# Nia And Mackenzie Were ALWAYS THE UNDERDOGS On Dance Moms | Back To The Barre

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/back-to-the-barre-5485742/nia-and-mackenzie-were-always-the-underdogs-on-dance-moms-back-to-the-barre.md
Podcast: [Back to the Barre](https://stenobird.com/podcast/back-to-the-barre-5485742)
Published: 2026-08-31T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/back-to-the-barre/episodes/6a951af259d728b5ab9d41ee
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/63e7cb3476a4a4001004ca4e/e/6a951af259d728b5ab9d41ee/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/back-to-the-barre-5485742/episodes/nia-and-mackenzie-were-always-the-underdogs-on-dance-moms-back-to-the-barre
Duration seconds: 4818

## Resource

Christi and Kelly recap not one, but two Dance Moms throwback specials, this time looking back at Mackenzie and Nia — two original team members who spent years proving they were MORE than the roles the show tried to force them into. Mackenzie was the baby of the team, the funny little sister, and the kid everyone remembers for wanting to stay home and eat chips. But behind all those adorable one-liners was a girl constantly being measured against Maddie. Christi and Kelly revisit the moments that made Mackenzie so lovable, while also talking about how hard it must have been to grow up on camera with your older sister treated as the standard you were always supposed to chase. Nia’s story is different, but just as frustrating. From the beginning, Holly had to fight for her daughter to be seen, respected, and taken seriously. Christi and Kelly look back at the moments where Abby crossed the line, the dances that finally let Nia step into something bigger, and the season five music video that showed exactly why Holly stopped waiting for Abby to create opportunities. Grab your tickets to our LIVE TOUR! Connecticut (October 2): https://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/back-to-the-barre-ridgefield-ct-2026 New York City (October 3): https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00006518C2C668A9 Welcome to Back to the Barre, the ultimate podcast channel where Kelly Hyland and Christi Lukasiak from Dance Moms spill the tea, share the laughs, and take you behind the scenes of your favorite reality TV moments! 🎥✨ Join us as we relive the wild drama of pyramid days, outrageous competitions, and unforgettable moments that made Dance Moms a pop culture phenomenon. But this isn’t just about rhinestones—we’re giving you the real stories: the chaos, the camaraderie, and yes, the cocktails that got us…

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## Transcript

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