If you close your eyes, you can probably still see Brooke Hyland doing those insane contortion tricks on a tiny stage while Abby Lee Miller yelled from the wings. It feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, Brooke was the "brooding" teenager who just wanted to go to high school football games instead of doing another acro routine.
Honestly? She got her wish. And then some.
But seriously, where is Brooke from Dance Moms now in 2026? If you haven't kept up, you’re looking at a completely different person. She isn't just "Kelly’s daughter" or "Paige’s big sister" anymore. At 28, Brooke has built a life that’s surprisingly... normal? Well, as normal as it gets when you have millions of people watching your every move on TikTok.
The Big 2026 Wedding: Brooke and Brian
Let’s talk about the thing everyone is buzzing about right now. The wedding. Brooke Hyland is officially a 2026 bride. She got engaged to Brian Thalman back in May 2024, and they’ve been taking their sweet time planning. If you saw the engagement photos from Frick Park in Pittsburgh, you know it was basically a Pinterest board come to life. Brian got down on one knee with a massive 3.25-carat elongated cushion-cut diamond from Brilliant Earth.
People were kind of shocked they waited nearly two years to tie the knot. But Brooke was super vocal about it—she wanted a long engagement. She didn't want to rush the planning while balancing her travel schedule and, frankly, she wanted to make sure her mom, Kelly Hyland, was in a good place health-wise before the big day.
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It’s been a heavy year for the Hylands. With Kelly’s breast cancer diagnosis and her recent heart surgery, the family has been through the ringer. Brooke moving back to Pittsburgh from Austin, Texas, was probably the best decision she ever made. It put her right there for the appointments, the recoveries, and now, the celebrations.
The Career Pivot: From Acro to Analytics
One of the biggest misconceptions is that Brooke is still "just" a dancer. She’s not. She actually hasn't danced competitively in over a decade.
After the family’s explosive exit from the show in Season 4 (the slap heard 'round the world, remember?), Brooke went to Ohio University. She didn't major in theater or dance. She got a degree in Marketing and Management Information Systems.
Basically, she’s a tech-savvy business woman now.
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What she actually does for work:
- Influencer Marketing: She spent time on the corporate side of the industry before going full-time as a creator.
- The "Bite-Sized Foodie": If you follow her on Instagram, you know her food blog is her baby. She travels, eats, and reviews—honestly, it's the dream job.
- Brand Strategy: She works with major beauty and lifestyle brands, but she isn't just posting selfies. She actually understands the data behind the deals.
She’s also ventured back into acting occasionally, like her role in The Man in the White Van, but she seems way more comfortable being her own boss than being back in a rehearsal hall.
Where is Brooke from Dance Moms now living?
She’s back in the 412.
After a stint in Austin—where she actually met Brian through her cousin—she moved back to Pittsburgh. She lives there with Brian and their dog, Jack. It’s a huge shift from the "L.A. or bust" mentality most of her former castmates have. While Maddie and Kenzie are deep in the Hollywood scene, Brooke seems to crave the stability of her hometown.
The Relationship with Abby Lee Miller
People always ask if they still talk. Short answer: No.
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Longer answer: Absolutely not. The trauma from those years at the ALDC runs deep. While Brooke participated in the 2024 Dance Moms reunion, she’s made it clear that she has zero interest in a relationship with Abby. She’s moved on. She’s healthy. She’s happy.
What’s Next for Brooke?
Now that the wedding is the main event of 2026, Brooke is focusing on settling into this new chapter. She’s hinted at more travel-based content and expanding her "Bite-Sized Foodie" brand into something bigger—maybe a cookbook or a curated travel guide series.
If you want to keep up with the wedding festivities or her latest Pittsburgh food finds, your best bet is her Instagram (@brookehyland) or her TikTok. She’s surprisingly interactive with her fans, probably because she’s finally at a place where she enjoys the spotlight on her own terms.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Dear Dance Mom podcast if you want to hear Brooke and Kelly talk more about their real lives behind the scenes.
- If you're a foodie, follow her @bitesized_foodie account for some of the best restaurant recommendations in the Northeast.
- Watch the 2024 Dance Moms Reunion on Lifetime if you want to see the moment Brooke and Paige finally got to tell their side of the story alongside the other OGs.