Cheryl Burke is speaking out against the online criticism surrounding her appearance, saying she’s tired of people comparing her current body to the one she had during her early years on “Dancing with the Stars.” The longtime professional dancer recently reflected on the unrealistic expectations placed on women as they age, explaining that her body naturally looks different now than it did when she was competing week after week on the ballroom floor.
During a recent episode of the “Dory Jackson Interview Series,” Burke addressed the ongoing comments she receives about her appearance. “I was jacked, like my legs were, I was like a bodybuilder down there,” Burke said while recalling her younger years as a professional dancer.
She went on to explain that she wishes people would simply “stop comparing me to when I was 20.” “When you’re not pounding on your body, it’s changing,” she added. “Maybe not for the best, but it’s just, that’s life.”
Burke’s comments come after years of public scrutiny surrounding her weight and appearance, with some social media users even speculating that she used GLP-1 medications during her weight-loss journey.
Although Burke has learned how to navigate public attention over the years, she admitted that the constant conversation about her body can still be emotionally draining. “It hasn’t been too bad lately, but also there’s going to come a point where it just gets old,” she said. “People are going to say the same thing every time.”
The reality star has been candid about the pressure she’s felt throughout her career, particularly as someone who spent decades performing in front of cameras and audiences.
Cheryl Burke Previously Revealed Her Struggle With Body Dysmorphia
Burke has also been open about the mental health challenges that accompanied years of body scrutiny. In May 2025, she revealed that she suffers from body dysmorphia, a condition that contributed to unhealthy thoughts and behaviors surrounding food and weight throughout different stages of her life.
“I do suffer from body dysmorphia, and especially as a dancer in front of mirrors constantly, since I was a little girl,” she told Entertainment Tonight at the time. “Even before my ‘Dancing With the Stars’ career, my weight has always been an issue. I think what people sometimes don’t understand is it is a lot of work [and] it takes a lot of work and it takes a lot of self-care.”
Burke Opened Up About Her Weight-Loss Journey
Months later, Burke shared additional details about her transformation during an interview with Us Weekly, revealing that she had dropped from roughly 145-150 pounds to 109 pounds.
“I don’t weigh myself daily anymore because it was a problem. At my heaviest I was about 150,” she explained. “The last time I checked, I was 109. I feel f-cking great. My energy is on another level. That 109 doesn’t matter, what matters is how I feel.”
While some fans focused on the number itself, Burke emphasized that her health and overall well-being remain her primary concerns.
Cheryl Burke Says Balance Is More Important Than Restriction
Burke also pushed back against the idea that her weight loss came from extreme dieting, sharing that she still enjoys many of her favorite foods.
“I eat licorice. I have my morning fruit shake, which is more calories than any of my meals that I’m eating. I have to have my matcha from Peet’s Coffee every morning, and if the have the warm pretzel bread, I’ll get it because it’s just the best thing in the world. I’m very lenient.”
She credited part of her success to a meal program called Z.E.N., which helped her develop healthier eating habits through portion control and consistency.
The food is delicious and it’s portion control,” Burke explained. “I have oatmeal with fruit every morning. I have a snack, pita, chips and hummus. Lunch is normally a salad and then I will have my dinner. It’s not diet food, it’s real food.”
For Burke, the focus is no longer on chasing a specific number on the scale but on feeling healthy, energized, and comfortable in her own skin, regardless of what critics have to say.