Meet Hannah Neeleman: The Influencer Behind Ballerina Farm and the Recent Controversy.
Hannah Neeleman, better known to her millions of followers as @ballerinafarm, has recently become the center of a heated debate following a revealing profile by The Sunday Times. The Utah-based influencer, who shares her life as a homemaker on a sprawling 328-acre farm, has amassed a large online following with her idyllic portrayals of farm life. However, the article shed light on the challenges behind the scenes, sparking conversations about the authenticity and implications of her content.
Hannah Neeleman and her husband, Daniel, live with their eight children on their farm in Utah. They share their daily routines and family life through engaging social media posts that often feature scenes of bread-making, cow-milking, and other picturesque farm activities. With over 17 million followers on TikTok and Instagram combined, Neeleman’s content has captivated a wide audience.
The Sunday Times article, published in July 2024, highlighted the more demanding aspects of Neeleman’s life, which are rarely seen on her social media platforms. The profile detailed her struggles with burnout and her decision to raise her children without childcare, a choice made at her husband’s insistence. This revelation has led to questions about the reality behind her seemingly perfect social media persona.
Despite the image of traditional family life she portrays, Neeleman has rejected the “tradwife” label. In her interview, she emphasized that her lifestyle is a reflection of her faith and personal choices, not a manifestation of any particular social movement. The profile also touched on the couple’s strict adherence to their Mormon beliefs, particularly regarding family planning and childbirth.
Hannah’s journey began when she met Daniel at a college basketball game. A former pageant queen and Juilliard-trained ballerina, Hannah’s life took a significant turn after meeting Daniel, whose father, David Neeleman, founded JetBlue. Their first date was on a JetBlue flight, and they married just three months later. Hannah made history as the first undergraduate student at Juilliard to become pregnant.
The couple initially lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Daniel worked for his father’s security company, Vigzul. They later moved to their Utah farm, where they embraced a lifestyle far removed from their urban beginnings. The farm, known online as Ballerina Farm, not only represents their physical home but also serves as a brand under which they sell beef, dairy products, and kitchenware.
The Sunday Times article highlighted the sacrifices made by both Hannah and Daniel in pursuit of this lifestyle. Hannah gave up her ballet career, while Daniel relinquished some professional ambitions. The profile painted a picture of a couple deeply committed to their family and faith, but it also opened up a discussion about the potential idealization of their reality on social media.
In the wake of the article, some readers criticized the portrayal of Hannah’s experiences and Daniel’s role in their traditional family setup. The authenticity of their social media content was questioned, with some suggesting that it might overly romanticize their life on the farm.
The Neelemans have yet to make a formal response to the controversy. However, eight days after the article’s publication, Hannah posted a TikTok video showcasing their dairy business. In the video, she expressed her happiness with their chosen lifestyle, saying, “It’s the world we created and I couldn’t love it more.” Despite the discussions and debates, Hannah continues to assert that her content genuinely reflects their faith and personal choices, distancing herself from the “tradwife” label.
As the debate around Ballerina Farm continues, it serves as a reminder of the complexities behind social media portrayals and the personal stories that often lie beneath the surface.