Brooks Nader was surprised to see an outpouring of support from women from all walks of life after she opened up about her addiction to weight loss drugs.
“I didn’t quite know how many other women are going through the same thing that I was going though,” Nader, 28, told Us Weekly exclusively at iHeartRadio’s Z100 Jingle Ball in New York City on Friday, December 12. “When I was vocal about it, I was truly just in a vulnerable moment, and I’m appreciative that so many women have reached out to me with similar struggles. I feel like that’s what it’s all about: why we do the show, why we open up, is to have community, because us women have to stick together. There’s a lot that goes on that we handle, that we carry on our shoulders.”
Nader said she has heard from women of all ages. “I’ve had moms come up to me, I’ve had girls in college come up to me and have similar struggles,” she told Us. “And I’m hoping that through using my voice, we can all band together and find a solution, or, maybe, start a workout group or something to have peace of mind that we’re not alone.”
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model has been open about her use of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic. (The drugs are largely used to manage diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels and appetite, which often leads to weight loss. It is not recommended for casual weight loss.)
She got candid about the side effects of these medications on her reality show, Love Thy Nader, and elaborated on her addiction to Bustle in November.
“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 told the outlet at the time. “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.”
Specifying that she lost 30 pounds to help her career as a model, Nader revealed that she “booked all the jobs” after using the weight loss drugs.
When Us asked Nader if she was still using the medications last month, the reality star said, “I fluctuate like everyone else. So it just depends.”
Love Thy Nader premiered on Freeform in August, and followed Brooks — along with her three younger sisters, Sarah Jane, Grace Ann and Mary Holland Nader — living life as a model in New York City. The reality show was renewed for a second season in November.
With one season of reality TV under their belt, the Nader sisters are planning on being a bit more intentional about how they approach season 2.
“I’m going to make a lot of different choices with my style and my hair and makeup,” Grace Ann told Us of what she plans to do differently next season, while Brooks added her own goal: “Make different choices in men, for me. For season 2, we’re leveling up.”
Sarah Jane and Mary Holland are also planning on taking it to the next level.
“I feel like I’m gonna tell y’all less of everything and [have] my own relationship with the camera,” Sarah Jane told Us, referencing her sisters. “Cuz y’all spill everything.”
As for Mary Holland? “I feel like the filter’s coming off a bit for me,” she told Us. “I was a little nervous season 1, but get ready girls.”
While season 1 traced Brooks’ tumultuous breakup from her former Dancing With the Stars partner and ex-boyfriend, Gleb Savchenko, the model says anything can happen in the next iteration of Love Thy Nader — but for now, she’s single.
“Honestly, not gonna lie, I’ve been so busy working that there’s not a lot of time for the boys right now,” Brooks revealed to Us. “Saving it all for the cameras.”
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