Ziegler - Kenzies Rules for Life

The only rule that you should never break is to be true to yourself.

Growing up is hardand growing up in the spotlight is even harderbut Mackenzie Ziegler is taking it all in stride. Thanks to her positive attitude on life, Mackenzie is able to tackle even the toughest of growing pains. From getting her start on Dance Moms to her sold-out tour alongside Johnny Orlando to a killer clothing collection, theres nothing that she cant do!

In Kenzies Rules for Life, the dance prodigy, singer/songwriter, actress, and model offers her advice on friendship, family, fitness, style, and positivity. Drawing from her own experiences, she shares lessons for those navigating their tween years on how to be happy, healthy, and confident in all aspects of their lives. In her book filled with recipes, craft ideas, exercise tricks, travel ideas, and so much more, Kenzie shows her fans how you can work hard and still find time to just be a kid. Kenzies Rules for Life is the upbeat, playful guidebook to always looking at the glass half full.

I m pretty much in awe of my little sister. Over the past year or so, shes grown into this incredibly confident, incredibly dynamic, determined young woman who lets nothing and nobody stand in her way. And Ill be honest: The change took me by surprise. I remember baby Mackenzie at our dance studio, totally insecure and crying all the time because she had to be in the back of the routine. I remember her throwing a temper tantrum if I wouldnt play American Girl dolls with her. I remember her hiding behind my moms legs and clinging tightly to my hand wherever we went. But now, whatever idea she gets in her head, she makes it happen. She doesnt take no for an answer. Case in point: She said she wanted to write a book, and now here you are, reading it. Shes kind of a force!

I think the turning point was when she finally figured out who she is and who she wants to be. She found music, she branched out, she discovered her thing. She found her voiceliterally! Im so proud of her. Of course, Id be proud of her if she wasnt a huge pop star with an album that I actually like to listen to. What Im most proud of is that in thirteen-plus years, shes never stopped being Kenzie: funny, giggly, goofy, annoying, but also incredibly kind, compassionate, and eager to help others. She has the biggest heart I have ever seeneven bigger than her mouth (and thats saying a lot!). Shes willing to put herself out there, which is not an easy thing to do, especially when youre a teen or tween and people are so judgy. I know she went through a lot of hate, people calling her names and trying to knock her down. But she didnt let them. She held her head up, she did her own thing, and now shes even stronger.

Which is why IMHO shes the perfect person to be giving kids our age adviceshes so encouraging, positive, and honest. Sometimes too honest! Shell tell me stuff I dont necessarily want to hear, like, Hey, you got something stuck in your teeth, or, Youve got a zit on your forehead. But I know shes only trying to help. If I have a problem, I come to herwhich maybe sounds weird, because Im the older one. But shes really good at putting things into perspective and giving them a positive spin. She believes in bringing out the best in people. You cant be around Kenzie and not laugh or smile; she just coaxes it out of you. She is someone who believes that there is light and good to be found in every place and everyone.

I love her so, so muchalways have. My mom has a picture of us when she was first born and Im holding her. She has this full head of hair and Im squeezing her so tight, her face is as red as a tomato. I just couldnt help it! I was in love! We went through a fighting stage a few years ago, but I have to say, now were not just sisters, were best friends. I can tell Mackenzie anything and vice versa, and were always there for each other. The dynamic of our relationship has changed: I used to boss her around, and now she tells me what to do. But somehow, it doesnt bug me that much. Im pretty impressed with how she speaks her mind and voices her opinions. When we were younger, I always complained when she would try and tag along with me and my friends. But now I love spending time with her and were closer than weve ever beenwhich should make our mom happy, since she was getting a little tired of refereeing.

If youre lucky in your life, you find someone who always tells you how great you are. My sister has always been that person for me, and Im proud to be that person for her. So here goes: Kenz, youre amazing! Keep doing what you do, and I dont need to tell you to reach for the stars. Youre already swinging from them!

S o, Ive always been a go with the flow kind of girlwhen life hands you lemons, you make lemon slime (see recipe ). My mom will tell you I have a sunny, upbeat personality, and my sister Maddie will agree and insist that nothing ever bugs me. But thats not truestuff does bug me. Stuff drives me crazy. (Um, Maddie drives me crazy sometimes, especially when she steals my makeup.) But Ive always believed that life is what you make of it. You can sit around and mope and complain and feel sorry for yourself, or you can find a way to make things work and have a really great time doing it.

I dont know if you can have a philosophy for life at thirteen years oldits kind of young, dont you think? But I do know that I have certain rules that I live by. For example:

Friends are the people who really know you and like youeven when your feet smell.

Haters gonna hate. They have nothing better to do with their time. I do!

If you see it, you can be it: Theres no such thing as dreaming too big. My dreams are XXL.

If Im taller than my mom, I should be allowed to ride in the front seat of the car. Just sayin.

A lot of people ask me questions through social media or when they bump into me shopping at the Grove in L.A.about everything from how to handle embarrassing situations and tips on beauty and style, to boy problems and how to convince your parents to let you stay up late on a weekend (still working on that one!). So I thought I should probably organize my answers and put them all down in one place. A book sounded like a really great ideaa lot of work, but a really great idea! I mean, I would have loved to have had some of these answers handy when I was younger and dealing with all the tween drama. People dont know how tough it is to be a kid these days unless theyre a kid themselves. But I get it. I get all the pressure, not just in front of your face at school or at the dance studio, but on social media, too. Growing up and trying to find your way in this world can be toughIm still figuring it out myself.

And Im really flattered when someone comes up to me and wants my advice. Im glad you guys trust me, because I always try to be honest. Sometimes I might say something silly or put my foot in my mouth (I can actually do that, you knowIm pretty flexible!), but when someone asks me what I think, I tell them. I remember sitting for interviews with Maddie when we were on Dance Moms and she would roll her eyes when I gave my real opinion on something (Kenzie, you cant say that!). Well, I just did! I never hold back. Im never going to be someone Im not, or act a certain way to fit someone elses idea of who I should be. Thats just a formula for being unhappy and unsuccessful, dont you think? Its like being a fake or a phony, or putting on a mask. And I dont mean one of those soothing sheet masks you get at SephoraI mean one that hides who you truly are. You want to be the best person you can be? Then be