What Brooks Nader Learned Following the Divorce That Ended Her 10-Year Relationship

The SI Swimsuit Legend is the latest star of a ‘Bustle’ cover shoot and feature.

Brooks Nader / Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Brooks Nader has entered a new chapter and she’s not looking back.

The SI Swimsuit Legend and Dancing With the Stars alum opened up about navigating life after the end of a decade-long relationship in her new Bustle cover story. In it, she shared how she’s grown, what she’s let go of and how her sisters have become her greatest support system.

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Stepping into herself

The Baton Rouge native spent 10 years in a relationship with Billy Haire, and while it ended in divorce, she says it ultimately led her to a new level of self-awareness and independence.

“Once I got to that other side, I realized, ‘Wait, I got me. I can do anything I f---ing put my mind to,’” the 28-year-old said. “I was with someone for 10 years, and I cut it off and came out better. I can push out a human; I can start a company; I can get over anybody. It’s euphoric, that feeling.”

The model, who now lives in New York City, is focusing on her career, her family and herself. And yes, she’s still hustling. “I have a townhouse to pay for, b----,” she added of the gorgeous SoHo penthouse property she lives in with her three younger sisters, Sarah Jane, Grace Ann and Mary Holland.

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The space has become a set to the family’s new viral Hulu reality series, Love Thy Nader.

For the girls

A big part of that post-breakup glow-up was the TV show—something Nader has known she wanted to do since she was a child. The series gives fans a front-row seat to her vibrant, sassy personality, an aspect often overlooked in fashion campaigns and magazine covers.

“Someone that’s very much in the public eye told me, ‘When I was your age, I was only for the guys. If I could go back, I would have done more for the girlies,’” Nader shared. “The good news about the show is that people actually now see my personality: I am for the girls. I’m an older sister, I love women, and I still want to look hot—as every woman does.”

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Speaking up

The series also gave Nader a space to talk about the things others shy away from—like body image and medication. One of the show’s rawest moments was her opening up about GLP-1 dependency.

“The thing that I was so shocked about with the show was that I had so many people reach out to me saying ‘I’m also addicted to GLP-1. I’m ashamed to talk about it because there’s such a stigma around it. It’s a crutch for me,’” she said. “I’m still on it. It’s a crutch for me, too. It’s not healthy. I should get off it; I’ll be honest about that.”

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