Former 'Dance Moms' Star Maddie Ziegler Is 'Happy' She Moved On: 'The Show Was a Really Stressful Time'

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Maddie Ziegler is dancing to a brand new beat!

The 14-year-old dancer covers Seventeen's June/July issue, and in her accompanying interview with the magazine, she opens up about her massively successful journey thus far and what it's been like transitioning from a small to big screen star.


WATCH: Maddie Ziegler Sweetly Describes What Sia Looks Like When the Wig Is Off

It's a standout year for Ziegler, as she's taking her talents to two films -- The Book of Henry, out now, and Leap!, in theaters Aug. 30. She admits she's happy to be moving on from Dance Moms, the reality show that made her a household name long before she showcased her skills in Sia's music videos.

"The show was a really stressful time," she says. "I just didn't want to deal with all of the drama anymore. I'm happy I've moved on. I get to step out and do my own thing and be myself. But I am thankful for the experience, and I miss dancing with the girls."

Despite all of the opportunities that have come her way since leaving the show, like touring with Sia, judging So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation and writing her own memoir, The Maddie Diaries, Ziegler has found a way to stay grounded and keep pushing for greatness, even when she's feeling jaded.


RELATED: Maddie Ziegler Explains Why She Wrote 'The Maddie Diaries': 'I Want People to Know the Real Me'

"I'm still just a teenager," she explains. "I get so caught up in what I'm doing that my friends and family sometimes have to remind me that what I'm doing is cool. I never imagined this."

"I try to stay away from online comments," she added. "Why should I bother reading something from someone who has nothing better to do than try to make people feel smaller, so they can feel bigger? It's not OK."

In addition to dancing, acting and writing, Ziegler also keeps herself busy with vlogging and fashion design. It's no secret that she's a girl of many talents, but she tells Seventeen there's one thing she knows she's not great at.


RELATED: Maddie Ziegler Busts Out Her Sassiest Moves While Dancing to Ariana Grande's 'Into You'

"My friends tell me I'm the worst texter," she admits. "I don't use emojis and everything is lowercase. In my head I'm expressing my emotions, but I guess I just don't come across as very enthusiastic. I need to get on that and start using emojis and stuff!"

One famous friend who Ziegler recently struck up a friendship with is Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. The two are constantly supporting each other and posting highlights from their fun-filled girls' days on Instagram, taking #FriendshipGoals to a whole new level.

Like Ziegler, Brown is truly a star in her own right and portraying the role of Eleven on the hit Netflix series is only the beginning of the road for her as an actress. Hear more on the 13-year-old in the video below!


WATCH: Millie Bobby Brown Opens Up About Landing Her First Movie Role in 'Godzilla' Sequel