Sarah Jane Nader is set to hit the dance floor as a contestant in Season 35 of the popular television show “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS). The reality star, known for her role in the series “Love Thy Nader,” will be teaming up with first-time professional dancer Hailey Bills. This season is notable for featuring the show’s second all-female pairing, an achievement that Nader refers to as an “honour.”
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Nader, 24, had previously watched her sister Brooks Nader participate in Season 33 of the show, cheering her on enthusiastically from the sidelines. Reflecting on that experience, she expressed her excitement about stepping into the ballroom herself. “Watching her go through the experience was such a cool thing for me,” Sarah Jane explained. Her sister still considers her time on the show as one of the best experiences of her career.
In preparing for her own DWTS journey, Sarah Jane has taken inspiration from Brooks’s hard work and dedication during the competition, sharing, “The one thing I want to emulate from her is that she worked so hard during the season and really poured her all into it.” She also mentioned her sister’s advice about making the most of the experience: “Soak up every moment and try to be present because it flies by.”
Humourously recalling her sister’s dating experiences with her DWTS partner, Sarah Jane reaffirms her commitment to focus exclusively on dance with Hailey. “Hailey and I are so focused on dance, and we’re having such a fun time — not a her-and-Gleb vibe,” she said, referring to Brooks’s previous relationship with her professional partner Gleb Savchenko.
Sarah Jane is particularly excited about being part of the second same-sex pairing in the show’s history, having previously been achieved by JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson in 2021. For her, showcasing LGBTQ+ representation on a mainstream platform like DWTS is incredibly important. “I’m so comfortable being around women, and I think that girlhood is such a powerful thing,” she noted, celebrating the significance of two strong women dancing together.
Acknowledging the pressure of representing the LGBTQ+ community, Sarah Jane stated that this visibility is the kind of representation she wished she had encountered while growing up in Louisiana, where queer visibility was often lacking. “I literally never saw a queer person on my screen until I was probably 19,” she shared. For her, the opportunity to dance on such a prominent show is both exciting and a significant responsibility. “This is such a staple in so many American homes,” she remarked, conveying her belief in the importance of representation.
Nader’s journey on DWTS will coincide with the second season of “Love Thy Nader,” which is set to premiere this winter. The ongoing reality series will showcase her experience on the dance show while also providing insight into her identity, separate from her sisters. “Sisterhood is a huge part of my life, but we’re all so unique and so different,” she explained. The opportunity to express herself through different platforms is something she cherishes.
Family support remains a central theme in Nader’s life. She shared excitedly that her entire family plans to attend the performances each week, stating, “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, can I come to a show?’ I’m like, ‘My entire family’s planning on being there every week, so let me get back to you.’” Their presence serves as a source of encouragement as she embarks on this new chapter in her life.
“Dancing with the Stars” is set to return with a two-night premiere on September 15 and 16. Viewers can catch the episodes on ABC and Disney+ and will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day. As she prepares for the show, Sarah Jane Nader is eager to share her journey with fans, proving that she is more than just a sister but an artist in her own right.