Julianne Hough, the 36-year-old actress and co-host of Dancing With the Stars, has bravely shared for the first time a traumatic experience of sexual abuse she endured at the age of 4, inflicted by a neighbor in her cul-de-sac. Speaking on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, Hough recounted the “very confusing” nature of the incident, especially given her Mormon upbringing, where “everything needs to be perfect.”
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“My first experience was when I was about 4 years old… I’ve actually never spoken about this publicly before,” Hough revealed. She added that she wasn’t the only member of her family to face such abuse, but only in recent years did she begin to fully recall what happened. Hough believes her parents felt “helpless” to confront the situation when she was a child, but they have since engaged in meaningful discussions about her past.
Reflecting on the impact of the abuse, Hough said, “Being so young and having those be your first experiences—whether physical, mental, or sexual—sets a precedent that others hold the power over you.” She highlighted the significance of vulnerability, stating, “The biggest lesson I’ve learned in recent years is that with vulnerability comes strength.”
