Hannah Neeleman, also known as Ballerina Farm, has captivated the world on social media. She currently has 13.2 million followers on TikTok and 9 million on Instagram @ballerinafarm, showcasing traditional family values and farm life, such as making homemade bread and milking her own cows.
Hannah was a Juilliard-trained ballerina before she became the head of a thriving Utah farm business with her husband, Daniel Neeleman, and their eight children.
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Early life and ballet career
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Hannah Neeleman has been fascinated with ballet since she was a child. She trained at Juilliard, one of the world’s leading performing arts schools. She honed her skills, hoping to pursue a career as a dancer.
However, her life changed when she met Daniel Neeleman, the son of the CEO of JetBlue. Although she was hesitant at first, Daniel showed her true love. The couple married in 2011, shortly after Hannah graduated from Juilliard.
Transition to Farm Life
In the early years of their marriage, the couple moved to Brazil, where Daniel worked. The nature of South America fascinated them with the farming lifestyle, visiting rural communities on weekends. This experience planted the seeds for their future endeavors.
In 2018, after returning to the United States, they purchased a 100-acre plot of land in Birdseye, Utah, and started farming. Despite having no prior experience, Hannah and Daniel were dedicated to learning about farming, often sharing their farm developments and successes on social media.
The birth of Ballerina Farm
Their farm, called Ballerina Farm, showcases a simple and traditional way of life. Hannah would take photos and videos of her daily life and post them on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. From making homemade bread to caring for her livestock, the farm has grown to over 300 acres in Kamas, Utah, where they expanded their operations to sell meat, dairy products, and other farm-related products. Hannah’s charm and sincerity have attracted a large following.
Personal and Family Life with Daniel Neeleman her Husband
Hannah and Daniel’s family life is considered an enviable couple. They have eight children. They raised their children in a natural setting, a traditional rural lifestyle.
The decision to have a large family, meaning many children, was based on their strict Mormon beliefs, which influenced their approach to life and business.
Hannah often shared the joys and challenges of motherhood, including giving birth at home, with eight children, rather than going to the hospital.
Controversy and Criticism
As the popularity of Ballerina Farm grew, the public and media scrutinized their personal lives. In July 2024, The Times of London published an interview in which they spoke with Hannah. Many readers noted that she “appeared to be controlled by her husband and the physical effects of her lifestyle.”
The photo sparked heated debate online, with many fans expressing concerns about her well-being and criticizing Daniel’s role as a controlling husband.
Megan Agnew of the Times wrote an article about Hannah Neeleman, expressing concerns about her life, such as Hannah’s revelation that when she ended her ballet career, “You have to give up something in life,” which she speculated may have been upset about.
The article also revealed information that wasn’t shared on her social media, such as her experience of being sick from exhaustion and being unable to get out of bed for a week, and her and her husband’s strict Mormon religion.
What shocked many readers was that the article said Hannah revealed that she gave birth to almost all of her babies without pain medication, and that she didn’t want her husband to know that she had used pain medication to give birth to one of her babies on a day he wasn’t in the delivery room.
Further controversy arose from the discovery of the family’s vast wealth, which came from Daniel’s father, David Neeleman, a billionaire aviation entrepreneur. Critics accused the Neelemans of misleading the public about their easy-going farming life, as they were financially advantaged and thus did not have to go through hardship.
Despite the controversy, Hannah and Daniel have maintained a large following. Their content, which includes promoting the farm’s products and sharing family moments, Impressing many who dream of a return to simpler, more traditional values, the couple remain committed to their lifestyle and to each other, often speaking to viewers to clarify misunderstandings and reaffirm their devotion to family and faith.
On Instagram @BallerinaFarm, Hannah continues to repost stories of her and her husband smiling sweetly.
