the queen of TRAD WIVES - from ballerina dreams to ballerina farm

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In this episode, Elle delves into Megan Agnew's eye-opening article, "Meet the queen of the ‘trad wives’ (and her eight children)," which profiles Hannah Neeleman, her husband Daniel, and their eight children living on a 328-acre farm in rural Utah. The discussion covers various facets of this intriguing family, including Hannah's transition from aspiring ballerina to the face of the "trad wives" movement. Elle examines Agnew's experience interviewing the Neelemans and highlights the dynamics within their family and brand. The episode also tackles the controversial "pageantgate," where Hannah competed in Mrs. World just 12 days after giving birth. Elle discusses the intersections of Mormonism, tradwifery, and influencing, providing insights into why many successful lifestyle influencers are Mormon. Listeners will also hear about the viral "egg apron-gate" video, which sparked heated debates online about Hannah's life and marriage. Elle explores the Free Bird Theory, suggesting that men often pursue women with promising futures only to "cage" them later. This thought-provoking episode is a deep dive into the complexities of modern-day trad wives, faith, and social media influence.

[ThandoNdlovu-zrld]

As a group of spoiled girlies I hope we can all agree that having EIGHT KIDS not having a full-time Nanny being exhausted to the point you can't get out of bed for an entire week at times along with you not having your name on any of the financial assets to the point that Allegedly your own father has cancer and you have to start a go fund me to pay for his treatment doesn't sound like a dream it sounds like a nightmare.

[BonazaiGirl]

It’s not only “caging the bird, ” but also “clipping their wings.” By the time a lot of there Tradwives can finally focus on themselves and their dreams, it’s many times too little, too late. Whether it’s because they lack the education or experience to get a job, or because if they husband leaves them/cheats on them/abuses them/dies, a lot of Tradwives could be left high and dry should something happen if they’re only a homemaker without a big following or lack a solid recourse.

Hannah literally got into _Juliard, _ one of the most prestigious ballet schools on the planet. One in which out of all the applicants that apply, only 7% got in, aka the cream of the crop of ballet dancers. She literally could’ve stayed a big name ballerina dancer. To give up a once in a lifetime chance you worked hard for to look after children is commendable, but for her husband to not even honor the sacrifices she made is by at least giving her the gift she wanted is demoralizing AF.

[rosesweetcharlotte]

What is the use of all that money if you can't enjoy it? She can't buy clothes she really wants, she can't go on trips she wants, she can't just go on a Target run and grab soke Starbucks. I have more freedom than this billionaire does

[stayweird]

She can claim she's happy and maybe she believes she is. But that apron was a slap in the face. He may as well have said "you're just another animal on this farm, now get back to work."

[bluuncover]

That apron present was ridiculous! And he filmed her! And they published it! How humiliating!
When I was a kid, my dad bought a new stove that my mum wanted (and she's a chef), and the delivery date was on her birthday. But he asked for delivery date to be moved to another day, because he didn't want for her to think that he got her a present that's for the house and not personally for her. She went on a faboulous shopping spree with him for her birthday, and the stove arrived some days later. Now that is the man who respects women. And he's also a girls' dad! ❤

[Kawaiicarly]

Its even sadder when you know he didnt pull strings to get a seat on the same plane as her when they were together, I saw in another video he had been courting her for MONTHS and she had been turning him down when he pulled this stunt. He basically stalked her and wore her down into saying yes. Mind you, they are both mormons and from Salt Lake, she wasn’t going to be able to avoid this man, who is also a billionaire and has immense influence.

The video also stated when they did get engaged, she wanted to wait a year before they got married, he pushed her into the marriage within 3 months. If any of that is true, he is a man who doesn’t respect boundaries or the wants of his loved ones, at the very least.

[avarosalia]

The only thing I took from this is: You can have a rich husband but he can still be dusty.

[AnyFlowers.]

A lesson that I have learned here in the spoiled girlie support group and I think goes perfectly with Hannah’s story: a rich man is not the same as a generous man. Thanks for these classes, Elle 🥰

[xsophiax]

Passive aggressive “ you welcome” send shivers down my spine. And she gave this champanze 8 children. 😮😮😮

[thecozyconstellation]

the problem is not being a trad wife. the problem is trad husbands being controlling, selfish misogynists, like ballerina's husband. i'm pretty sure none of us is bashing HER per se. we're all collectively hating on her selfish husband, who, despite owning multiple airlines, couldn't give her a damn plane ticket to greece like she

[Bltchcraftt]

The k!nk of suffering that happens with religion seems to always effect the women the most. It is why I have never felt close to organized religions.

[Apricot]

That egg apron video was like a horror movie.... That man knows exactly what he is doing. "You're welcome! (be thankful!)". He hates her. Why is she accepting all this? Why?

[Kiwi____]

She couldn’t get out of the bed because of exhaustion for week and I am supposed to believe she is happy and living her best trad wife life?

[ya]

The only thing I understood from this was if a man doesn’t allow you to have financial freedom but wants you to have kids like an incubator, steal your youth and also work then you’re better off single 💅🏻

[katiepriegue]

her life is literally the beginning of 'don't worry darling'

[lovelyA]

He had a fantasy for living like humans did in the 1800's and found a woman willing to fulfill his fantasy over hers. That's just heartbreaking. She could have been a happily married mom and successful ballerina living in a new York apartment, making cooking videos and vlogs instead of a slave to a hater

[DiMagnolia]

As an ex Mormon this phenomenon fascinates me, I almost fell into this trap but luckily got away and divorced at 22 years old from my ab*sive ex husband.

[sneakymimoma]

why do so many men HUNT women they hate...

if he likes her so much to stalk her on a plane he should also like her so much to make her dreams and wishes come true since he is rich

too much effort on stalking her and manipulating her and yet 0 effort on making her happy

...why am i, a lower middle class in the crumbling country of argentina living better than the wife of a billionaire?

[DeannaDionne]

She made the choice, but she also grew up in an environment where she never had a choice NOT to be a mother of eight children. Ballet and New York was always a dream for her, even when she was living the dream. It was always temporary and it was always going to be seen as "selfish" by her Mormon family and friends and her perception of God. It would have taken a lot for her to choose ballet as more important than a husband and family. That choice would alienate herself from her Utah support system and would in itself be a rejection of her faith. She would have to start her life completely over in New York– new friends, new family– and the ballet industry is cutthroat.

I am projecting because I grew up in a fundamentalist cult, and before I "woke up" and rejected my family's standards, while feeling I was risking my eternal life, I considered my life as an artist to be "playing" because I knew I was not living the way it was acceptable in my religion. People I met in my religion didn't "get" me because I was not living their ideal lifestyle, and I either had to conform or to leave completely, and in my extreme case, be shunned by my family and friends.

If I had been courted by a billionaire's son, no doubt experiencing pressure from family to not "lose" the opportunity to be with him, to be perceived as the most godly, it would have taken a LOT to reject that. She didn't have a choice from the time she was born in that family.

[TaiMistyqueFan]

Unfortunately I believe this was a story of subtle DV. I know all too well about men who will coerce you to have children to sit you down, & as a “good girl” it’s hard to differentiate between a man who really loves you & a smart, manipulative man who knows how to mimic love to get what he wants from you. My take is, he knew by her nurturing nature that if she had kids her focus would change, so instead of letting her live out her dreams first, he kept getting her pregnant until she stopped because she was too overwhelmed with children. These type of men are the most dangerous because they are very smart & convince outside people to make excuses for them like they’re not that bad of a person.
This poor lady was prey.