Ava Michelle

Ava Michelle Cota, born on April 10, 2002, in Linden, Michigan, began her performing arts journey at a young age, training in various dance styles including contemporary, ballet, pointe, jazz, and tap. Her early years were significantly shaped by her involvement in dance, attending JC’s Broadway Dance Academy, which was owned and operated by her mother. Michelle gained initial public recognition through her appearances on the reality television series ‘Dance Moms’, where she was a recurring figure from seasons three to seven, including a short stint as a member of the Select Ensemble team in season four. Her time on the show helped establish her as a dancer in the entertainment industry.

Michelle transitioned into acting, making appearances in several short films in 2018, such as ‘This Is Me’ and ‘Mamma Mia!’, and also featured in two episodes of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’. A significant turning point in her career came with her casting in the lead role of Jodi Kreyman in the Netflix film ‘Tall Girl’, which premiered on September 13, 2019. This role brought her widespread recognition and solidified her presence as an actress. She reprised her role in the sequel, ‘Tall Girl 2’, which began filming in April 2021.

Beyond her acting and dancing career, Michelle has also ventured into modeling, making her runway debut at New York Fashion Week in 2017. She is also involved in social causes, having launched the #13Reasons4Me social media campaign in 2018, which aimed to encourage self-love and positivity. Furthermore, she is a co-founder of The Devon Michael Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness about fentanyl.