciates Claire’s newfound confidence and genuine nature in the latest season of Chicken Girls, mirroring her own growth and self-assuredness. While she doesn’t identify with Claire’s occasional rudeness, she admires her character’s directness and evolving sense of self. This ability to find common ground with her character while maintaining her own identity highlights Elliana’s maturity as a young actress.
Radio City Rockettes: A Dream Come True for the Dance Moms Star
Despite her expanding acting career, dance remains a core passion for Elliana. Her experience with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, performing with the legendary Rockettes, stands as a pinnacle achievement in her dance journey. This opportunity, far removed from the drama of Dance Moms, allowed Elliana to experience the discipline and artistry of professional dance at its highest level.
Girls’ Life: What’s been the biggest highlight of your career so far?
Elliana: Radio City and the Christmas Spectacular I did with the Rockettes last year. 100 percent, that was hands down my favorite experience I’ve ever had. I enjoyed it so much and it was so sad this past year when the show didn’t happen. Surprisingly, I’d always hated New York for a long time, definitely more of a Cali girl. But it was actually amazing living in New York. I loved it. I loved the vibe of Christmas in New York. Everyone should experience that at least once in their life. The entire show and experience was incredible and I’m so grateful.
Performing at Radio City Music Hall was not only a career highlight but also a transformative personal experience for Elliana. Initially not a fan of New York, she fell in love with the city’s energy and the magic of Christmas in New York. The “incredible” show and overall experience left a lasting impression, underscoring her dedication to dance and her ability to thrive in demanding professional environments, a trait honed during her Dance Moms years.
Navigating the Social Media Landscape
In today’s digital age, social media is an undeniable force, especially for young performers like Elliana. With a significant online presence, she understands both the positive and negative aspects of platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Elliana offers insightful advice on how to navigate this often-complex landscape, drawing from her own experiences in the public eye since her Dance Moms days.
Girls’ Life: What’s the best advice you’d give about navigating social media?
Elliana: Social media can be a great place. It can also be very, very toxic. There’s going to be hate when you have a following. It comes with everything. Even if you don’t do anything wrong and you’re pretty much perfect, there will be hate, because people will envy you and be jealous they don’t have your life. They see something in themselves that makes them insecure and they take it out on other people.
My advice is not to let those comments get to you. Don’t respond to those people because they want that attention. They may think they have a better chance of you responding because it’s a hate comment. The positive comments outnumber the negative ones but it’s easy to forget that. The hate comments stand out. But remember to focus on the good.
Elliana’s advice resonates with wisdom beyond her age. She acknowledges the duality of social media, recognizing its potential for connection and positivity while also cautioning against its toxicity. Her strategy of ignoring hateful comments and focusing on the overwhelming positivity is a valuable lesson for anyone navigating online platforms, particularly those in the public eye. This mature approach to social media reflects her resilience and focus, qualities developed and showcased throughout her time on Dance Moms.
Balancing Teen Life and Influencer Life
Juggling school, friendships, personal time, and a demanding career as an actress and influencer requires careful balance. Elliana opens up about the challenges of integrating her personal teen life with the demands of her public persona, a struggle familiar to many young individuals in the digital age.
Girls’ Life: How do you balance teen life with influencer life?
Elliana: It was honestly kind of hard in the beginning, especially when you have a relationship on social media. You feel like you have to document every part of your life. Which you kind of do, because people love seeing me with my friends and stuff, but I’ve learned that I don’t have to document everything. Everywhere I go, I just take an Instagram story or a Boomerang or just talk or something like that, people love to see that, but I don’t have to also vlog or do an Instagram Live every time. So I kind of balance it out. I enjoy doing it and so do my friends, so I’ll just ask them if we can take a quick Boomerang or something and they’re like, “Yeah! For sure.” We know it’s important.
Elliana’s approach to balancing her teen and influencer lives is practical and healthy. She initially felt pressure to document everything but has since learned to find a comfortable middle ground. By sharing snippets of her life through Instagram stories and Boomerangs, she provides fans with glimpses into her world without sacrificing her privacy or overwhelming herself and her friends. This mindful approach to social media content creation demonstrates her growing understanding of boundaries and self-care amidst a demanding career.
Addressing Misconceptions: Beyond the Dance Moms Persona
Public perception can often be skewed, especially for reality TV stars. Elliana addresses a common misconception about her personality, revealing a desire to be seen for who she truly is, beyond the sometimes-edited portrayal on Dance Moms.
Girls’ Life: What do you wish more people knew about you?
Elliana: A lot of people will say, “OMG, she looks so mean.” I see those comments. And I’m like, OK, I’m not mean. I try to be as nice as I can to everyone. I wish people would see me more for who I am.
Elliana’s desire to be seen as kind and approachable speaks to the challenges of reality TV, where personalities can be amplified and narratives shaped through editing. Her direct address of the “mean” comments underscores her sensitivity and her commitment to being genuine and kind, values perhaps sometimes overshadowed by the competitive environment of Dance Moms.
Navigating Young Love in the Spotlight: Jelliana
Teen relationships are a common experience, but navigating them under the public eye adds a unique layer of complexity. Elliana discusses her relationship with fellow influencer Jentzen Ramirez, affectionately known as “Jelliana” by fans, with refreshing honesty and maturity.
Girls’ Life: How do you handle having a relationship in the public eye?
Elliana: A lot of people frown upon having relationships this young. But the thing is, I know middle school relationships are definitely—I’m not trying to be rude—but they’re not going to last. I’m probably not going to have this relationship until I die. But I’ve learned you just need to enjoy it while it’s happening.
I’m with a really amazing person. He treats me so nicely and I’m really, really happy right now. We’re not doing anything that’s not our age. We’re just enjoying each other’s company and I think that’s important and nice.
It’s hard having a social media relationship at times because of that pressure to get more content. A lot of kids enjoy these young relationships, so they’re like, “We want more content!” Our ship name is Jelliana, so we try to give as much Jelliana content as we can. We like to do stories, or I try to teach him dance moves, because he does not dance at all and that’s hard for me because I’m a dancer. I’m teaching him slowly and he’s trying. All I’m saying is that in a year he is going to be a dancer.
Elliana’s perspective on young relationships is remarkably mature. She acknowledges the likely transient nature of middle school romances while emphasizing the importance of enjoying the present moment. Her focus on mutual respect and happiness within the relationship, rather than succumbing to external pressures or expectations, demonstrates a healthy and balanced approach to young love. The “Jelliana” content she and Jentzen create is a way to engage with fans who are invested in their relationship, showcasing her understanding of fan engagement within the influencer world.
Girls’ Life: Why do you think people enjoy following along in your relationship?
Elliana: This is the age, for a lot of kids, when they start getting into their own relationships and stuff. So I feel like they follow us along to see what it’s like and what it’s going to be like for them. Even though they don’t see every aspect of our lives, they still see what it’s going to be like. Of course, it won’t be exactly the same, but they can get an idea.
Elliana understands the relatable appeal of her relationship to her audience. She recognizes that many of her fans are also navigating the beginnings of their own romantic relationships and see “Jelliana” as a relatable example, or perhaps even a aspirational one. This awareness of her audience’s perspective and her ability to connect with them on a personal level is a key element of her success as an influencer.
A Day in the Life of Elliana Walmsley
Balancing school, filming, social media, and personal time requires a structured routine. Elliana provides a glimpse into a typical day, revealing the various components that make up her busy but fulfilling life.
Girls’ Life: What’s a typical day in your life?
Elliana: I wake up around 10:30 and do a few hours of school. I really want to go to college when I’m older. I don’t shower in the morning, I shower at night. So I get ready and do my hair and makeup. I usually like to watch a show on Netflix, right now I love the show Lucifer. I go eat breakfast and then I meet up to film. We film for a long time, which people may not realize. YouTube videos take a long time to create, usually over an hour for each video. We typically film around three videos, so that’s five hours. Then I try to get lots of content while I’m there: TikTok, Instagram stories, Instagram pictures. Then after that I go eat somewhere or Jentzen and I just hang out. Then I usually come home, watch Lucifer and do a little more school, then I shower and eat and go to bed.
Elliana’s daily routine showcases a blend of responsibilities and personal enjoyment. From prioritizing her education and pursuing her goal of attending college to dedicating hours to filming YouTube content and engaging on social media, her day is packed. Yet, she also makes time for relaxation, enjoying Netflix and spending time with friends, highlighting a balanced approach to her demanding schedule.
Reflections and Regrets: A Dance Moms Moment
Looking back, everyone has moments they might reconsider. Elliana shares a specific regret from her Dance Moms experience, offering insight into the pressures and emotional complexities of reality television and her relationship with her mother.
Girls’ Life: What’s one thing that you’d go back and change in your past?
Elliana: This one isn’t that big because, honestly, I have very few regrets, but it’s something I’ve thought about. When I was on Dance Moms, I had this solo where I was Charlie Chaplin. It’s not the best solo, and there was this one move I messed up and it caused a whole thing on the show. So I would change that move in the solo and actually do it right.
And also, in that same episode, they forced my mom to dress up as Charlie Chaplin and walk around [in the crowd outside the dance competition]. I was crying that morning because I just wanted to be with my mom and have her with me when I was stretching and running my solo. But instead she had to get her makeup done to dress up. We were in Arizona, it was so hot and she was sweating and I felt so bad for her. But on the show they made it out to be like I was like, “She’s so weird, why is she doing that?” But I just felt bad for her.
At the end of the episode, you see me go up to her and apologize, but it looked like I was saying sorry for losing my solo [at the competition]. But I was apologizing for what she had to do earlier with the dressing up, because I felt bad for her. If I could go back, I’d say, “I’m so sorry that you had to dress up like that,” and just be clearer.
This regret reveals a deeper emotional layer to Elliana’s Dance Moms experience. It’s not about a dance mistake, but about a moment of miscommunication and a desire to better express her empathy for her mother. The incident highlights the often-unseen emotional toll of reality TV, where personal feelings can be misconstrued or simplified for dramatic effect. Her reflection reveals her strong bond with her mother and her sensitivity to her feelings, even amidst the pressures of competition.
Role Model and Future Aspirations
When asked about role models, Elliana’s answer is heartfelt and personal, highlighting the importance of family in her life. Looking ahead, her goals are ambitious and multifaceted, encompassing acting, dance, and expanding her online content.
Girls’ Life: Who do you look up to the most?
Elliana: It’s basic, but I’d have to say my mom. I feel like I spend the most time with her. Almost every daughter wants to grow up to be like her mom. She has a lot of really good advice for me which I really appreciate. I couldn’t do any of the things I do without her. I’m really grateful to her and I think she’s a great mom, even if I don’t show her that all the time, she really is.
Elliana’s admiration for her mother is clear and touching. She acknowledges her mother’s unwavering support and guidance as essential to her success. This appreciation for her mother as a role model underscores the strong family foundation that underpins her career.
Girls’ Life: What are your goals for the future?
Elliana: My dream is to be a series regular on a TV show. Definitely more dancing and I want to go for a title next year. I’m going to start doing more aesthetic, beauty and lifestyle videos on my YouTube which I’m really excited about. And ASMR!
Elliana’s future goals are ambitious and diverse, reflecting her multifaceted talents and interests. From aiming for a series regular role on television to continuing her dance training and expanding her YouTube content to include beauty, lifestyle, and ASMR videos, she is actively pursuing multiple paths. This drive and ambition, combined with her grounded personality and mature perspective, suggest a bright future for this talented young star who first captured hearts on Dance Moms.
Find more Elliana on our Instagram @girlslifemag!
Image Credit: Elliana Walmsley/Instagram. Parts of this interview were edited and condensed for clarity.
