Letter to My Teenage Self

Dancer and Actress Stephani Sosa Writes a Letter to Her Teenage Self

October 26, 2026

If you’re a fan of dance on TV, chances are you’ve seen Stephani Sosa’s high-powered energy light up your screen. The dancer and actress has appeared in everything from Disney’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” to Netflix shows and Bad Bunny’s legendary 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance. A former “Dancing with the Stars” troupe member (and forever sister of “DWTS” pro Ezra Sosa), she also recently competed on “Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro,” where her versatility and magnetic performance quality shone.

That run on “The Next Pro” also revealed Stephani’s dedication to self-expression, representation, and embracing her Latin roots. And with a wealth of skills, including ballroom, hip hop, modeling, and acting, she’s just getting started. Follow her at @stephychica on Instagram and TikTok. —Kyra Laubacher

Dear Stephani,

“Wow…that’s really me. We did it. We made it out of hell.”

I think that’s what you, my younger self, would say if you could see us now.

Growing up in Utah as a first-generation Latina, our family struggled financially, and for a long time, dance was the one thing that saved us both. We had these huge, crazy dreams, but there were so many moments when we wondered if they were too impossible for a girl like us.

A childhood photo of Stephani Sosa backstage at a dance performance. She wears a powder blue dress with a fuzzy white shawl and a white headband. She stands with her legs together and her hands held in front, head slightly cocked as she gives a shy smile.
A young Stephani Sosa. Photo courtesy Sosa.

Stephani, you’re going to have to fight. You’re going to walk into rooms where people don’t see your value yet. There will even be moments when people within your own community don’t understand you or what makes you special. Don’t let that make you question yourself. You’re enough.

For years, you’ll struggle with the things that make you different—your curls, your skin tone, your culture, your voice. But you should know that the things you want to change will eventually become some of your greatest strengths.

One day, you, that little girl from Utah, will be on “Dancing with the Stars,” perform at the Super Bowl alongside Bad Bunny, proudly represent your community, and be the first Latina in spaces you never imagined you’d enter. You’ll appear on TV and in movies, dance alongside some of the biggest artists, and step into a new dream—becoming an actress and actually being who you wished you saw represented onscreen as a little girl. You’ll look back and realize that all the pain, rejection, and fighting was worth it.

Stephani Sosa does a samba onstage in a bright yellow and orange costume with a full, feathered skirt. She steps forward with her hip popped and her torso twisted, one arm straight to the side and the other bent in across her chest.
Sosa on “The Next Pro.” Photo by Vince Valitutti, courtesy Disney/ABC.

You do belong, Stephani. You’ll find your way.

I often cry thinking about how much we endured as a child and how we were able to alchemize all of it to create a life so full of abundance.

So, little me, keep going. Stay different. Keep dreaming the dreams that scare you. You don’t need everyone to see your value. You just need to know it’s there.

Your time will come.

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