From the bottom of the pyramid to the heights of American literature
In short: For years, Nia Sioux Frazier was defined by her rank on a reality television pyramid. Yet, the former Dance Moms star has transitioned from competitive dance to a multifaceted career in acting, music, and academia, recently culminating in a powerful memoir about her journey.
Nia Sioux Frazier first entered the public eye at age nine, appearing on the Lifetime reality series Dance Moms from 2011 to 2017. During her time at the Abby Lee Dance Company, she became widely recognized for her position at the bottom of the show's 'pyramid'—a ranking system used by coach Abby Lee Miller. Despite facing the challenges of being ranked lower than her peers and receiving fewer solos, Sioux and her mother, Holly, became the longest-serving cast members of the series.
Her career path following the show has been remarkably diverse. Sioux transitioned to TV roles, most famously playing Emma Barber during her 2018–2019 stint on the CBS soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. She has also explored film, appearing in projects such as the 2024 musical Mean Girls and the drama Imperfect High. Beyond acting, she has pursued a music career with singles like 'Star in Your Own Life' and 'Slay', and served as an NBC correspondent during the Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018.
Parallel to her professional life, Sioux has maintained a commitment to education. After completing her studies in American Literature and Culture at UCLA, she graduated in 2024. This academic background informs her recent literary work. In 2025, she published her memoir, Bottom of the Pyramid, which she wrote during her junior year at UCLA. The book provides a personal account of her experiences on Dance Moms, including allegations of racist encounters with Miller, offering a deeper perspective on the life behind the television rankings.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Nia Sioux
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-nia-sioux.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Clothing and fashion · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
