Nia Dennis & the Decision to Choose Happy
A Fresh Story, season 2, episode 19
We chatted with viral gymnastics sensation Nia Dennis about her journey in gymnastics, and how one single second changed the rest of her life - and led her to many new Fresh Starts. Nia is incredibly wise, appreciative of her past, and passionate about learning new things (like the saxophone!), and excited for her future. We discussed her viral moment at The Met Gala, her fresh start in college, and how she pivoted her whole career at a young age. You will learn so much from Nia’s wise words about self-talk and learning to love yourself, even when things are tricky in life.
Viral gymnastics sensation, Nia Dennis aspires to inspire. Her debut on the 2021 Met Gala red carpet was a cultural moment! Flanked by the 30-person Brooklyn United marching band, while wearing a patriotic Stella McCartney for Adidas jumpsuit, Nia easily went from gymnastics routine to red carpet glam as she flipped and danced her way to the top of the famous steps!
A member of the U.S. National Team from 2012-2016, Nia was a 2018 NCAA Gymnastics Champion and leading contender on the UCLA Women’s Gymnastics team. “The Culture” was a recurring theme in the fun-filled floor routines of her college career, as she treated the gymnastics floor as her stage and the perfect place to showcase black excellence to the world. In February 2020, Nia tumbled and hip-hop danced to a Beyonce inspired “Homecoming” performance that highlighted majorette-style dancing typical of HBCUs, which resulted in millions of online views, becoming the #1 trending topic online, and landing Nia a guest spot on The Ellen Degeneres Show. In February 2021, another one of Nia’s socially-justice filled routine also went viral, with a message of power and hope towards the push for equality that caught the attention of Michelle Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris and Janet Jackson, among others.
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Nia grew up with Midwest values and a supportive family who encouraged her illustrious Junior Olympic and Elite gymnastics career. She sacrificed a traditional classroom experience and trained more than 30 hours per week to reach Elite status and compete internationally with the ultimate goal being the 2016 Olympics. But, with a torn Achilles months before the games, Nia learned invaluable lessons about overcoming obstacles, perseverance and creating new dreams.