Melissa Gisoni:- Maddie Ziegler is a famous dancer, actress, and model who rose to fame as the star of the reality show “Dance Moms”. She is also known for her collaborations with singer Sia, appearing in several of her music videos and movies. But who is the woman behind this talented young star? Who is Maddie Ziegler’s mother, Melissa Gisoni?
Melissa Gisoni’s Biography, Husband & Children
Melissa Gisoni (née Sulo) was born on June 13, 1968 in New York City. She is of Italian and Polish descent. She married Kurt Ziegler, a former football player, in 2000 and they had two daughters: Maddie, born on September 30, 2002, and Mackenzie, born on June 4, 2004. The family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Maddie and Mackenzie started dancing at the Abby Lee Dance Company.
Melissa and Kurt divorced in 2011, citing financial problems and marital issues. Melissa then married Greg Gisoni, a vice president at Westinghouse Electric Company, in 2013. Greg has two sons from his previous marriage: Mathew and Michele.
Career, A Dance Mom TV Show & Lifestyle
Melissa and her daughters became famous when they joined the cast of “Dance Moms“, a reality show that followed the lives of young dancers and their mothers at the Abby Lee Dance Company. The show premiered on Lifetime in 2011 and ran for eight seasons until 2019.
Melissa was often portrayed as a loyal and supportive mother who would do anything for her daughters’ success. She was also criticized for being too competitive and favoring Maddie over Mackenzie. She had a close relationship with Abby Lee Miller, the owner and instructor of the dance studio, who considered Maddie as her favorite student.
Melissa and her daughters left the show in 2016, after six seasons, to pursue other opportunities. Maddie had already established herself as a star in the dance world, thanks to her appearances in Sia’s music videos such as “Chandelier”, “Elastic Heart” and “Cheap Thrills”. She also ventured into acting, starring in movies such as “The Book of Henry”, “Leap!” and “Music”. Mackenzie also followed her sister’s footsteps, releasing music albums, starring in TV shows and movies, and becoming a social media influencer.
A Stay-At-Home Mom
After leaving “Dance Moms”, Melissa decided to focus on being a stay-at-home mom and managing her daughters’ careers. She also became more active on social media, sharing photos and videos of her family life on Instagram and YouTube. She has over 3.5 million followers on Instagram and over 1 million subscribers on YouTube.
Melissa often posts about her love for her husband Greg, whom she calls her “soulmate” and “best friend”. She also gushes about her daughters’ achievements and supports their endeavors. She frequently travels with them to various events and projects around the world.
Melissa also enjoys spending time with her stepsons Mathew and Michele, whom she considers as her own sons. She often refers to them as her “bonus boys” and praises them for being kind, smart and handsome.
Controversies
Despite being a loving mother and wife, Melissa has also faced some controversies over the years. Some of them are:
- In 2020, she was accused of racism by former “Dance Moms” co-star Camille Bridges, who claimed that Melissa once told her that she did not want her daughter Camryn to be part of the team because she was Black.
- In 2020, she was also accused of lying about Maddie’s age by former “Dance Moms” co-star Christi Lukasiak, who claimed that Melissa falsified Maddie’s birth certificate to make her younger than she was.
- In 2021, she was criticized for defending Sia’s movie “Music”, which faced backlash for its portrayal of autism. Melissa said that she was proud of Maddie for playing an autistic character and that the movie was made with love and respect.
- In 2021, she was also criticized for apologizing to Maddie for putting her through “Dance Moms” as a child. Maddie revealed that she had a panic attack last year and that Melissa said sorry to her for exposing her to the pressure and drama of the show.
A Strong Woman
Despite the challenges and controversies, Melissa has always maintained a positive attitude and a strong spirit. She has said that she is proud of herself for raising two successful and happy daughters and that she is grateful for her husband and stepsons. She has also said that she is not bothered by the haters and that she only cares about the opinions of her family and friends.
Melissa Gisoni is more than just Maddie Ziegler’s mother. She is a woman who has faced many ups and downs in her life but has always stayed true to herself and her loved ones. She is a woman who has supported her daughters’ dreams and passions, while also pursuing her own happiness. She is a woman who deserves respect and admiration for being a strong, loving, and inspiring mother.
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