If you spent any part of the mid-2010s glued to Lifetime on Tuesday nights, you know Kalani Hilliker. She was the one with the insane technique that made even Abby Lee Miller—a woman who basically invented "tough love"—actually crack a smile. But looking back at those reruns, it's kinda jarring to see how fast she grew up. One minute she’s this "new girl" coming in to replace the Hyland sisters, and the next, she's the veteran leading The Irreplaceables.
The question of how old is Kalani on Dance Moms is a bit of a moving target because she spanned several pivotal seasons. Honestly, her age was a major plot point, whether the producers said it out loud or not. She was always the "older girl," the one who had to be the mature leader while the younger kids were dealing with, well, being kids.
The Real Timeline: How Old Was She Really?
Kalani Brooke Hilliker was born on September 23, 2000.
When she first stepped onto the Dance Moms stage in Season 4, she wasn't just some random kid. She had already made a name for herself on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition (AUDC). During Season 4, which premiered in January 2014, Kalani was 13 years old.
Think about that for a second. At 13, most of us were struggling with middle school algebra. Kalani was being flown across the country to deal with Abby’s screaming matches.
Breaking Down the Seasons
If you're trying to track her exact age throughout the show’s run, here is basically how the math works out:
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- Season 4 (2014): She joined as a guest and then became a recurring member. She was 13, turning 14 toward the end of the year.
- Season 5 (2015): This was the big move to LA. Kalani was 14 years old.
- Season 6 (2016): The drama intensified with the Zieglers leaving. Kalani was 15 turning 16.
- Season 7 (2017): This was the "end of an era" season. By the time the girls broke away to form The Irreplaceables, Kalani was 16 and 17 years old.
It’s wild to realize she spent her entire high school career on national television. While other girls were going to homecoming, she was doing contemporary solos about social issues in a sweaty studio in Pittsburgh or Los Angeles.
Why Her Age Actually Mattered on the Show
Most fans forget that Kalani was significantly older than the "core" group for a long time. When she joined, Maddie Ziegler was only 11. Mackenzie was even younger.
This age gap created a weird dynamic. Abby often used Kalani as the benchmark for "professionalism." Basically, if the younger girls messed up, Abby would point at Kalani and ask why they couldn't be more like the 13-year-old who already had "the look." It put a lot of pressure on her. She wasn't just a teammate; she was the unofficial babysitter and the standard-bearer for the entire ALDC brand.
There was also the contract drama. You might remember Kalani and her mom, Kira Girard, disappeared for a bit in Season 4. People thought they were gone for good. In reality, there were issues with the contract and Kira’s personal life (she had other kids back in Arizona). But Abby wanted her back so badly—specifically because of her age and maturity—that they made it happen for Season 5.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Entry
A common misconception is that Kalani was "discovered" by Dance Moms. Not even close.
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Before the show, she was already a "dance prodigy" in the competitive circuit. She had appeared on Disney Channel's Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off and even had a small role on the show Bunheads. When she showed up on Dance Moms, she was already a seasoned pro. That’s why she looked so much more polished than some of the girls who had been at the ALDC since they were toddlers.
Where is Kalani Hilliker Now?
So, if she was 17 when the show ended its main run for her, where is she now in 2026?
Kalani is currently 25 years old.
She’s lived a whole lifetime since those pyramid days. She didn't just fade away into the "former child star" abyss. Instead, she’s leaned into a few different lanes:
- Dance Education: She actually teaches now. It’s kinda full circle, right? She travels and does workshops, sharing that technique that made her famous.
- Entrepreneurship: She launched "Kare by Kalani," focusing on self-care and mental health.
- Personal Life: She’s been very open about her life on social media, including her engagement to Nathan Goldman. They've been planning a wedding for late 2025/early 2026, which has been a huge topic for her long-time followers.
The Mental Toll of Growing Up on Camera
In recent years, Kalani has been pretty vocal about the trauma of the show. Imagine being 14 and having your weight, your mother's choices, and your "likability" debated by millions of people online.
She’s talked about the anxiety and the pressure to be perfect that started during those Dance Moms years. It’s a reminder that while we were watching for the "entertainment," these were real kids growing up in a high-pressure cooker.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to keep up with Kalani today or revisit her journey, here’s the best way to do it:
- Check out her YouTube/TikTok: She’s way more "real" there than she ever was on Lifetime. She talks about the behind-the-scenes stuff that the producers edited out.
- Follow her "Kare" brand: If you’re into wellness, her transition from dance to mental health advocacy is actually pretty inspiring.
- Watch the Reunion: If you haven't seen the Dance Moms reunion specials from 2024 and beyond, they're worth a watch. You get to see her interact with the other girls as adults, which puts the whole "how old is Kalani" question into a much clearer perspective.
She isn't that 13-year-old girl in the purple leotard anymore. She's a business owner and a woman navigating her mid-20s, which, honestly, is its own kind of dance.