It’s Ally Brooke’s time to shine, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.
Brooke, a former member of successful pop girl group Fifth Harmony, has taken her career solo and can now add professional dancer to her resume. She recently competed in ABC’s "Dancing With the Stars" with partner Sasha Farber, eventually finishing in third place.
The 26-year-old has been through a wild ride from reality programs to international tours and hit after hit -- and she constantly reminds herself to take everything in because she's worked so hard for it all.
"You worked your butt off. You should be proud of yourself because you have come so far," she told "Good Morning America."
(MORE: Ally Brooke talks finding confidence on 'Dancing with the Stars' after years of being bullied)Brooke reflected on the past that led up to where she is today. As a kid, she said, she was "severely shy." When asked to sing in front of others, she would often cry or just turn around to avoid others.
Her insecurities took a toll on her and she constantly questioned whether she was good enough.
Fortunately, that all changed thanks to her dad’s belief in her talents and artistry.
(MORE: Mindy Kaling: 'Don't let where you're from keep you from where you’re going')“Dads always give great advice,” she said.
Growing up, her dad always reminded her that she was special and that she should always believe in herself. Brooke said she carries that with her to this day.
Fifth Harmony was formed in 2012 through Fox’s "The X Factor." Along with Brooke, the four other members included Normani Hamilton, Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Hansen and Camila Cabello.
The group disbanded in 2018 and each member is pursuing their own paths as solo artists.
While the group’s formation was a huge stepping stone in her career, Brooke says she struggled through the duration of the reality program.
(MORE: Take it from Buffy The Vampire Slayer: ‘Be a true fighter’)“To be honest, 'X Factor' wasn’t the best experience for me and I didn’t have the best times,” she said.
Her struggles from the show stemmed from many insecurities and not understanding what her place was.
Despite the obstacles, she lets herself and others know to just hold on for the ride because things do get better.
And they did get better. Fifth Harmony went on to release three successful albums and toured internationally.
The group never failed to make an appearance on the Billboard charts. Their singles "Work From Home," "Worth It," "Down" and "BO$$," among others, were global hits.
Being in a successful girl group really tested her, Brooke said. She learned to be true to herself and not let negativity bog her down, which proved to be difficult.
(MORE: Take it from Sophia Bush: 'You have the right to take up space')Being in the limelight constantly, Brooke said she faced tons of negativity and learned a ton about how the industry works, especially for a successful girl group.
“That’s not easy. We made history and broke records, and that is something that is so incredible that I’m just like, ‘Wow I was a part of that,'" she said.
But she’s proud of everything Fifth Harmony accomplished and still jams out to the group’s music.
After the group broke up, Brooke went on to pursue her solo career as an artist, something she said has always been a goal.
Breaking out and performing at one of her bucket list events, Wango Tango in Los Angeles, was a dream come true.
“I finally felt like this is the beginning of me coming into my own and forming my own identity and breaking out,” she said and feels as though her hard work and dedication is finally having an effect.
Performing in front of thousands of people at Wango Tango reminded her to never settle for anything, an empowering message that is reflected in her new single, "No Good."
And that’s not the end. Brooke also announced her first solo tour called Time to Shine.
In between recording her new music, performing at huge venues and announcing her new tour, Brooke also competed on "Dancing with the Stars."
Brooke and her partner Farber won third place. Despite not winning the Mirrorball trophy, she said she had the time of her life, calling the whole dancing experience “sensational.”
(MORE: Take it from Neil Patrick Harris: 'We’re complete because we’re incomplete')“It has helped me to transform into a completely different person, artist, dancer!” she said.
The hardest part, she said, was getting criticism from the judges and learning new forms of dance that her body wasn’t used to.
Brooke learned dance moves like The Charleston, the Viennese waltz and The Jive.
“I look back at the videos and I’m truly surprised that that’s me!” she said.
Despite her shock with everything she’s learned, she’s proud of how far she has come and is soaking in every moment from her "DWTS" experience.
