Celebrities

Cheryl Burke’s Transformation Photos From ‘Dancing With the Stars’: Rookie Through Now

By Beth Shilliday Life & Style

Cheryl Burke burst onto Dancing With the Stars in the show's second season, winning the Mirrorball trophy in 2006 with celebrity partner Drew Lachey. Since then, the dance pro has undergone quite a transformation.

The San Francisco, California, native addressed changes in her appearance in a May 2025 TikTok video.

"I'm not on Ozempic. I'm not sick. I didn't get a face transplant, and no, I didn't get a brow lift," Cheryl stated. "The level of projection that is happening and that I'm witnessing is wild."

Life & Style takes a look at Cheryl's transformation over the years in photos.



2006 Cheryl's look at ABC's All-Star party was pure mid-aughts, with her fur vest and oversized bag. That year, the professional dancer made her debut on Dancing With the Stars, winning the show's second season. In the fall of 2006, Cheryl took home her second Mirrorball trophy, winning the show's third season with NFL great Emmitt Smith. Chris Walter/WireImage
2006 Cheryl's look at ABC's All-Star party was pure mid-aughts, with her fur vest and oversized bag. That year, the professional dancer made her debut on Dancing With the Stars, winning the show's second season. In the fall of 2006, Cheryl took home her second Mirrorball trophy, winning the show's third season with NFL great Emmitt Smith. Chris Walter/WireImage Chris Walter WireImage
2008 Purple satin was the look Cheryl chose for ESPN The Magazine's 10th anniversary celebration. Alexandra Wyman/WireImage
2008 Purple satin was the look Cheryl chose for ESPN The Magazine's 10th anniversary celebration. Alexandra Wyman/WireImage Alexandra Wyman WireImage
2011 The new decade saw Cheryl grow out her famous short shag in favor of longer locks. Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
2011 The new decade saw Cheryl grow out her famous short shag in favor of longer locks. Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Paul Archuleta FilmMagic
2014 Three years later, a variation of the shag was back when the ABC star attended the People's Choice Awards. C Flanigan/FilmMagic
2014 Three years later, a variation of the shag was back when the ABC star attended the People's Choice Awards. C Flanigan/FilmMagic C Flanigan FilmMagic
2017 Cheryl sported a sophisticated look in a gold gown at the InStyle and Warner Bros. 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards afterparty. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
2017 Cheryl sported a sophisticated look in a gold gown at the InStyle and Warner Bros. 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards afterparty. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Frazer Harrison Getty Images
2018 2018 saw several major changes in Cheryl's life. She married Matthew Lawrence, whom she first dated in 2007 before rekindling their romance in 2017. Cheryl also began a sobriety journey after a battle with alcohol addiction. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
2018 2018 saw several major changes in Cheryl's life. She married Matthew Lawrence, whom she first dated in 2007 before rekindling their romance in 2017. Cheryl also began a sobriety journey after a battle with alcohol addiction. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Jon Kopaloff Getty Images
2021 Cheryl has opened up about her battle with body dysmorphia over the years, especially during her 26 seasons on DWTS. "You've seen me grow up on this show. I started when I was 21 years old. I went through this horrific ‘she's too fat for TV, too,'" she recalled on "The Amy and T.J. Podcast," in 2024. "I was growing into who I am as a woman, and with that I did gain weight, you know." Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for See Us Unite
2021 Cheryl has opened up about her battle with body dysmorphia over the years, especially during her 26 seasons on DWTS. "You've seen me grow up on this show. I started when I was 21 years old. I went through this horrific ‘she's too fat for TV, too,'" she recalled on "The Amy and T.J. Podcast," in 2024. "I was growing into who I am as a woman, and with that I did gain weight, you know." Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for See Us Unite Kevin Mazur Getty Images for See Us Unite
2022 Neon was the look of the day when Cheryl attended the 2022 iHeartRadio Wango Tango concert. The same year, she filed for divorce from Matthew after three years of marriage and departed DWTS for good after season 31. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
2022 Neon was the look of the day when Cheryl attended the 2022 iHeartRadio Wango Tango concert. The same year, she filed for divorce from Matthew after three years of marriage and departed DWTS for good after season 31. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Jon Kopaloff Getty Images
Cheryl Burke Cheryl showed off her freckles with minimal makeup in this July 2023 selfie. She opened up in the caption about sobriety, telling fans, "It's been 5 years since I started my recovery journey. As I enter my 6th year sober, I have found a newfound purpose that I hadn't thought ever existed." She added, "I no longer want to hold onto any heavy, resentment or anger towards anyone, especially myself moving forward however, this is a daily practice and something that I‘ll work on for the rest of my life. One day at a time though, right?" Courtesy of Cheryl Burke/Instagram
Cheryl Burke Cheryl showed off her freckles with minimal makeup in this July 2023 selfie. She opened up in the caption about sobriety, telling fans, "It's been 5 years since I started my recovery journey. As I enter my 6th year sober, I have found a newfound purpose that I hadn't thought ever existed." She added, "I no longer want to hold onto any heavy, resentment or anger towards anyone, especially myself moving forward however, this is a daily practice and something that I‘ll work on for the rest of my life. One day at a time though, right?" Courtesy of Cheryl Burke/Instagram
Cheryl Burke The "Sex, Lies and Spray Tans" podcaster looked incredible in a black dress while taking a selfie at home. That year, Cheryl spoke about her struggle with body dysmorphia, especially when competing on DWTS. "It would really alter my mood to where, if I felt heavy or if I felt bloated, and I was putting on a costume, then all my insecurities would come out on other people, onto my partner, just in general, just because of that self-hate that I had for myself," she revealed on "The Amy and T.J. Podcast." She added, "Am I still there? I'm not gonna say I'm fully recovered, I'm still healing." Courtesy of Cheryl Burke/Instagram
Cheryl Burke The "Sex, Lies and Spray Tans" podcaster looked incredible in a black dress while taking a selfie at home. That year, Cheryl spoke about her struggle with body dysmorphia, especially when competing on DWTS. "It would really alter my mood to where, if I felt heavy or if I felt bloated, and I was putting on a costume, then all my insecurities would come out on other people, onto my partner, just in general, just because of that self-hate that I had for myself," she revealed on "The Amy and T.J. Podcast." She added, "Am I still there? I'm not gonna say I'm fully recovered, I'm still healing." Courtesy of Cheryl Burke/Instagram
GettyImages-2205610375 Cheryl Burke Cheryl attended the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards in a sizzling red outfit. Two months later, she took to TikTok to shoot down speculation that she had plastic surgery. "The most disappointing part that really gets me, ‘We miss the old Cheryl,'" the Dancing Lessons: How I Found Passion and Potential on the Dance Floor author said regarding cruel comments about her appearance. She went on to reference remarks about "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Cheryl back in 2006, Dancing With the Stars season 2 when I was 21 years old or the three years ago Cheryl when I was going through a divorce." "Cause I hate to break it to you, but that Cheryl doesn't exist anymore," she explained. "I have been in the public eye since I was 21 years old, my body has changed over the past 20 years, my face has changed because I've changed," she said. "I've experienced so much trauma, divorce, and this is by no means a pity party. Sobriety, burnout, reinvention, I've healed, I've lost, I've grieved like anybody else." "And yeah, maybe it shows, but I'm not sorry for it, not one bit," Cheryl proclaimed. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
GettyImages-2205610375 Cheryl Burke Cheryl attended the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards in a sizzling red outfit. Two months later, she took to TikTok to shoot down speculation that she had plastic surgery. "The most disappointing part that really gets me, ‘We miss the old Cheryl,'" the Dancing Lessons: How I Found Passion and Potential on the Dance Floor author said regarding cruel comments about her appearance. She went on to reference remarks about "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Cheryl back in 2006, Dancing With the Stars season 2 when I was 21 years old or the three years ago Cheryl when I was going through a divorce." "Cause I hate to break it to you, but that Cheryl doesn't exist anymore," she explained. "I have been in the public eye since I was 21 years old, my body has changed over the past 20 years, my face has changed because I've changed," she said. "I've experienced so much trauma, divorce, and this is by no means a pity party. Sobriety, burnout, reinvention, I've healed, I've lost, I've grieved like anybody else." "And yeah, maybe it shows, but I'm not sorry for it, not one bit," Cheryl proclaimed. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Frazer Harrison Getty Images

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This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 2:41 PM.

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