“Dancing with the Stars” alum and former “Bachelorette” Kaitlyn Bristowe is still recovering from an injury she sustained while competing on the show. Bristowe, who won Season 29 of the ballroom competition series with professional partner Artem Chigvintsev in 2020, recently revealed that her ribs remain cracked years later.
Speaking to US Weekly at the Opry 100: Live Celebration, Bristowe opened up about the toll the experience took on her body.
“I, honestly, worked so hard to get there,” she said. “It was emotionally, physically [and] spiritually exhausting. It’s way more work than people think it is. It’s eight hours a day in a studio [and] it’s a grind and it’s really hard on the body.”
Despite still feeling the effects, Bristowe said her time on “Dancing with the Stars” was “worth it,” as it brought her a major personal and professional accomplishment—the Season 29 mirrorball trophy.
From Self-Doubt to Confidence After the Mirrorball
Before joining “Dancing with the Stars,” Bristowe said she battled impostor syndrome, especially when it came to dance. She shared that she once dreamed of being a dancer but was told she wasn’t good enough.
“I grew up wanting to be a dancer and I wasn’t good enough,” she told US Weekly. “At 25, I had to quit and I was, like, so lost in life… So to come full circle and believe in myself 10 years later as a dancer and win the mirrorball… it was a beautiful full-circle, proud moment for me.”
The confidence she gained after her win has translated into other areas of her life. Bristowe now runs her wine brand Spade and Sparrows and hosts her podcast “Off The Vine”. She recently shared a clip on Instagram manifesting a dream guest, writing, “Manifesting @gracieabrams in my new studio… Might get a cardboard cut out of her and make it weird.” She followed up in the comments with, “Can we all just tag Gracie and let her know this would be chill and fun and great and not weird.”
A Full Circle Moment at the Opry Celebration
Bristowe continues to pursue the dreams she once questioned. During the Opry 100 event, she said she felt “honored” to attend such a significant night in country music.
She shared photos and clips from the night on Instagram, writing: “Such an honor to be a part of this iconic night. I met @reba, cried listening to @carrieunderwood sing to @therandytravis, got shoo’d off the carpet for Blake and Gwen, and clapped like a proud mom for @carlypearce . Ok fine I also winked at Garth. I think I said in an interview that I came out of the womb listening to Garth brooks and Ricky Skaggs”
Bristowe’s journey—from being told she wasn’t good enough to becoming a “Dancing with the Stars” champion—continues to shape her career and inspire her audience.
