Elliana Walmsley, widely recognized as Elliana From Dance Moms, is much more than just a dancer. At 13, this energetic and self-aware teen juggles roles as a dancer, influencer, and actress, most notably known for her role as Claire on Chicken Girls. In this exclusive interview, Elliana opens up about her life, career, and navigating the complexities of growing up in the public eye.
When asked how she would describe herself, Elliana’s response is immediate and insightful. “Energetic, bubbly—I’m bouncing off the walls sometimes,” she laughs, her tiny chihuahua Lola nestled comfortably on her lap during the Zoom interview. “I’m a realist—I can be optimistic but I do think about what the outcome will be,” she adds, revealing a thoughtful side. “And I can be adventurous, too, but overall I’m a rule follower.” This blend of traits paints a picture of a young woman who is both grounded and ambitious, a combination that has undoubtedly contributed to her success.
Elliana embraces her multifaceted personality, refusing to be confined to a single label. Whether she’s considered a dancer, influencer, introvert, or extrovert (a mix of both, she admits), realist, or optimist, she owns every aspect of her identity. In this exclusive Girls’ Life interview, Elliana delves into various aspects of her life, offering a glimpse into the world of Elliana from Dance Moms beyond the screen.
Stepping into Claire’s Shoes in Chicken Girls
Girls’ Life: How do you connect with your character Claire on Chicken Girls?
Elliana: Claire and I have our differences, especially when it comes to attitude. Claire can be rude and conceited at times, which isn’t really me. However, I absolutely love her style in the latest season. Last season’s wardrobe was a bit questionable; some outfits felt a little too “grandma-esque”! But that’s the costume designer’s job, and they did a fantastic job creating those looks! This season, though, Claire’s outfits are so cute. We see Claire running for class president this season, so she carries herself with more poise and becomes more conscious of her appearance and strives to be more authentic and confident. That’s something I can really relate to. Regardless of the situation, Claire is always direct and says what she means. I admire that about her, although sometimes it doesn’t come across the right way for her.
Career Highlights: From Dance Moms to Radio City
Girls’ Life: What stands out as the biggest highlight in your career so far?
Elliana: Without a doubt, performing at Radio City Music Hall in the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes last year. One hundred percent, that was my absolute favorite experience ever. I enjoyed it immensely, and it was truly disappointing when the show didn’t happen this past year. Surprisingly, I had never been a fan of New York; I always considered myself more of a California girl. But living in New York was actually amazing. I loved it! I loved the Christmas atmosphere in New York. Everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetime. The entire show and the whole experience were incredible, and I’m so grateful for it. For Elliana from Dance Moms, this was a significant step beyond the dance competition world.
Navigating the Social Media World as a Teen Influencer
Girls’ Life: What’s the best advice you can give about navigating social media?
Elliana: Social media has incredible potential. It can be a fantastic platform, but it can also be incredibly toxic. When you have a following, hate is unfortunately part of the package. It comes with the territory. Even if you are doing everything right and are practically perfect, there will still be negativity because some people will envy you and be jealous of your life. They see something in you that triggers their own insecurities, and they project it onto others.
My advice is to not let those negative comments affect you. Don’t engage with those people because they are seeking attention. They might think that leaving a hateful comment increases their chances of getting a response. Positive comments always outweigh the negative ones, but it’s easy to lose sight of that. Negative comments tend to stand out. But it’s crucial to remember to focus on the positive and not let negativity consume you. For Elliana from Dance Moms, managing her online presence is a key part of her career.
Balancing Teen Life and Influencer Life
Girls’ Life: How do you manage to balance your teen life with your life as an influencer?
Elliana: It was definitely challenging in the beginning, especially when you’re in a public relationship on social media. There’s this pressure to document every aspect of your life. And in a way, you almost have to because people enjoy seeing me with my friends and experiencing my life, but I’ve learned that I don’t need to document everything. Everywhere I go, I might just take a quick Instagram story or a Boomerang, or just talk to the camera for a bit—people love seeing that. But I’ve realized I don’t have to vlog or do an Instagram Live every single time. So, I’ve found a balance. I genuinely enjoy creating content, and so do my friends, so I’ll just ask if they’re up for a quick Boomerang or something, and they’re usually happy to do it. We understand it’s part of what I do.
Being Seen for Who She Is
Girls’ Life: What do you wish more people understood about you?
Elliana: I often see comments like, “OMG, she looks so mean.” I do see those comments. And it’s just not true. I’m not mean at all. I try my best to be kind to everyone. I wish people would see beyond the screen and see me for who I truly am. Elliana from Dance Moms is often perceived based on her on-screen persona, and she hopes people can see her genuine personality.
Navigating Young Relationships in the Public Eye: “Jelliana”
Girls’ Life: How do you handle having a relationship in the public eye?
Elliana: Many people are critical of young relationships. But the reality is, I understand that middle school relationships—and I don’t mean to be rude—but they aren’t typically forever. I’m aware this probably isn’t the relationship I’ll have for the rest of my life. But I’ve learned that it’s important to enjoy the present moment.
I’m with someone truly amazing. He treats me incredibly well, and I’m genuinely happy right now. We’re not doing anything inappropriate for our age. We simply enjoy each other’s company, and I think that’s valuable and nice.
Having a relationship in the public eye, especially on social media, can be challenging because of the pressure to constantly create content. A lot of fans are invested in these young relationships, and they’re always asking for more “content”! Our ship name is “Jelliana,” so we try to give as much “Jelliana” content as we can. We like to post stories, or I try to teach him dance moves – he’s not a dancer at all, which is a challenge for me! But I’m teaching him slowly, and he’s trying. I’m confident that in a year, he’ll be a dancer!
Girls’ Life: Why do you think people are so interested in following your relationship?
Elliana: This is the age when many kids start exploring their own relationships. So, I think they follow us to get a glimpse into what it’s like and what they might experience. Even though they only see a snapshot of our lives, they can still get some idea. Of course, everyone’s experience will be unique, but it gives them a general sense. The “Jelliana” phenomenon highlights how Elliana from Dance Moms connects with her audience on a personal level.
A Day in the Life of Elliana Walmsley
Girls’ Life: What does a typical day look like for you?
Elliana: I usually wake up around 10:30 AM and spend a few hours on schoolwork. College is definitely in my plans for the future. I don’t shower in the mornings; I prefer to shower at night. So, I get ready, do my hair and makeup. I usually like to watch an episode of a show on Netflix—currently, I’m obsessed with Lucifer. Then I have breakfast and head out to film. People might not realize how much time goes into creating YouTube videos. Each video can take over an hour to film. We usually film around three videos each time, so that’s about five hours of filming. While I’m there, I try to create extra content: TikToks, Instagram stories, Instagram pictures. After filming, I might grab food somewhere, or Jentzen and I just hang out. Then I usually come home, watch more Lucifer, do a bit more schoolwork, shower, have dinner, and go to bed.
Reflecting on Dance Moms and Past Regrets
Girls’ Life: What’s one thing you would go back and change in your past?
Elliana: This might seem small because I honestly have very few regrets, but it’s something I’ve considered. When I was on Dance Moms, I had a solo where I portrayed Charlie Chaplin. It wasn’t my best solo, and there was one move I messed up, which became a whole thing on the show. So, I would go back and change that move in the solo and nail it.
Also, in that same episode, they made my mom dress up as Charlie Chaplin and walk around outside the dance competition. I was really upset that morning because I just wanted my mom to be with me while I was stretching and practicing my solo. But instead, she had to get her makeup done for the costume. We were in Arizona, it was incredibly hot, and she was sweating, and I felt so bad for her. But the show made it seem like I was annoyed by it, like, “She’s so weird, why is she doing that?” But I just felt bad for her.
At the end of the episode, they showed me going to apologize to her, but it looked like I was saying sorry for not winning with my solo. But I was actually apologizing for what she had to go through earlier with the dressing up, because I felt awful for her. If I could go back, I would say, “I’m so sorry that you had to dress up like that,” to make my apology clearer. This moment on Dance Moms highlights the pressures and behind-the-scenes experiences for Elliana and her family.
Role Models and Future Aspirations
Girls’ Life: Who do you admire the most?
Elliana: It might be a typical answer, but I would have to say my mom. I feel like I spend the most time with her. Like most daughters, I hope to grow up to be like my mom. She always gives me really good advice, which I truly appreciate. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without her support. I’m incredibly grateful to her, and I think she’s an amazing mom, even if I don’t always express it.
Girls’ Life: What are your goals for the future?
Elliana: My biggest dream is to become a series regular on a TV show. Definitely more dancing is in my future, and I want to compete for a title next year. I’m also planning to create more aesthetic, beauty, and lifestyle videos on my YouTube channel, which I’m really excited about. And ASMR content too! For Elliana from Dance Moms, the future looks bright with diverse aspirations in acting, dance, and content creation.
Find more of Elliana’s updates on our Instagram @girlslifemag!
Image Credit: Elliana Walmsley/Instagram. Interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
