The Tormented Childhood That Shaped This Star’s Glittering Career
She once described herself as a deeply troubled child, forced to wear a “sexy facade” because that’s what others expected of her.
Today, she speaks with honesty and courage about the abuse she suffered—while simultaneously building an outstanding career that has earned her three Primetime Emmy nominations for one of the most watched shows in the world.
A Child in Pain
No child should ever endure abuse, yet tragically, it continues to occur across the globe.
The celebrity at the center of this story experienced a traumatic event at just 4 years old, when she was abused by a neighbor—an act that left deep emotional wounds.
Still, she didn’t publicly reveal this part of her past until 2024.
“My first experience was when I was about 4 years old,” she said in an episode of The Jamie Kern Lima Show. “It was by a neighbor in our cul-de-sac. I’ve never said that out loud in an interview before.”
She remembered the moment she told her mom what had happened—returning home with her clothes inside out. Her mother panicked, and soon after, the family moved. “I guess my mom did what she could,” she said, her voice breaking. “She just wanted to leave. She didn’t want to deal with it. She didn’t want to talk about it, but she did want to get us out.”
She also revealed that she wasn’t the only one in her family who experienced trauma. “It was a very, very confusing time because growing up in the Mormon culture, everything had to look perfect. Everyone had to present the image of having it all together. And the truth is, nothing really happened in response to what I went through. That was hard to accept.”
Roots in Utah
She was born in Orem, Utah, the youngest of five siblings in a devout Mormon family.
Her parents, Bruce and Marianne, raised their children in a highly political environment. Her father served twice as chairman of the Utah Republican Party and ran for Utah’s 2nd congressional district in 2023.
Dance was another key influence in the family.
Now 37, she’s recognized for her beauty and talent—but her path to fame was far from easy. She battled anxiety and depression in childhood, was heavily bullied during her school years, and even in recent times has faced harsh body-shaming.
“I Come Off as Sunshine”
“I don’t think most people know this about me, because I come off as sunshine and happiness and positivity,” she once shared.
Coming from a family of dancers, she naturally followed in their footsteps, entering dance competitions at just 9 years old—her talent evident from the start.
Her life changed again at age 10, when her parents went through a painful divorce. She was sent to London to live with family friends while she studied at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Independence at 10
Living in Europe forced her to grow up quickly. Every day, she’d leave the house at 6:45 a.m. and take the subway alone to get to school.
“I remember getting off at the wrong station on one of my first days,” she told People. “I just stood there thinking, ‘Where am I?’”
Being a child in the grown-up world of ballroom dancing was incredibly difficult.
In a 2013 Cosmopolitan interview, she revealed that while in London, she endured various forms of abuse—emotional, physical, and mental.
“No one ever got punished because we didn’t speak up,” she said. “We just left the situation—which was good—but for me, that pattern of just ‘pivot, pivot, pivot’ stuck.”
She also faced relentless pressure to project a mature, seductive image.
“At 10 years old, I looked 28 and danced in a very sensual way,” she said. “I was a tormented little kid who had to put on this sexy act. That was my job, my life. But inside, I was just an innocent girl.”
She added sadly, “It breaks my heart that I don’t have any pictures of myself just looking like a normal, bare-faced 10-year-old kid.”
High School Struggles
Returning to the U.S., she attended both Las Vegas Academy and Alta High School—but things didn’t go as she had hoped.
“I got bullied really badly,” she told Redbook in 2014. “I had just come back from London and was the new girl. People looked at me like, ‘She thinks she’s better than us.’ Maybe I gave that impression without meaning to. I don’t know. A guy asked me to prom and ended up ditching me because some girls told him to.”
Despite these setbacks, she excelled in dance, winning major competitions by age 15. She also started acting, landing a small role in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Rising to Stardom
Her acting career took off with a major role in Burlesque, followed by starring performances in Footloose (as Ariel), Rock of Ages (as Sherrie), and Safe Haven (as Katie). In 2016, she portrayed Sandy in Fox’s live production of Grease.
But her most iconic role may be on Dancing with the Stars.
She joined the show in 2007 as a professional dancer, winning two seasons. After leaving in 2009, she returned in 2014 as a judge.
At this point, you’ve probably figured out who she is…
Yes—this is the incredible story of Julianne Hough.
Love and Loss
Julianne also served as a judge on America’s Got Talent, and she’s spoken about how dance gave her confidence when everything else felt uncertain.
Over the years, she’s faced media scrutiny—over her relationships, public missteps, and even her appearance.
Her high-profile romance with Ryan Seacrest lasted from 2010 to 2013. “He’s such an influential guy… and what if it didn’t work out?” she told InStyle in 2012. “On our first date, I was so nervous I just interviewed him: ‘Are you loyal?’ ‘Are you close to your family?’”
She added, “I’m very in love, and it feels great. I feel more at ease in my skin. You see the real me.”
Their split in 2013 was difficult.
“I had just come out of a very public relationship,” she said during an Instagram Live chat. “I was flying on private jets, on yachts, and living in this huge house. My life was so far from where I started.”
Healing and Family
After the breakup, she began dating NHL player Brooks Laich. They got engaged in 2015 and married in 2017. However, the marriage ended—reportedly because Julianne needed more freedom.
Yet the breakup opened a path back to her parents.
“They showed up for me—and I needed that,” she shared. “I got to be the child again, and they got to take care of me. That was deeply healing for all of us.”
She reflected, “I was vulnerable—no walls, no armor. And that let me truly listen. Maybe they did understand me more than I thought.”
During this time, her family united to support her as she processed her past abuse. She said her parents carried a lot of guilt for not knowing how to help when she was younger.
A New Chapter
By 2025, Julianne said she was open to love again—but only if it felt right.
“It’s all about energy,” she told E! News. “I don’t really have a type—it’s the connection that matters.”
Julianne has also been vocal about her experience with endometriosis, a painful condition affecting the uterus lining. Diagnosed in 2008, she decided to speak up to help break the stigma.
“I found out I had endometriosis and needed surgery that same week,” she told People in 2017.
She had symptoms since age 15 but never knew what they meant.
“I just thought this was normal period pain,” she said. “For years, I never talked about it.”
Facing Fertility and Shame
Julianne also opened up about how endometriosis could affect her ability to have children—a conversation she had with then-husband Brooks Laich.
“We never tried to get pregnant. But we froze my eggs as a precaution,” she said in Women’s Health.
In the same interview, she shared how she was feeling better—thanks to the “love and kindness” she was giving her body.
“I believe stress, shame, guilt, and the suppression of feminine energy all relate to endometriosis,” she explained. “Peeling those layers away helped me heal.”
The Costume Controversy
In 2013, she faced backlash after dressing as Crazy Eyes from Orange Is the New Black for Halloween, wearing blackface. She quickly apologized on Twitter.
“I’m a huge fan of the show, Uzo Aduba, and her character. I never meant to offend anyone,” she wrote. “I truly apologize.”
Uzo Aduba responded with grace. “It was unfortunate, but she apologized. We can move forward,” she told E! News.
A Story of Strength
Did you know Julianne Hough had endured all of this? 😳 I honestly didn’t!
If her story moved you too, share this article—because Julianne’s resilience, honesty, and growth make her truly inspiring 💖