She has referred to herself as a troubled child, compelled to don a “sexy facade” due to societal expectations.
Nowadays, she candidly discusses the abuse she faced — all while crafting an impressive career that has garnered her three Primetime Emmy nominations for one of the globe’s most beloved series.
Clothes worn inside out
No child should ever suffer abuse, and it is utterly horrifying that it continues to occur worldwide.
The accomplished star we are discussing today was victimized by a neighbor at the tender age of 4 — a heartbreaking crime that left a profound mark.
However, she only began to share her story publicly in 2024.
“My first encounter was when I was around 4 years old,” she shared during an episode of The Jamie Kern Lima Show. “By a neighbor in our cul-de-sac. I’ve actually never disclosed that in an interview before.”
She reminisced about the moment she confided in her mother about the incident after returning home as a child with her clothes inside out. Her mother “freaked out,” leading the family to decide to relocate. “I suppose my mom did what she could,” she confessed, holding back tears. “She just wanted to move and escape. She didn’t want to confront it. She didn’t want to discuss it, but she did want to get us out.”
Emphasizing that she was not the only one in her family to experience similar trauma, she reflected, “That was an incredibly confusing period because, growing up in the Mormon culture, everything is expected to be perfect. Everyone must present a polished, ‘We’ve-got-our-stuff-together’ image. And there was little accountability for what had transpired. So, coming to terms with that was very difficult, knowing that no one took action.”
Growing up in a Mormon family
She was born in Orem, Utah, as the youngest of five children in a Mormon family.
Her parents, Bruce and Marianne, nurtured the family in a politically engaged atmosphere — her father held the position of chairman of the Utah Republican Party twice and even ran for Utah’s 2nd congressional district in 2023.
Dancing was another significant aspect of their family life.
Now, at 37, she is admired for her beauty and talent, having achieved incredible success. However, her path to fame was not without challenges — she struggled with anxiety and depression during her childhood, endured severe bullying in high school, and has faced body-shaming in recent years.
“I don’t believe many people would be aware of this aspect of my life, as I tend to present myself as a beacon of sunshine, happiness, and positivity,” she once shared.
Having come from a family of professional dancers, it was only natural for her to follow their path, beginning her competitive dance journey at the tender age of 9, with many recognizing her talent early on.
However, her life took a dramatic turn when she turned 10. Her parents went through a painful divorce, and she was sent across the ocean to stay with family friends in London. This relocation was linked to her admission at the esteemed Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Left home at 10
Growing up in Europe compelled her to grow up fast. Each morning, she left home at 6:45, navigating the subway by herself to reach school.
“I recall one of my initial days there when I got off at the wrong train station,” she reminisced to People. “I was just standing there thinking, ‘Where am I?’”
Being so young in the adult realm of ballroom dance posed significant challenges.
In a 2013 interview with Cosmopolitan, she mentioned that adults around her sometimes exploited her vulnerability since she was away from her parents.
“While I was in London, I experienced abuse—mentally, physically, everything.”
“They were never held accountable for it because we didn’t speak up,” she clarified. “Instead, we just adapted and moved on—which is good, as it helps you escape a bad situation—but it also taught me to just pivot, pivot, pivot.”
In London, she endured a demanding schedule and relentless pressure to uphold a certain image.
“I was 10 years old, yet I looked like I was 28, being a very sensual dancer,” she shared with Cosmo. “I was a troubled little girl who had to wear this sexy facade because that was my job and my life. But deep down, I was still that innocent little girl.
“When I reflect on it, I find it so sad that I have no photos of myself with a cute, bare, 10-year-old face,” she expressed.
Bullied during her high school years
After returning to the U.S., she joined the Las Vegas Academy and Alta High School. However, her experience in America was not quite what she had anticipated initially.
“I faced significant bullying in high school. Having just returned from London, I was the new girl. People looked at me as if to say, ‘She thinks she’s better than us,’” she shared with Redbook in 2014. “And since I wasn’t sure how to connect with them, maybe I did come off that way? I’m not sure. A guy asked me to prom, but he ended up abandoning me that day because the other girls told him to.”
Despite the bullying and her personal struggles, the talented dancer continued to shine, excelling in competitions and achieving notable victories by the age of 15. Around that same period, she also ventured into acting, making her film debut in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Her acting career took off with her first significant role in Burlesque, followed by leading parts as Ariel in Footloose, Sherrie in Rock of Ages, and Katie in Safe Haven. She also portrayed Sandy in Fox’s 2016 live rendition of Grease.
However, most fans recognize her primarily from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.
She joined the show in 2007 as a professional dancer and won two seasons alongside celebrity partners. After departing in 2009, she made a comeback in 2014 as a judge.
By now, you might be starting to figure out who we’re discussing…
That’s right — all this remarkable talent belongs to none other than Julianne Hough.
Dating Ryan Seacrest
Julianne, who has also been a judge on America’s Got Talent, has expressed that dance was the foundation that provided her with confidence during times of uncertainty. Throughout the years, she has faced public scrutiny — from high-profile relationships and breakups to a controversial Halloween costume and body-shaming comments.
Yet, despite everything, she has demonstrated incredible resilience, overcoming personal challenges to become the talented and inspiring star she is today.
Julianne Hough’s relationship with Ryan Seacrest was certainly one that caught the public’s attention. The couple dated from 2010 to 2013, and she was open about her feelings during their relationship. “He is such an influential guy … and what if it didn’t work out? On our first date, I was so nervous that I just sat there and interviewed him with questions like, ‘Are you loyal?’ and ‘Are you close to your family?’” she shared with InStyle in 2012.
“I’m very in love, and it feels amazing. I feel like I’m more at ease in my own skin. You see me instead of all the makeup and hair.”
However, the breakup was a challenging time for her.
“It was 2013, and I had just exited a very high-profile relationship,” she mentioned on Instagram Live (via ET). “I was on private jets and yachts and living in a very, very affluent house. My life was quite different from where I grew up.
Reconnecting with her parents
Following her breakup with Seacrest, Hough started a relationship with NHL player Brooks Laich. They got engaged in 2015 and married two years later. Sadly, the marriage was short-lived, reportedly because Hough desired too much freedom to fully commit. However, the end of the relationship had a positive outcome: it allowed Hough to reconnect with her parents.
“They showed up for me as my parents and I needed that,” she reflected on that chapter of her life. “I reclaimed my parental relationship with them and I got to be the kid and they got to take care of me. That was the most healing time for us.”
She continued, “I was in a vulnerable place of like, ‘I don’t have anything to protect myself, I am completely raw, so maybe I can hear you more now, and even though I didn’t think that you were understanding at the time, maybe you are, and I can actually receive it now because my guard is down and my heart is open.’ And so that’s when we really went through more of our healing and communication as adults.”
During this time, Hough’s family became closer as they dealt with the aftermath of her past abuse. She recognized that her parents felt guilty when they discovered what she had gone through during her teenage years. At that time, they were unsure how to respond and often felt helpless, not knowing how to support her.
Ready for love again?
In 2025, Julianne Hough shared that she was ready for love — but on her own terms. The Dancing with the Stars host told E! News that she’s more attracted to energy than looks.
“It’s all energy-based,” she explained. “I don’t really have a type. It’s more about connection, and that’s it.”
Julianne Hough has been candid about her struggle with endometriosis, a painful condition that affects the tissue lining the uterus. She was diagnosed in 2008 and chose to go public to help eliminate the stigma surrounding the disease.
“I discovered that I had endometriosis and that I needed to undergo surgery that week,” she shared with People in 2017.
Yet, she had been experiencing symptoms long before her diagnosis.
“When I was 15, I had symptoms of endometriosis, but I had never heard of it and didn’t know what it was. I assumed that this was just the type of pain you experience during your period,” she clarified. “For years, I thought that was normal and never really discussed it.”
Inside her painful diagnosis
Julianne Hough has also talked about how endometriosis can impact fertility, a subject she addressed with her then-husband, Brooks Laich.
“We never actually attempted to conceive. It was more of a precaution: Let’s take the necessary steps for the future by freezing eggs,” she told Women’s Health.
In the same interview, she revealed how her symptoms had lessened, which she credited to “the love and kindness I’m giving to my body.” She continued, “I believe there’s stress, shame, guilt, and suppression of female energy that’s linked to endometriosis, so peeling back those layers has really helped.”
And what about that notorious Halloween costume Julianne Hough wore in 2013? She arrived at a party dressed as Crazy Eyes from Orange Is the New Black, which led to immediate backlash. Hough quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to apologize after her blackface Halloween costume faced criticism.
“I am a big fan of the show ‘Orange is the New Black,’ actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has brought to life,” she wrote. “It was never my intention to be disrespectful or demeaning to anyone. I understand my costume hurt and offended people, and I sincerely apologize.”
Uzo Aduba, who played Crazy Eyes on the show, commented on Hough’s actions. “I think it was perhaps an unfortunate incident, but she apologized, and I believe we can all move forward,” she told E! News.
Were you aware of Julianne Hough’s history and all the challenges she has faced? 
I must admit, I wasn’t fully aware of everything either! If you find Julianne as inspiring as I do, please share this article! 
