Kaitlyn Bristowe won Dancing With the Stars four years ago, and she’s still dealing with lingering side effects.
“Winning Dancing With the Stars [was my proudest moment] because I still have injuries from that, and that was, like, three years ago now,” Bristowe, 39, exclusively told Us Weekly at the Opry 100: A Live Celebration event on Wednesday, March 19. “My ribs are still cracked and I still get out of bed, like, ‘Ugh.’ But, it was worth it. I got the mirrorball.”
Bristowe won DWTS season 29 in fall 2020 with her partner, pro dancer Artem Chigvintsev.
“I, honestly, worked so hard to get there,” the former Bachelorette recalled to Us. “It was emotionally, physically [and] spiritually exhausting. It’s way more work than people think it is. It’s eight hours a day in a studio [and] it’s a grind and it’s really hard on the body.”
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Despite the grueling work, joining DWTS was a dream come true for Bristowe.
“I grew up wanting to be a dancer and I wasn’t good enough,” she explained on Wednesday. “And at 25, I had to quit and I was, like, so lost in life. I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have education, I didn’t have anything. I tried to chase a boy and I was like, ‘I have nothing.’ So to come full circle and believe in myself 10 years later as a dancer and win the mirrorball and work so hard to get there, it was a beautiful full-circle, proud moment for me that I didn’t have imposter syndrome.”
She added, “I was like, ‘Didn’t I really deserve that?’ We have to channel that Kaitlyn more often.”
After conquering her long-held “imposter syndrome,” Bristowe now has faith and confidence that she can handle other impressive feats — like mingling with other celeb guests at the Opry gala.
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“I think we all do. … I saw somebody had an interview [tonight]. … She was talking about how she doesn’t get imposter syndrome, and I wanna channel her energy because she was, like, ‘I deserve to be here. I worked really hard to get to where I am,’” Bristowe said. “I was like, ‘That’s boss energy.’ I’m insecure [and like], ‘Why am I here?’ I think we all go through that in our lives, and then there’s ups and downs. But, I think that if we surround ourselves with people who empower us and listen to people, [we can tune those voices out].”
For Bristowe, she was just “honored to be” in the presence of so many country icons during the Opry celebration.
“I actually got to perform on the stage for the Dancing With the Stars tour, and when I did I blacked out,” Bristowe recalled. “I stepped on the stage and I was like, ‘I’m on the Opry stage. This is iconic.’ I’ve had very special memories here. I also take my family when they come into town to do tours of the Opry. … I just feel absolutely honored to even be part of this.”
With reporting by Aria Parker
