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When it comes to Dancing with the Stars, Cheryl Burke has been a household name since she twirled onto screens in 2005 and snagged a win alongside Drew Lachey. But while fans have watched her grow from a rising dance pro into a reality TV icon, not all the commentary has been positive. Recently, Cheryl’s appearance sparked rumors online, with some speculating she’d undergone plastic surgery or taken weight-loss medication.
Now, at 41, Cheryl is setting the record straight. In a candid conversation with Entertainment Tonight, she addressed the topic head-on, no filters, no spin.
“I do suffer from body dysmorphia.”
She opened up about a struggle that she has had since childhood. While critics may focus on her looks, Cheryl wants the real conversation to center on mental health, healing, and what happens when the spotlight fades.
Dancing with the Stars alum Cheryl shuts down the rumors around
Speculation isn’t new for Cheryl Burke. She’s been dealing with it since her early days on Dancing with the Stars. Burke cited her early days on the series and stated that people used to comment on her weight gain, and now, two decades later, the questions still haven’t stopped.
The recent wave of chatter accused her of using Ozempic or undergoing cosmetic surgery. Cheryl denied both claims. She was clear and firm, stating she hadn’t taken weight-loss meds, had surgery, or experienced health problems. She was most troubled by the fact that a lot of the criticism comes from other women.
“What is, for me, so sad is that a lot of it [comes from] women. And I wish, and hopefully in the near future, that by doing this interview… this is not a press tour about what people think of me, because I’m never going to change their perspective, nor is that my goal.”
Still, the former Dancing with the Stars dancer is using this moment to highlight how there's more depth to a human being than their physical appearance.
A longtime struggle with body dysmorphia
In the same interview, Cheryl opened up about a personal battle: body dysmorphia. She’s dealt with it for years, long before Dancing with the Stars made her famous.
“I do suffer from body dysmorphia, especially as a dancer in front of mirrors constantly since I was a little girl,” she said.
Being in weekly fittings during the show only made things worse.
“In the height of my insecurity and my body dysmorphia was weekly fittings on the show, I would travel with a scale — like, that’s crazy," she recalled.
She made it clear that she doesn’t blame the show.
“It’s just the name of the game,” she said.
But constantly scrutinizing her body took a toll. And even though she’s not on Dancing with the Stars anymore, the effects of those years still linger.
Stepping away from Dancing with the Stars helped her heal
Taking a break from the spotlight has done Cheryl a world of good.
“Now not having to be in front of a mirror every single day, do fittings every week, compare myself to maybe some other dancers, right? It’s been a great detox,” she said.
She added,
“No pun intended — but it has taken a lot of weight and pressure off me. I don’t even know who that girl is, in that sense, right? That constant self-hate, it was just not healthy.”
Without the demands of performing on Dancing with the Stars, Cheryl’s been able to step back and see herself more clearly. Healing, for her, means focusing on things that matter. Not headlines. Not fan chatter. And certainly not unrealistic expectations set by online critics.
Choosing health and happiness over outside opinions
The biggest shift for Cheryl? Choosing herself.
“Now I have to choose myself, I have to choose to be healthy. And it is something that I put as my number one priority.”
This focus on self-care has even shaped her personal life.
“Maybe this is why I’m not dating — I’m really focusing on me and feeling good, first from within, and then whatever follows, follows.”
While she’s no longer competing on Dancing with the Stars, she’s still showing up, just in a different way. She’s turning the lens inward, prioritizing mental health, well-being, and encouraging fans to shift the conversation.
“I wish the conversation would be geared towards that instead of, ‘She’s on Ozempic and she got a whole facelift, and everything about her has changed. Stop gaslighting'."
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Today, Cheryl is focused on growth. She’s stepped away from the glitter of Dancing with the Stars and has progressed onto a quieter, more intentional chapter.
This doesn't entail disappearance, but rather underlines her choice not to invest her energy in public approval. And while fans may still speculate, Cheryl Burke is living her life, not for headlines, but for peace of mind. It might not be as flashy as a mirrorball trophy, but in this chapter, it’s the personal win that matters most.
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