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If positive energy were a person, it would definitely look like Pressley Hosbach. And if positive energy were a party, it would look exactly like the Galentine's Day celebration Pressley hosted for five of her favorite humans—Tahani Anderson, Scarlett Estevez, Audrey Grace Marshall, Jaycee Piper and Sophia Woodward. 

From the dreamy boho aesthetic to the mouth-watering mountain of doughnuts on the menu, every element of this brunch bash was pure Pressley perfection. 

But even if the invitation was just to hang out in an empty room, the entire Galentine's guest list would have RSVP'd yes. Honestly, if "professional best friend" were a job, the 18-year-old multi-hyphenate star would be flooded with offers to add it to her already impressive list of titles: dancer (see her fame-making appearance on Season 8 of Dance Moms), actress (with starring roles on Brat TV's Stage Fright and Attaway General), influencer (just a casual 10M followers) and now singer and podcaster (more on that in a moment).

And while many girls stick to their core crew when planning a party, Pressley prefers to use her soirées as a chance to connect people. "I have so many friends from different things. I love it when everyone meets and gets to know each other. The more, the merrier!"

Having a super inclusive mindset doesn't mean that Pressley doesn't have high standards for friendship, though. Over the years, she's learned the hard way that bestiehood is a two-way street.

"I've had some people who I thought were my friends, but it turned out that they weren't rooting for me or supporting me and where I wanted to go in my life," she remembers. Though she was initially hesitant to make bsfs, she's since learned that "she can't be scared to trust new people because of what's happened in the past."

Even though Pressley doesn't let those failed friendships hold her back, she's still struggled with social anxiety in different ways. She admits she used to have a "phobia of throwing parties" out of fear that no one would show up (for the record, everyone always did). 

And it's a good thing Pressley's "Fear of Throwing Parties" era is officially behind her, because her 2025 is already filling up with celebration-worthy moments and milestones. These include two new singles dropping back to back: "Loved Me Wrong," a girlpower anthem about turning heartbreak into knowing your worth (which released in January) and the smile-inducing bop "Best of You" (out in March). 

As if that weren't enough, she's also writing and recording more music for her debut EP, which she hopes to release later this spring. "It's definitely giving Pressley 2.0," she says of the upcoming project, describing it as having a "heavily dance-focused" sound. "I really want it to be centered on girlpower. That's what I want the tracks to feel like. I'm 18 now, and I feel I'm coming into who I am. I'm growing up, I'm finding myself. I want to share this version of me as I get older."

This Pressley 2.0 energy extends beyond her music and into every aspect of her life, including the romance department. When asked if she thinks her busy 2025 schedule will leave time for dating, her response sounds like something straight out of a Mature Life Choices textbook. 

"This is my predicament: I would say no, because I don't ever want to be distracted from what I want to do...but I think the right person shouldn't distract you from what you want," she explains, adding that she could see herself in a relationship, but only with the right S.O. "I don't want to date just to date, you know? Just to say I have a boyfriend."

Pressley 2.0's perfect match would need to have their own dreams and be supportive of hers. "I definitely need somebody who works hard and has goals," she says. "Even if it's not what they want to do with their entire life, I need someone who's driven and passionate about something."

As important as ambition is, her biggest deal-breaker stems from another lesson she learned the hard way. "I've been led on a couple of times, and it's just not good," Pressley shared when asked about her dating red flags. "I don't like someone who is too nonchalant about everything. If you like someone, you have to let them know. I can't be with someone who can't open up, especially when it comes to their feelings." 

Pressley believes good communication skills are important outside of dating, too—and that shouldn't be surprising for someone who hosts a podcast called Cool Conversations. 

The podcast's eight episodes exude Pressley's trademark optimism, even when tackling tough topics like avoiding the comparison trap (she brought on fellow dancer/actress Jayden Bartels for that), building self-esteem (with entrepreneur and activist Kheris Rogers) and maintaining a sense of authenticity (with Erin & Aaron alum Gering).

"My goal isn't to ignore the realities of challenging situations but to help girls find what they can learn from them so they can grow," Pressley says of her pods. "I think that's one of the biggest messages behind everything I do: We're all going through hard things. We're all learning. It's not just you. You're not alone."

That sentiment is obvious at Pressley's Galentine's bash (and *all* of her parties, for that matter). The ultimate hostess, she loves creating fun, inclusive spaces where everyone feels celebrated. For her, it's not just about the party—it's about spreading joy.

"I'm super grateful to have many amazing people in my life right now. And it makes me happy that I can be the reason that these girls meet," she shares. "At parties, you never know what might happen, but you know it's going to be a good time."

Hey girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our February/March 2025 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.

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Photographed by Mike Azaria. Styled by Coco Emery. Hair by George Fragkioudakis. Makeup by Sophia Hutch.
Digital formatting by Felicia Bono.

by Kayleigh Roberts | 2/13/2025