Maddie Ziegler has been in front of a camera since she was eight. Most of us were just trying to master long division while she was being screamed at by Abby Lee Miller on national television. Because of that, the concept of fitting in has always been a weird, moving target for her. It isn't just about being the "new girl" at school; it's about a child star trying to find a version of herself that isn't a "muse," a "prodigy," or a "reality TV villain."
Honestly, it’s a lot.
You’ve probably seen her in the Sia videos or maybe you caught her in The Fallout. But there is this recurring theme in her life—this constant push and pull between the hyper-professional world she was raised in and the normal, messy life of a twenty-something.
The Reality of Fitting In After Dance Moms
For years, Maddie wasn't just a dancer; she was the "golden girl." That sounds great on paper, but it’s an isolating way to grow up. When you're the favorite, you don't exactly fit in with the group. You’re the target. You're the one everyone is compared to. She recently opened up on the High Low with EmRata podcast about her perfectionism, and it's clear that the pressure to be flawless made "normal" socializing almost impossible.
How do you fit in with other kids when your life is a series of 10-hour rehearsals and high-stakes competitions?
She spent her childhood in a bubble. Then, she transitioned into another bubble with Sia. People forget that when she was 11, she became a global sensation basically overnight. She wasn't hanging out at the mall. She was performing at the Grammys.
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Why the Movie "Fitting In" Was a Turning Point
It’s kind of poetic that she eventually starred in a film literally called Fitting In (originally titled Bloody Hell). In the movie, she plays Lindy, a teen diagnosed with MRKH syndrome—a rare reproductive condition.
For Maddie, this wasn't just another acting gig. It was a role that forced her to lean into the uncomfortable parts of being a person. During the press tour for the film, she talked a lot about how she’s finally learning to advocate for herself. She told Polyester Zine that she used to be "rigid" and "focused" to a fault.
Acting in Fitting In helped her heal parts of herself she didn't even know were broken. She had to learn how to:
- Be physically "bad" at things for the camera.
- Work with intimacy coordinators to set boundaries.
- Exist in a space where her value wasn't tied to a first-place trophy.
The "It Girl" Friendship Myth
If you look at her Instagram, it seems like she fits in perfectly with the Hollywood elite. She’s seen with Olivia Rodrigo, Iris Apatow, and Millie Bobby Brown. People on Reddit love to dissect these friendships. Some call her a "social climber," but that feels pretty cynical.
The truth is usually much more boring.
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When you live in LA and work in the same industry, you’re going to end up in the same circles. Maddie has mentioned in interviews that many of her friendships are situational—people she met on set or lived in the same apartment building with.
She's actually quite private. Unlike a lot of influencers, she doesn't post every single meal or "get ready with me" video. This makes her seem "mysterious" or like she's "climbing a ladder," but it might just be that she’s an introvert who spent the first 14 years of her life having her privacy invaded by Lifetime’s cameras. She's protecting what’s left of her "normal" life.
Moving Past the "Sia Muse" Era
Fitting in as a serious actor has been her biggest hurdle lately. For a long time, the industry saw her as an extension of Sia. It was a safe haven for her at first, a way to escape the toxicity of Dance Moms. But as she got older, that relationship became a point of controversy.
Fans and critics alike questioned the intensity of their bond.
Transitioning into roles like those in West Side Story or My Old Ass (2024) was her way of proving she could stand on her own. She’s no longer just a body for someone else’s choreography. She’s finding her own voice, literally. She told Flaunt Magazine that having dialogue to release her emotions is a "therapeutic" change from just using her body.
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What it Really Takes to "Fit In" as an Adult
Maddie’s journey is a weird mirror for anyone who felt like they had to be "on" all the time growing up. Whether it was sports, academics, or just trying to be the "good kid," the burnout is real.
Fitting in, for her, has meant unlearning the "perfection" that made her famous. It means:
- Accepting the body you have now. She’s admitted that her 22-year-old body doesn't move the same way it did when she was 11.
- Setting hard boundaries. She isn't the girl who says "yes" to everything anymore.
- Valuing longevity over trends. In a 2025 interview with Fashionista, she mentioned that she’s leaning into "timeless" styles and scents rather than chasing every TikTok trend.
If you’re struggling with your own version of fitting in, take a page out of the current Maddie Ziegler playbook. It isn't about molding yourself to fit the room. It’s about finding the people and the work that make you feel like you don't have to perform.
Stop trying to be the "golden girl" of your office or your friend group. Focus on being the person who actually enjoys the life they've built. That’s the only way to actually fit into your own skin.
Practical Next Steps for Navigating Transition:
- Audit your "Perfectionist" Triggers: Identify if you are doing things because you want to, or because you’re afraid of not being "the best."
- Embrace the Pivot: Like Maddie shifted from dance to acting, don't be afraid to leave a "successful" path if it no longer serves your mental health.
- Prioritize Privacy: You don't owe the world an explanation of your growth. It's okay to evolve behind closed doors.