Media says she’s a victim, but ballerina farmer loves her life

Published: July 30, 2024

Media says she is a victim, but This influencer loves her traditional life

By Movieguide® staff

Social media influencer Hannah Neeleman, known as Ballerina Farm to her 9.4 million Instagram followers, appears to be enjoying life on her Utah farm with her husband Daniel and their eight children.

In the photos, you see the former Juilliard School-trained ballerina making her own sourdough bread, her children picking rhubarb from the garden to bake pies, and the family working together to milk their animals.

She also competes in beauty pageants, winning the title of Mrs. American last year. She also competed in Mrs. World just 12 days after giving birth to her youngest child earlier this year.

But the Neelemans’ seemingly healthy lifestyle has landed them in controversy. A recent interview by The Times seems to suggest that Hannah is a “victim who sacrificed her dreams of becoming a ballerina for motherhood, that she takes on all the workload and that Daniel treats her badly and is a controlling figure who silences her.”

This angle from Times journalist Megan Agnew on Ballerina Farm has readers thinking that “Neeleman gave up a career she was passionate about for an isolated, oppressed life with a controlling husband.” Her social media comments are full of people “criticizing Daniel and telling her, ‘Girls, go away.’”

US Weekly added that people are also angry that “there are so many contradictions (in their lives). For example, their kids are not allowed to have screens, but their lives are all over social media, and Hannah stresses that she is a simple, stay-at-home mom but also makes a fortune at it, and that she mainly shows the good sides.”

The media wants to portray Neeleman as a victim because she is content with her traditional lifestyle, motherhood and caring for her family, something feminists do not believe is possible.

They claim Daniel forced her to give up her dream of becoming a ballerina in New York to pursue this life, but that’s not true, according to new audio of her interview with Agnew.

“We were open to everything, but deep down I knew I wanted to raise my kids,” she said, adding that Daniel said, “If you want to dance, go dance,” according to Evie Magazine.

Agnew herself admitted that Neeleman “seemingly loves her life. I’m not saying she was somehow deceived or coerced into going.” Unfortunately, the way she structured her interview gave a different impression.

In reality, Neeleman and her husband – the heir to the JetBlue airline fortune – are partners in life, parenthood and profession.

They have capitalized on the success of their lifestyle and brand to sell “meat boxes from the cattle they raise, along with multiple other branded products from the farm, such as sourdough starters, beeswax candles, and rock salt.”

“We’re a partnership now, you know. I don’t feel like I’m raising kids at home by myself; it’s hard,” Neeleman explained. “And women need support. And when Daniel said, ‘Okay, let’s build something together.’ We really are carrying the mantle together.”

She wants to inspire other women to see the beauty of motherhood, which is a particularly important aspect of her brand, now that younger generations are still unsure whether or not they want to become mothers.

“I think there’s so much joy in making a beautiful meal for your family,” she said. “It’s very fulfilling, especially if you’ve played a role in growing or sourcing the food that you connect with. And hopefully I inspire women to do that.”

Despite the controversy, the Neelemans continue to pursue their family’s dreams. She recently shared a video on Instagram celebrating the opening of their new dairy. “It’s the world we’ve created, and I couldn’t love it more,” Neeleman said.

Movieguide® previously reported on Neeleman:

Hannah Neeleman, a beauty pageant contestant in the United States, stood out for her pro-life response to a question.

“I have felt this feeling seven times now as I brought this sacred soul to earth… after holding the newborn baby in my arms. The feeling of motherhood… is the most empowering feeling I have ever felt,” Neeleman responded when asked when she felt most powerful.

Neeleman won the pageant and was crowned Mrs. American 2023. She will continue to compete in Mrs. World.

The mother of seven graduated from Julliard as a ballerina before moving to Sao Paolo, Brazil, for her husband’s work. She and her husband eventually moved back to the U.S. to start Ballerina Farm, which sells direct-to-consumer goods such as meat, sourdough starters, baked goods and kitchen supplies.

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