With her perfect Barbie-doll looks and dazzling dance-floor moves, Hough became America's spinning sweetheart when she joined — and ultimately won —
Dancing With the Stars. An aspiring entertainer from an early age, 10-year-old Hough left her Utah home to study at London's Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts; her efforts paid off when she became the first U.S.-born dancer to be crowned International Latin Youth Champion and Junior Blackpool World Latin Champion. Although she returned to Utah to finish high school, after graduation she headed to Los Angeles and quickly booked a gig as a sexy dancer on the short-lived game show
Show Me the Money. From there she joined the
DWTS tour as a company dancer. In a
42nd Street-like twist, when lead dancer Kym Johnson injured herself, Hough replaced her, twirling across the country with Season 1
DWTS contestant Joey MacIntyre. Her impressive work led to her addition to
DWTS proper. She was paired with Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno in Season 4 and race-car driver Helio Castraneves in Season 5, winning back-to-back mirror-ball trophies. Proving that she's more than just a hoofer, Hough released her first country-music album in May 2008, with plans to open for country star Brad Paisley during his summer tour.
Julianne Hough Fast Facts:
- Along with her brother Derek, she was part of the kids band 2B1G, which stood for "two boys and one girl."
- Cochoreographed Gwen Stefani's "Wind It Up" video.
- In Februrary 2007, after her plane overran the runway during landing, she shared her cell-phone photos with a Cleveland news station. The reason for her trip: her first meeting with her Season 4 Dancing With the Stars partner, Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno.
- Julianne Hough Relationships:
- Bruce Hough - Father
- Chuck Wicks - Ex-significant Other
- Derek Hough - Brother
- Katherine - Sister
- Marabeth - Sister
- Marriann Nelson - Mother
- Sharee - Sister
- Zack Wilson - Ex-fiancé
- Julianne Hough Awards:
- 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Choreography - Nominee
- 2009 Emmy: Outstanding Choreography - Nominee
