#316: Nia Sioux has been in the public eye since she was 9 years old. Most people first met her on Dance Moms, where she became known for her talent, her grace under pressure — and yes, for often being put at the bottom of the pyramid.

Now at 24, Nia is reclaiming her story — on her own terms.

In this conversation, we talk about what it’s like to be perceived before you even know who you are, and how you begin to unpack that when the whole world thinks they already know your story. Nia opens up about the emotional process of writing her upcoming memoir Bottom of the Pyramid, what it took to revisit her childhood through adult eyes, and how she found closure by using her own voice.

This is an honest, layered conversation about resilience, identity, and what it means to own the narrative of your life, especially when that narrative has long been shaped by others.

Nia reminds us that reclaiming your narrative isn't just empowering — it's healing.

In this episode, we cover:

Nia’s emotional journey of revisiting her childhood on reality TV
What it means to be “the underdog” — and how that label lingers
How the title Bottom of the Pyramid became a reclamation, not a resignation
Learning how to tell your full story, even when people only want to hear certain parts
Releasing the pressure to prove yourself (and who that performance is really for)
What she's learned from watching the show as an adult — and what her mom taught her about strength

Episode Links:

Check out Nia’s memoir, Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life, available November 4th
Follow Nia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niasioux
Follow Nia on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@niasioux
Get your She’s So Lucky Merch: https://shop.dearmedia.com/collections/shes-so-lucky

Sponsors:

Jones Road Beauty: Modern-day makeup that’s clean, strategic, and multifunctional for effortless routines. Use code LUCKY at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free Cool Gloss with your first purchase!
Quince: Quince is the go-to for elevated basics at affordable prices. Visit quince.com/balancedles for free shipping and 365-day returns.
Shopify: Start your online business with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial at shopify.com/balancedblackgirl.
Ritual: Get 25% off your first month of Ritual when you visit ritual.com/balanced and add Essential Protein today.
Grüns: Grüns are comprehensive nutrition packed into a snack pack a day. Visit gruns.co and use the code LUCKY for 52% off your first order.
MOSH Bars: Support your brain health with MOSH Bars. Head to moshlife.com/lucky to get 20% off plus FREE shipping on the best sellers Trial Pack or the plant-based trial pack.
Mood: Visit mood.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off your first order of functional gummies.

Connect with Les:

Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter: https://shessolucky.kit.com/bestcase
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Toddlers And Dogs Don't Mix