- 4 weeks ago
Global dance sensation and digital powerhouse Niana Guerrero kicks off the very first episode of The Young Achievers Podcast!
Recognized internationally for her massive impact, Niana Guerrero holds a spot on the prestigious 2026 TIME100 Creators list under the Titans category—alongside global giants like IShowSpeed, Dude Perfect, Mark Rober, Joe Rogan, and fellow Filipino Bretman Rock. In this premiere episode, she sits down with celebrity host Rain Matienzo to share the real story behind her rise to fame, from viral dance trends to commanding a worldwide following. Discover how she balances life as a global Gen Z icon, handles the pressure of massive influence, and continues to redefine success on her own terms. Hit play to get inspired by the ultimate young achiever!
The Young Achievers Podcast is also available to stream on Spotify and YouTube.
Recognized internationally for her massive impact, Niana Guerrero holds a spot on the prestigious 2026 TIME100 Creators list under the Titans category—alongside global giants like IShowSpeed, Dude Perfect, Mark Rober, Joe Rogan, and fellow Filipino Bretman Rock. In this premiere episode, she sits down with celebrity host Rain Matienzo to share the real story behind her rise to fame, from viral dance trends to commanding a worldwide following. Discover how she balances life as a global Gen Z icon, handles the pressure of massive influence, and continues to redefine success on her own terms. Hit play to get inspired by the ultimate young achiever!
The Young Achievers Podcast is also available to stream on Spotify and YouTube.
Category
🎈
FunTranscript
00:00Every time I dance, it always brings me back to the thought of like,
00:04oh, this is where I feel the most me.
00:07She's one of the biggest digital creators to come out of the Philippines,
00:11a dancer and a performer who has inspired millions with her energy,
00:16her creativity, and authenticity.
00:19After everything that happened later on until now,
00:21I feel like I'm still the same kid who just loved to be around family
00:25and just loved music so much.
00:27Behind the viral videos and global followings is a young woman navigating growth,
00:32pressure, and the realities of early success.
00:35Jungkook would be a cool collab.
00:49Hi everyone and welcome to the very first episode of Young Achievers,
00:53a series where we sit down with incredible and promising young talents who are shaping culture,
00:59setting trends, and influencing their generation,
01:02and redefining what it means to grow up in a world that moves fast and never stops watching.
01:08And today's Achiever is Niana Guerrero.
01:11Hello!
01:12Hello, everybody.
01:13Thank you for having me.
01:15Yes, thank you so much actually for joining us.
01:17So this is an exciting episode, everyone,
01:19because, of course, not just because of who Niana is,
01:22but we want to also explore your thinking,
01:26something deeper within your story.
01:28And, of course, things that people don't always see in your content.
01:32So welcome so much to the show.
01:34Make yourself comfortable.
01:36Comfortable.
01:37So, Niana, you've grown up in front of millions.
01:40Like, literally.
01:41Yeah.
01:42Literally with views, with likes.
01:44And we want to know, since you grew up in the camera very early,
01:48when you think of your own childhood beyond the cameras,
01:52like, who is Niana just as a kid?
01:56Before everyone met you and saw you online.
01:58I feel like I grew up, like, just a normal kid.
02:03Like, I play outside all the time.
02:05I play with my family and my siblings.
02:07We play, we watch movies, we play video games.
02:10Just like normal kid stuff.
02:11And, like, yeah.
02:14I feel like I was also a shy kid back before.
02:17Like, in school, I was that one student
02:19who would just not talk to anyone at all.
02:22But, like, give me two hours and I'll talk to you.
02:25You need to warm up.
02:25Exactly.
02:27And, yeah, I feel like after everything that happened later on until now,
02:31I feel like I'm still the same kid who just loved to be around family
02:36and just loved music so much.
02:38Maybe except for the shy part.
02:39Maybe I've improved exactly a bit.
02:43Okay, that's actually good to hear that you don't feel like there's a huge difference
02:47or something was taken from you as a child.
02:49And, of course, thank you so much to your family also.
02:53I know that they've shared a lot in making sure that your childhood was still the same
02:57and normal despite the cameras.
02:59Shout out to my family.
03:00Since you mentioned about your family a little bit.
03:03So, how have they been integral to your growth, your career, most especially your brother?
03:10Honestly, I'm very, very lucky to have my family because I started at such a young age.
03:16I feel like without their support that they give me, I wouldn't, like, be here right now.
03:24Because, I don't know, they're so supportive, like, especially my brother.
03:27Like, he was the one who taught me how to dance.
03:29He's your first dance instructor.
03:31Exactly.
03:31He's like my first dance teacher.
03:33So, shout out to my brother.
03:35I'm very thankful for him.
03:36And I feel like none of this would have happened if it weren't for him.
03:39So, I'm very thankful.
03:40And my parents were just really just pushing me to, like, you know,
03:43keep doing dance classes and keep doing whatever you want.
03:47And that really helped me where I am today.
03:52So, yeah.
03:52You mentioned about your childhood.
03:54You didn't tell us a little bit about dancing.
03:57So, did dancing come after the cameras?
04:00Or was it something you already enjoyed prior to being viral?
04:06And when did you realize that dancing was something that made you feel alive?
04:11There wasn't actually, like, a big moment where I felt like,
04:14dancing is so blah, blah, blah.
04:16But I feel like I grew up loving music and dance.
04:21Like, it was already around me at such an early age.
04:23Because, like, my brother would dance in the living room.
04:26And, like, do his choreography and stuff.
04:28And you'd find me in the corner, like, trying to copy his steps.
04:32Like, for fun.
04:33Not even seriously.
04:34Just, like, little shoulder bops and stuff.
04:36And, like, my parents would play different genres of music.
04:40So, anytime music would be playing, I would just dance.
04:43Even though I'm in the mall.
04:44So, like, every time I dance, it always brings me back to the thought of, like,
04:49Oh, this is where I feel the most me, in a way.
04:54So, yeah.
04:54So, it's not as if you danced first and then later on you realized it made you feel alive.
05:00It was almost instantaneous.
05:02Exactly.
05:03And you hear music, oh, I feel alive.
05:04Yeah, exactly.
05:04I just have this shoulder bop.
05:06Yeah, even though I'm not even moving properly, it's just...
05:08I cannot even imagine that there was a time that you wouldn't move properly.
05:13When did you realize that, okay, this is actually getting me traction.
05:19This is going viral.
05:20It's not just the same shoulder bops I'm doing in the living room.
05:24Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:24I think I didn't have...
05:26I also didn't have, like, a dramatic moment where I was like, oh, my gosh, this is getting serious.
05:30Yeah.
05:30Because, like, I feel like I grew up in such a time where social media and being...
05:34And, like, posting stuff online was, like, a normal thing.
05:37Yes, that's true.
05:38And I've always seen it, like, as a normal thing to do and a fun thing to do.
05:43And, like, maybe one of the moments that made me realize that it was becoming real was when people would
05:49come up to me in real life and be like,
05:51Your videos are so cool.
05:53Like, you're so cool.
05:54Like, the way you dance and then stuff like that.
05:57Like, it makes my day and be like, wow.
05:59Like, people watch my videos.
06:01Ever since, it's always been, like, a fun thing since I love...
06:04I generally love dance and music.
06:07So, it doesn't really feel like work most of the time.
06:11So, like, it's just fun.
06:13It's like I'm just bonding with my family and, like, my siblings whenever we're dancing and doing fun challenges.
06:18Even to this day, like, you do it for work.
06:20Let's say you do it for a brand or someone asks you, hey, Niana, can you do this with...
06:26Collaborate with this group.
06:27You don't feel like you're going there.
06:29Oh, I have to go there because this is something I have to do to check off my to-do
06:33list today.
06:34You're still like, yes, I love this process.
06:35Yeah, not really.
06:36It's, like, more of the fun vibes, you know.
06:39And, like, friendly and, like, just fun vibes.
06:42Okay, I love that.
06:43I love that.
06:43Because I think there's a lot of creators who do one thing for fun and then later on they get
06:49tired along the way.
06:50So, I'm really actually very happy to hear that for you, it's more or less been the same.
06:55Yeah, yeah, yeah.
06:55So, is there anything or something specific that you can recall about fame?
07:01Have you ever felt like people don't understand you because, oh, I have, like, I have people watching me all
07:07the time.
07:08Like, is there a hard part about it or do you still feel like it's fun?
07:13I feel like one of the hard parts that I guess people don't see is, well, for me, how much
07:18I think of my future.
07:21It's not really, like, in a stressful way but more of, like, oh, who or what do I want to
07:25be next or, like, outside of a dancer, like, type of thoughts.
07:29And, yeah, I mean, having so many paths in front of me is very exciting but it's something that I
07:36really sit with and want to think about.
07:38So, yeah.
07:38That's good because, of course, the podcast is called Young Achievers and you've achieved a lot of things at such
07:45a young age.
07:46But to hear that, you're also thinking of life beyond dance, life beyond going viral and the videos.
07:58But since you've had such a journey already, how long has it been?
08:01I started when I was, like, 10, 9 years old.
08:04So, whatever.
08:06Yes, it's been a long, long journey already and there's a lot that happened.
08:09Yeah.
08:10But I do want to know, has there been anything that's just, like, so surreal about those past several years
08:17that you just can't forget to this day?
08:20Like, an iconic moment in Yana's career.
08:22Oh, my gosh.
08:23There's, like, a lot.
08:24Like, I feel like, for me, it's the full circle moments.
08:29Like, I'll give a couple of examples.
08:31Yes, yes.
08:31Please do.
08:32Whenever I would meet artists or, like, creators I watched growing up, like, every time I get to hang out
08:38with them or to even do a video with them is always surreal.
08:41Like, my team knows this.
08:42Like, every time I walk out of the room after doing a video, like, for example, with J-Hope or
08:47Lisa, I'm, like, life is crazy.
08:51I'm always, like, life is crazy.
08:52Life is crazy.
08:53And I'm very thankful for that.
08:54And, like, what else?
08:56Traveling to experience, like, events and, like, especially with dance.
09:01Traveling for dance.
09:02And that's so unique.
09:03Exactly.
09:03Not a lot of people travel for dance.
09:05Exactly.
09:05And it's super fun.
09:06It's, like, two things that I love also.
09:08So, and, like, one last thing I could mention is whenever people would come up to me, like, I said
09:15earlier, like, even especially dads and, like, moms and lolas would come up to me and be, like, oh, yung
09:22mang anak ko.
09:23Like, they watch your videos.
09:24They're so inspired.
09:25Like, they started dancing because of you.
09:28And whenever I'd hear that, it just inspires me even more to do what I do.
09:33So, to continue, to keep on keeping on.
09:36Okay, since you mentioned a little bit about the people you meet, dancers you get to collaborate with, has there
09:41been a favorite?
09:42Or even, like, maybe not a favorite.
09:44Yeah, yeah, yeah.
09:45They might be.
09:46But perhaps one instance meeting them that you just could not forget.
09:51It's so iconic.
09:52It's out of the usual where you just see them and dance.
09:55Something more, like, maybe you had a special connection with someone you met.
10:00That's a very hard question because each time I meet anyone, it's, like, a different, different vibes.
10:06But it's all fun.
10:07So, like, they're all really friendly.
10:10I feel like J-Hope was a big, like, it had a big.
10:14Really?
10:15Big impact?
10:15Exactly.
10:16Like, big impact on me because he was just, like, so, I did not expect that, like, kindness from him.
10:21Like, he's, like, real.
10:22Oh, yes, from a global icon.
10:24Exactly.
10:25Yeah, yeah.
10:25J-Hope and Cortis.
10:27Oh, Cortis.
10:33It's undeniable that when you're young and you're successful, there's a lot of people who want to watch you and
10:41want to stay on that journey.
10:43So, there's a certain pressure that comes with that.
10:46I think you would agree.
10:48But how do you deal with those expectations?
10:51So, you get to hear positive and negative comments.
10:55There's expectations from people who are actually your fans.
10:58And then also people who are just casual viewers, right?
11:02And also, you have your team.
11:03You have your family.
11:04There's a lot of people having inputs in your life, Niana.
11:08So, how do you deal with those expectations?
11:10And even from yourself, actually?
11:14Um, I'd be lying if I said, I don't feel pressure at all.
11:18Wow.
11:19Like, I've never experienced pressure in my life.
11:21No, I'd be lying if I say that.
11:23So, yes, of course, I do feel pressure sometimes.
11:26And, like, because for me, pressure is always going to be there.
11:30Like, whatever you do or whatever you are in life,
11:33even if there's pressure, there's pressure.
11:35That's true.
11:35So, for me, whenever I do feel pressure, the way I deal with it is, like,
11:40I kind of trick my brain into being, like, oh, you're not pressured.
11:44Like, think of this like a good pressure.
11:46Like, you're trying to level up who you are.
11:47It's like a mindset shift.
11:48Exactly.
11:49And, like, this is for your own good.
11:51Like, this is, I look at it in the way of how I can grow as a person.
11:56You use it as a drive.
11:57Exactly.
11:58Instead of being, like, oh, this is what I'm scared of.
12:00This is what people expect from me.
12:02So, yeah, I think that helps a lot.
12:03And also, I think what also helps is that my parents don't really put
12:07unrealistic expectations on me.
12:10Like, they really let me move on my pace
12:13and never really force me to do anything that I'm not ready for yet.
12:17So, I'm really thankful for them.
12:19That's good that you got to practice that within your family.
12:21So, then you get to also extend that whenever you feel pressure
12:25from the outside world.
12:27Of course, I'm sure there are a lot of people here, too,
12:29who look to you for inspiration.
12:31So, is there anything that you can give advice on
12:34and how to protect their mental health?
12:36So, for sure, they also don't get a lot of negative comments.
12:38But maybe they would hear that from one or two people around their circle.
12:43I feel like, for me, the advice I could give to,
12:47especially to the ones who create content,
12:49is to always, I think, setting boundaries is really important.
12:53Oh, that's good.
12:53That's good.
12:54Because since I started so young,
12:56I learned early which parts of my life not to share.
13:01Yeah, we're being authentic.
13:02Yeah, we're being real on social media.
13:03Me and my brother, we vlog most of our lives.
13:06But, like, being real in social media
13:09doesn't mean you have to give everything.
13:11I think it's beautiful to keep some parts of your life
13:13at least private to yourself.
13:15Or even to the people closest to you.
13:19So, yeah.
13:21That's good.
13:22That's actually really good advice.
13:23Especially in an age where,
13:25well, maybe not everyone are social media creators,
13:29but everyone has access to social media.
13:31Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:32And they just overshare.
13:33So, that's good that you've learned that
13:35setting boundaries at a young age
13:37has helped you get to where you are now.
13:39Well, with a lot of great people
13:41giving you advice and guiding you,
13:43I do want to know,
13:45is there any advice that you would want to give
13:48to younger Niana?
13:50Younger Niana?
13:50Yeah.
13:52I feel like my message to younger Niana would be...
13:57That's a good question.
14:00You're still very young.
14:01So, younger Niana would be, like, child talaga.
14:04Yeah, child talaga.
14:05So, maybe what I would tell her is...
14:10I just wanted to think about that.
14:14It's okay.
14:15We have time.
14:16My message to my younger self,
14:19don't rush.
14:20Oh.
14:21Yeah.
14:21Because I feel like little me is like,
14:23oh my gosh,
14:25I want to be this.
14:26I want to...
14:27Like, the world is your oyster.
14:29Yeah, I know.
14:29So, I was, like, rushing.
14:30So, I was like, don't rush.
14:31You have time.
14:33You have plenty of time.
14:34I do want plenty of time.
14:36You do.
14:36You really do.
14:37But I think that's a good advice,
14:39not just to your younger self,
14:41but even to everyone watching right now.
14:42Because I think with social media,
14:44there's a certain pressure
14:45that everyone's always just posting
14:47their highlights, right?
14:48Especially the young ones.
14:54Meeting people that you collaborate with,
14:57obviously,
14:58there's a certain creativity
14:59that you need to put into that.
15:01Like, what video am I going to do with them?
15:03How am I going to be able
15:04to connect with them through dance?
15:06Right.
15:07But since you're constantly creating,
15:09how do you keep yourself from burning out?
15:11And even for your own videos?
15:14For me, rest.
15:17Rest is really important.
15:18If you can make time to create content
15:21or work,
15:22you can also make time to pause for a second
15:24and just rest.
15:26What does rest look like for you?
15:28Because I think when people see you online,
15:31they think her life is so restful.
15:33She's always traveling.
15:35But what does actual rest for you,
15:38Niana, look like?
15:39Rest for me is probably...
15:42One of them is just spending time
15:44with my family.
15:45It's either like watching a movie
15:47or playing board games.
15:48I mean, we do that,
15:50but it's different when it's off camera.
15:52It's like real.
15:53Just the mundane things.
15:55And honestly,
15:56a little dance freestyle
15:58in the studio would be nice.
15:59It's very healing.
16:03And honestly,
16:05just literally resting.
16:07Like bed rotting.
16:08Bed rotting.
16:09Doom scrolling.
16:09Bed rotting.
16:09Sometimes bed rotting is okay.
16:11Yes.
16:12Sometimes, right?
16:13After you've had a long day of work.
16:15Okay.
16:16I'm grateful to hear all of that
16:18because I think these are pieces of advice
16:21that when adults say it to younger people,
16:25they usually reject it
16:27because they feel rushed.
16:28They do want to catch up
16:29with everyone achieving amazing things.
16:31But coming from you,
16:32I think it bears more weight.
16:34So thank you for sharing that, Niana.
16:36Can you give us a little bit of idea
16:39about where your mind takes you
16:42when you think about life beyond
16:44what you've achieved at your young age?
16:47There's actually a bunch in my head.
16:50I haven't really revealed any of it.
16:53It's more of just thoughts in my head
16:56that maybe one day
16:58I could learn how to sing
17:01and do music.
17:03Yeah, I think that would be so interesting to do.
17:07And what else?
17:08Just more fashion experiences.
17:12I've been learning how to DJ recently.
17:16Mixing your own songs.
17:17Exactly.
17:18It's been a fun thing for me recently.
17:21It pushes me in a new way,
17:23which I like.
17:24So hopefully,
17:25I could do more of that stuff in the future.
17:29Anywhere.
17:30Maybe playing for...
17:31Because right now,
17:32I've been only playing for family and friends.
17:34So maybe in the future,
17:35my gigs.
17:36And what else?
17:38Traveling more.
17:39Not just for work,
17:40but also vacation.
17:43And being able to go to different places
17:45and learn about myself.
17:47So vacation without work.
17:51Without having to do it on camera.
17:54Just a full-on rest.
17:55Just learning about different cultures.
17:57And I think that's where growth happens too.
18:05For people who do not know where to start,
18:09for young people who are into the same things as you,
18:11they want to dance,
18:12they want to share their lives online,
18:13but they don't know where to start,
18:15what advice could you give to them?
18:17I feel like advice I would give to them is
18:20know that we all have our own timelines in life.
18:24So just take your time.
18:27Good things take time.
18:29So be patient with yourself.
18:31Focus on what you can do today.
18:34And do whatever you like.
18:36If you want dancing,
18:37invest time in practicing dancing.
18:39Or whether it's cooking or singing,
18:41whatever it is,
18:41invest your time.
18:42Keep practicing.
18:43And just be patient.
18:46And big things will come.
18:48Okay, before we end,
18:50I want to ask this last question.
18:52Maybe I also want to have a viral video.
18:58Not dancing, okay?
18:59I thought we were going to dance.
19:01I just want to know,
19:02is there a secret sauce?
19:04Because every single one of your videos
19:06seem to be just hitting the charts all the time.
19:08Maybe not specifically with dancing,
19:10but getting your videos across borders
19:14and people caring about your videos.
19:18What is my secret sauce?
19:20Wait a minute, I don't know.
19:22I think my secret sauce
19:24is picking the right songs.
19:26Because like,
19:28every time I make a dance challenge,
19:29I make sure that it's vibey.
19:31Like even though it's new or old,
19:33even though it's 80s or 90s,
19:35like if I vibe with it,
19:37I will make a dance to it.
19:38And like,
19:40especially when it's 80s or 90s,
19:42people will relate.
19:43Like even the older ones would relate.
19:45I would see them do my dances as well.
19:48So I think those are one of my secret sauces.
19:50Like really choose a nice, unique song
19:53that everyone would vibe to.
19:55Yes, it's like,
19:56you're not just speaking to one generation.
19:58You're actually also hitting
20:00even generations above you
20:02and further below you.
20:04And that's really beautiful, I think.
20:05Because as a creator,
20:06I just love hearing about your story.
20:08You're someone who
20:09not just speaks to her audience,
20:12but you try to connect people
20:14through dance.
20:15And I think that's very, very beautiful.
20:17And you're also a trendsetter.
20:20I think at this point, Niana,
20:21there are people overseas,
20:24and especially in the Philippines,
20:25who want to collaborate with you.
20:27And you're their dream collab.
20:29But you, you've collabed with so many people.
20:31Anyone that you still haven't collabed
20:34that you're like,
20:34yes, when I collab with this person,
20:36I've made it.
20:38Or maybe you want to collab with them again
20:39for something more specific,
20:41a specific dance.
20:43Interesting.
20:44I'm hirap.
20:46I'm having choices.
20:47I'm having choices.
20:48Because, of course,
20:49I want to collaborate with someone new
20:51and also collaborate again
20:53with the people I've collaborated.
20:55But like,
20:55to answer your question,
20:57I feel like,
20:57Jungkook would be a cool
21:01collab.
21:02Do you have an idea
21:02for what you want to do
21:03with Jungkook already?
21:05Like, anything.
21:06Anything with Jungkook.
21:06Anything he wants to do.
21:07If he wants to sit down,
21:08I'm down.
21:08Like, sit down
21:09and just do a little head bop,
21:11I'm down.
21:12That would be like,
21:12the sickest thing ever.
21:13Or maybe just doom scroll together.
21:15Exactly.
21:15But like, yeah,
21:16Jungkook's one of them.
21:17Shout out to Jungkook
21:18if you're watching.
21:19Hello.
21:20Hi.
21:20If you're watching.
21:21Who knows?
21:22Okay, well,
21:23now that you have
21:24given your shout out
21:25to Jungkook,
21:26where can Jungkook
21:27and all of them,
21:29everyone watching
21:30here at our
21:31Young Achievers podcast,
21:32where can they follow you
21:33for your social media accounts?
21:34Hello, everybody.
21:35Please follow me,
21:36Niana Guerrero
21:37at Niana Guerrero
21:38everywhere.
21:38Everywhere.
21:40Jungkook,
21:40you know where to find her.
21:41Thank you, Jungkook.
21:43So, Niana,
21:44thank you so, so much
21:45for opening up
21:46and even sharing about
21:47not just your journey,
21:49but even your plans
21:50after maybe dancing,
21:52but maybe later on
21:53in life, right?
21:54And also just showing us
21:55that achievement
21:56at such a young age
21:58is not just about success.
22:00It's also about growth.
22:01Thank you for letting us
22:02witness you grow online
22:03and even self-awareness.
22:05I think I've loved hearing
22:07that about you today
22:08and staying true
22:09to who you are,
22:10of course.
22:11So, thank you so, so much.
22:12It was so nice to meet you.
22:13It was so nice to meet you.
22:14This is our collab.
22:15So, again, everyone,
22:16thank you so much.
22:17This is Young Achievers.
22:18This is Rain Matienzo
22:20and we'll see you
22:20in the next episode.
22:22"'Ight' by H.O.'
22:26"'Ight' by H.O.'
22:26"'Ight' by H.O.
Comments