Remember the kid who wanted tacos instead of a trophy?
We all do. Vivi-Anne Stein was the tiny, deadpan scene-stealer who somehow became the calmest person on the most chaotic show in reality TV history. While Abby Lee Miller and Cathy Nesbitt-Stein were screaming about "empty chairs" and "apple cores," Vivi was just... there. Existing. Usually looking like she’d rather be literally anywhere else.
But it's 2026. The glitter has settled. The bus rides to Pittsburgh are a distant memory.
If you’re looking for Vivi-Anne from Dance Moms now, you aren’t going to find a jaded former child star or someone desperately trying to stay in the tabloid loop. Instead, you'll find a 21-year-old who managed to do the impossible: she grew up normal. Mostly.
Why Vivi-Anne Stein Is Actually Winning at Life
For years, the internet's favorite narrative was that Vivi hated dancing. We saw the slumped shoulders. We heard the monotone interviews. People genuinely thought Cathy was forcing her into a life of sequins against her will.
Turns out? We were kinda wrong.
Vivi didn't hate dancing; she just hated the drama. As she grew up, she didn't run away from the studio. She leaned in. By the time she hit her teens, she wasn't just "Cathy’s daughter"—she was a legit tap dancer. She won titles. She stayed at Candy Apple’s Dance Center, training under her mom's wing without the cameras shoved in her face.
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She graduated high school in 2023. No, she didn't move to LA to become an influencer. She went to college.
Currently, she’s a student at Cleveland State University. And get this—she’s on the Viking Dance Team. She actually serves as the team's Vice President. It’s a massive plot twist for everyone who thought she’d never touch a pair of dance shoes again. She’s out there at basketball games, hitting every count, and honestly looks like she’s having a blast.
The "Soft Launch" That Broke the Dance Moms Fandom
Vivi has always been private. Her Instagram isn't a mess of sponsored posts for tummy tea. It’s mostly just her living her life.
However, late in 2025, she made some waves.
She started posting photos with a girl named Autumn, a fellow dancer on the CSU team. It wasn't some big, theatrical "coming out" post with a press release. It was just Vivi being Vivi. She left a comment calling Autumn her "perfect angel amazing sweet beautiful girlfriend," and the fandom basically lost its mind.
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Fans who grew up watching her were just happy to see her happy. It feels like a full-circle moment for the girl who was once a meme for being "uninterested." Now, she’s clearly very interested in her life, her relationship, and her career.
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Cathy and Vivi: Where Do They Stand in 2026?
If you're wondering if Cathy is still the "Chaos Queen" of Ohio, the answer is a resounding yes. Candy Apple’s Dance Center is still thriving in Canton.
But the dynamic has changed.
The "stage mom" trope was always a bit of a character for TV. In reality, Cathy protected Vivi more than most people realized. She negotiated contracts to keep Vivi’s screen time minimal when the environment got toxic.
Today, they are incredibly close.
- They spend holidays together (Thanksgiving 2025 was a big family affair).
- Vivi often helps out at the studio.
- They’ve been spotted at major events, like the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, just acting like a regular mother-daughter duo.
Cathy still runs the show, but Vivi is her own person now. There’s no more "I'll buy you tacos if you perform." Now, it's just mutual respect.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Dance Moms" Edit
We have to talk about the "boring" edit.
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Reality TV thrives on archetypes. Chloe was the underdog. Maddie was the prodigy. Vivi-Anne was the "reluctant" one.
But if you look back at old footage with a 2026 lens, you see a kid who was just smart. She knew the fighting was performative. She knew the cameras were there to catch her failing. Her "bored" face was actually a shield.
She didn't want the fame. She didn't want to be JoJo Siwa. And honestly? That’s probably why she’s so well-adjusted today. While other cast members have struggled with the pressure of maintaining a brand, Vivi just... went to school. She got her degree. She found a girlfriend. She kept dancing on her own terms.
What’s Next for Vivi-Anne?
Vivi-Anne Stein is currently focused on finishing her degree at Cleveland State. She’s heavily involved in the dance community in Ohio and continues to be a staple at her mom's studio.
She isn't chasing a reality TV comeback.
If you want to see what she's up to, her TikTok and Instagram are the places to go, but don't expect daily vlogs. She’s a "post once a month and disappear" type of person.
What you can do next:
If you’re a fan of the show, go back and watch her tap solos from her later teen years on YouTube. You'll see a completely different performer than the little girl on Season 1. It’s a great reminder that people—especially child stars—deserve the space to grow up and define themselves outside of a 42-minute edited episode.