For those who’re a fan of dance on TV, chances are high you’ve seen Stephani Sosa’s high-powered vitality gentle up your display. The dancer and actress has appeared in every thing from Disney’s “Excessive Faculty Musical: The Musical: The Collection” to Netflix exhibits and Unhealthy Bunny’s legendary 2026 Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency. A former “Dancing with the Stars” troupe member (and eternally sister of “DWTS” professional Ezra Sosa), she additionally lately competed on “Dancing with the Stars: The Subsequent Professional,” the place her versatility and magnetic efficiency high quality shone.
That run on “The Subsequent Professional” additionally revealed Stephani’s dedication to self-expression, illustration, and embracing her Latin roots. And with a wealth of expertise, together with ballroom, hip hop, modeling, and performing, she’s simply getting began. Comply with her at @stephychica on Instagram and TikTok. —Kyra Laubacher
Expensive Stephani,
“Wow…that’s actually me. We did it. We made it out of hell.”
I believe that’s what you, my youthful self, would say for those who may see us now.
Rising up in Utah as a first-generation Latina, our household struggled financially, and for a very long time, dance was the one factor that saved us each. We had these large, loopy goals, however there have been so many moments after we questioned in the event that they have been too inconceivable for a lady like us.
Stephani, you’re going to must struggle. You’re going to stroll into rooms the place individuals don’t see your worth but. There’ll even be moments when individuals inside your individual group don’t perceive you or what makes you particular. Don’t let that make you query your self. You’re sufficient.
For years, you’ll wrestle with the issues that make you totally different—your curls, your pores and skin tone, your tradition, your voice. However it is best to know that the belongings you wish to change will ultimately turn into a few of your biggest strengths.
In the future, you, that little lady from Utah, will likely be on “Dancing with the Stars,” carry out on the Tremendous Bowl alongside Unhealthy Bunny, proudly symbolize your group, and be the primary Latina in areas you by no means imagined you’d enter. You’ll seem on TV and in films, dance alongside a number of the largest artists, and step into a brand new dream—turning into an actress and truly being who you wished you noticed represented onscreen as just a little lady. You’ll look again and understand that each one the ache, rejection, and combating was value it.
You do belong, Stephani. You’ll discover your means.
I usually cry fascinated about how a lot we endured as a toddler and the way we have been in a position to alchemize all of it to create a life so stuffed with abundance.
So, little me, preserve going. Keep totally different. Preserve dreaming the goals that scare you. You don’t want everybody to see your worth. You simply have to understand it’s there.
Your time will come.
