This story originally appeared on Them.
Sarah Jane Nader’s time on Dancing with the Stars was all too brief. The openly bisexual reality TV star, whose friendship with dance partner Hailey Bills became a fixture of our feeds, was eliminated during the second night of the two-part season 35 premiere. As only the third same-sex celeb pro duo to compete on the long-running competition show, we all wanted to see more — and so did Nader.
“I wish Hailey and I had more time in the ballroom, but the messages I’ve gotten from people who felt seen by us have been incredibly emotional,” the Love Thy Nader star tells Them. I went into this wanting to celebrate queerness — not explain it or apologize for it, just celebrate it. And we did exactly that.”
Fortunately, Nader already has her next move lined up: a co-created collection with fashion retailer Express launching with a focus on workwear and “after-hours style.” Nader tells Them that after growing up shopping at Express in Louisiana, working on the collection felt “surreal.”
“I loved watching my ideas become real — from sketches and samples to changing a hem, fit or color, then deciding how it would be styled, shot and who would represent it,” she says. “I got to touch every part of the process. I’ve spent years expressing myself through other people’s clothes. This time, I got to make my own vision a reality.”
Below, Nader catches up with Them about her time on DWTS — and shares why she loves a woman in a tie.
How did you feel when you got the call from Dancing with the Stars?
I was completely shocked and so excited, but what made it feel especially meaningful was knowing I’d have the opportunity to be part of an all-female partnership. As a queer woman, getting to represent my community on a stage as big as Dancing with the Stars felt like such an
honor. It made the opportunity feel bigger than just being on the show or competing. I knew there was a chance for someone watching at home to see us and feel seen and celebrated.
I’d also watched my older sister, Brooks, go through the DWTS experience on season 33, and she always talked about how rewarding it was and how much she grew from it. Seeing how much she loved the experience made me even more excited to have my own, but getting to do it in a way that felt so personal and meaningful to me made it that much more special.
Clearly, so many sapphics resonate with your story and were so excited to see you on television, especially given how historic it was for you to be dancing with another woman. Can you tell me how it felt to receive so much positive feedback from the community?
That’s been the most meaningful part of this whole experience for me. I grew up in a conservative, religious environment in Louisiana, and I never saw queer women like me on my screen. So to be able to now be that representation for someone else is something I don’t take lightly.
I wish Hailey and I had more time in the ballroom, but the messages I’ve gotten from people who felt seen by us have been incredibly emotional. I went into this wanting to celebrate queerness — not explain it or apologize for it, just celebrate it. And we did exactly that. If one person watched us and felt a little more comfortable being exactly who they are, then what we did was bigger than any score.
Tell me about how it was developing your working relationship and friendship with your dance partner Hailey Bills.
I have so much respect for Hailey. She’s insanely talented, but it’s her drive that really inspires me. She believes in herself and makes things happen. She understood what our partnership represented and poured her heart into it. I’ll always love her for that. While our time in the ballroom may be over, one of the greatest things I got out of this was getting to know Hailey. Y’all definitely haven’t seen the last of us!
Do you have a favorite look in the collaboration? Or a favorite piece?
The SJ Shirt & Tie is definitely one of my favorites. I’ve always loved mixing masculine and feminine, and there’s just something so sexy and powerful about a woman in a tie. I wanted every piece to feel easy to make your own. I’m most excited to see how people style everything in ways I probably never even thought of.
What else is on your mind?
Fashion has always been one of my favorite ways to express myself, and moving to New York really gave me permission to experiment — to take risks and stop thinking so much about what I was “supposed” to wear.
That became the heart of this collection. I want someone to feel sexy, confident and completely in charge, whether that’s in a tiny dress or a full suit and tie, or both, depending on the day.
This project also unlocked something in me creatively. I loved being able to communicate an idea and a feeling through clothes, and it sparked a whole new passion for design and creative direction. I’m incredibly proud of what we made, and I have a feeling this won’t be the last time you see me on this side of fashion.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Quispe López contributed additional reporting.
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