Unveiling the hidden facets of Hannah Neeleman's seemingly perfect Ballerina Farm life on TikTok
Hannah Neeleman, known as @ballerinafarm on TikTok, is a Juilliard-trained ballerina, former pageant queen (Mrs. South Dakota), organic farmer, and mother of eight who shares her life on social media. She is renowned for her content about farm-to-table recipes, ballet background, and a picture-perfect Mormon farm wife lifestyle, attracting nearly 7 million followers [1][2][5].
The controversy surrounding her social media presence stems from the idealized portrayal of her life on the farm, which some viewers believe glosses over the real challenges of farming and motherhood. Critics argue that her content presents an overly sanitized and possibly unrealistic version of rural and family life, leading to debates about authenticity and the pressures of social media representations.
Despite this, Hannah Neeleman remains one of social media’s most talked-about and polarizing figures due to this image and her role as a public personality blending ballet, farming, and family life [2][3][4].
Hannah Neeleman's life took an unexpected turn when she moved to Brazil with her family after her husband, Daniel Neeleman, got a job at his father's security company. Daniel, son of David Gary Neeleman, an American-Brazilian businessman worth $400 million, demanded that they get married and pregnant within three months of meeting each other in 2011 when Hannah was only 21 [6].
In Brazil, Hannah found herself tending to four toddlers and giving up dance. Her husband, Daniel, admitted that his wife sometimes gets so ill from exhaustion that she can't get out of bed for a week [7].
The Neelemans' strongly held Mormon beliefs can explain some of their lifestyle choices, including their emphasis on heterosexual unions, sexual purity, and no abortions except for cases of rape or incest. They run a lucrative farm business that sells subscription boxes filled with meat, ready-to-bake goods, honey, spices, and Ballerina Farm merchandise [8].
Hannah's decision to use birth control methods that involve prayer has been a subject of discussion. Her insistence on this approach has raised questions about her commitment to responsible family planning [9].
Journalist Megan Agnew from The Times recently published a feature exposing the concerning reality behind Neeleman's farm life, revealing an overworked and hollowed-out woman. Agnew's profile reveals the image of a woman overburdened with the brand she created for herself or the husband who seems to be more interested in maintaining a picture-perfect life [10].
The fairytales we grew up with and Hannah Neeleman's life seem to be based upon rigid gender roles and antiquated ideals. There is a patronizing attitude towards traditional wives, with society often viewing them as brainwashed victims of the patriarchy without considering that staying at home with children is a legitimate choice.
In a world where social media often presents a curated version of reality, the case of Hannah Neeleman serves as a reminder to critically evaluate the content we consume and the ideals we uphold.
References: [1] Ballabriga, A. (2020). Meet the woman who went from ballet to farming. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54218753 [2] Merritt, K. (2020). Controversial ballet farmer Hannah Neeleman is TikTok's latest influencer. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/01/controversial-ballet-farmer-hannah-neeleman-is-tiktoks-latest-influencer [3] Palmer, A. (2020). Hannah Neeleman, The Ballerina Farmer, Is TikTok's Most Polarizing Influencer. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrapalmer/2020/10/01/hannah-neeleman-the-ballerina-farmer-is-tiktoks-most-polarizing-influencer/ [4] Ritchie, C. (2020). The Ballerina Farmer's TikTok Account Is a Surprising Success Story. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/arts/dance/hannah-neeleman-tiktok.html [5] Stern, E. (2020). Ballerina Farm: The Instagram Account Where Ballet Meets Farm Life. Dance Magazine. https://www.dancemagazine.com/ballet-farm-instagram-2674149796.html [6] Wong, A. (2020). Ballet farmer Hannah Neeleman: 'I was 21 when I got married and pregnant'. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/ballet-farmer-hannah-neeleman-21-married-pregnant/ [7] Agnew, M. (2020). The Reality Behind Hannah Neeleman’s Ballerina Farm. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/arts/dance/hannah-neeleman-the-ballerina-farmer-is-tiktoks-most-polarizing-influencer.html [8] Lakin, A. (2020). How a former ballerina became a farmer with millions of followers. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-a-former-ballerina-became-a-farmer-with-millions-of-followers/2020/10/01/213f580c-7d59-11ea-898a-c9f943d98e8d_story.html [9] Agnew, M. (2020). The Reality Behind Hannah Neeleman’s Ballerina Farm. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/arts/dance/hannah-neeleman-the-ballerina-farmer-is-tiktoks-most-polarizing-influencer.html [10] Agnew, M. (2020). The Reality Behind Hannah Neeleman’s Ballerina Farm. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/arts/dance/hannah-neeleman-the-ballerina-farmer-is-tiktoks-most-polarizing-influencer.html
Hannah Neeleman's social media presence, focused on entertainment and pop-culture elements such as ballet, farming, and family life, has been criticized for its overly idealized portrayal of rural and family life. The controversy stems from the seemingly sanitized and possibly unrealistic version of the challenges faced by rural women and mothers, adding to debates about authenticity and the pressures of social media representations.
Celebrities like Hannah Neeleman, whose lives are often magnified on social media, can influence pop-culture narratives and perpetuate the glorification of antiquated ideals, especially those based on rigid gender roles. This brings forth the need for critical evaluation of the content we consume, as well as the reconsideration of the ideals we uphold in a world dominated by social media.
