Sadie Robertson, known from “Duck Dynasty,” captivated audiences with her moves on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2014. Her rigorous training for the show resulted in a physique she described as incredibly fit. However, the conclusion of the season marked the beginning of a challenging period as her body naturally changed, leading to unwelcome commentary on her appearance.
In a candid interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” the then 23-year-old “Duck Dynasty” star openly discussed this difficult chapter. She recalled the intense physical demands of “Dancing With the Stars”, stating, “During ‘Dancing With the Stars’ … I had this body that I never thought I’d have.” She mentioned briefly achieving a six-pack, a testament to her dedication to dance and fitness during the show.
Sadie Robertson
Actress Sadie Robertson at Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” in California, showcasing her public appearances after “Dancing With the Stars”.
However, Sadie explained that the shift occurred after Thanksgiving, following her stint of “Sadie Robertson Dancing” on television. “People started to comment,” she revealed, noting that these remarks came from various sources, including family, friends, and followers on social media. Initially, the comments seemed innocuous, even positive, reflecting on her “Dancing With the Stars” body. “They were such innocent comments at first, like, everything was great,” she recounted.
The tone shifted as her body naturally evolved post-show. “But whenever my body started looking a little different, that’s when the struggle came in.” Sadie described encountering “really negative influences” who made “not uplifting” remarks about her changed physique and implied pressure to maintain her “Dancing With the Stars” body. These comments, though “so wrong,” resonated with her insecurities at the time, leading her to believe she needed to “push it” to regain that image.
Adding to the pressure, Robertson’s appearance on the popular dance competition coincided with her pursuing a modeling career. At just 17 years old while navigating the demanding schedule of “sadie robertson dancing”, she faced even more scrutiny regarding her body. She remembered hurtful comments like, “‘Oh, if you lost 10 more pounds, you would look like a real model.'” Despite being at an already unhealthy weight of 115 pounds, these words deeply affected her self-perception. “That just messed my mind up,” she admitted.
This barrage of external criticism and internal pressure contributed to “a really unhealthy view” of her body, Robertson shared with ET. This period, following her experience with “sadie robertson dancing” and increased public attention, led to a preoccupation with her physical appearance.
She described the detrimental thought patterns that consumed her: “You can’t stop thinking about your body, how you look, how you should eat.” This constant self-monitoring involved calorie counting and critical evaluation of her body, illustrating a struggle many face with body image. “You’re counting the calories, you’re sizing up your legs and all those different things. You’re just kind of completely gripped by it, and that’s kind of where I was.” Her distorted self-perception reached a point where she would look in the mirror and perceive herself as “fat,” despite being far from it. “I would look at myself in the mirror and I would think, ‘I’m fat,’ and I was not at all.”
Reflecting on this experience, Sadie highlighted the broader impact of personal struggles. “You don’t realize (at the time) that the things you’re struggling with, you think it’s just about you, but actually it affects a lot of other people around you,” she noted.
Robertson had previously disclosed her battle with an eating disorder in a 2017 blog post. In her ET interview, she emphasized the pivotal role of her faith in her recovery journey. “I pretty much just took the word as it was from the Bible. It talks about how you’re beautifully and wonderfully created,” Robertson recalled. This scripture became a cornerstone of her healing, shifting her focus from self-criticism to gratitude. “I started praising God and thanking him for the way that I looked, instead of looking in the mirror and saying, ‘Ugh, I wish my arms were thinner, I wish my legs were more toned, I wish I had her eyebrows.’ … whatever it was that I would tell myself.”
This faith-based approach involved consciously reframing her self-talk. “Instead I would tell myself, ‘I am so thankful that I have this. I’m so thankful that my legs actually serve the purpose that they should and that they’re able to run, that my arms are able to carry things. That my stomach one day, hopefully, will be able to carry a baby.’ Just what we’re actually designed and created for.” This shift in perspective allowed her to appreciate her body for its function and purpose, rather than solely its appearance.
Ultimately, embracing her faith enabled her to move beyond self-obsession. “It definitely made me stop thinking about myself as much,” she affirmed. This newfound self-acceptance opened space for empathy and service to others. “It allowed me to be able to think of others, and how I can serve them with the body I’ve been given.”
Robertson’s faith also provided guidance as her life underwent a “dramatic” transformation after “Dancing With the Stars,” where she faced a massive weekly viewership of 20 million. This sudden fame triggered insecurities about her identity. “I started struggling with a lot of insecurity of who I was because of a lot of people telling me who I am and not really feeling like that was me,” she explained. She grappled with the pressure of living up to a public persona. “I remember thinking these thoughts, like, ‘I don’t know how to be that famous girl that everybody loves and follows on Instagram.'”
In moments of doubt, prayer became her refuge. “I remember praying and saying, ‘God, I think you chose the wrong person. This makes me nervous. This makes me insecure. This is not something I’m thriving in.'” In seeking spiritual guidance, she found a sense of purpose beyond external validation. “I just felt like God was saying, ‘I’m not calling you to be this perfect person. I’m actually just calling you to be a sister and a friend to those who don’t have a sister and a friend,'” she shared. This revelation instilled a profound self-assurance. “I can be confident because I was created on purpose for a purpose.”
This realization empowered her to pursue her current endeavors with conviction. “All of a sudden I was so empowered to do everything that I’m doing now,” she shared. Reflecting on her journey, she concluded, “That’s just my story, but man, that’s why my faith is so important to me.”
