Hey there and welcome back to The Things. If you’re a total “Dance Moms” fan, then you know all about Maddie Ziegler’s rise to fame. She started out as a young dancer who had a knack for facial expressions and soulful performances. It didn’t take long for the world to realize just how great Maddie really was. But, it took a few mere seconds for her former dance coach, Abby Lee Miller, to realize that Maddie was a gem. Maddie has been pushing herself to her limits since she was old enough to walk. She’s devoted her life to dancing and her hard work is paying off.

The young star might be living her best life, but her childhood was far from being all rainbows and butterflies. Turns out being a part of the “Dance Moms” cast was stressful, restrictive, and downright unpleasant. We’ve got it all and more in this video; From Maddie’s personal experiences to dark truths, to unbelievable cast secrets. Tune into The Things to get the inside scoop.