Julia Shahar Opens Up About Childhood Pain, Dance Career, and Marriage to Yogev Malka

Julia Shahar, 34, winner of Israel's "Dancing with the Stars" and wife of "Ninja Israel" star Yogev Malka, shared her life story in a recent podcast interview. Born in Ukraine and immigrating to Israel at age four, Shahar grew up with her single mother after her father abandoned the family shortly after their arrival. She described the lasting pain of abandonment and how it fueled her drive for success, saying she wanted to become "a monster of success" so no one would leave her again. Today, she maintains minimal contact with her father, communicating only through social media likes.

Despite never formally training in ballroom dance as a child, Shahar became a mentor on "Dancing with the Stars" after a rigorous audition process. She admitted feeling like an outsider among professionally trained ballroom dancers and recalled a painful incident involving fellow mentor Sene Sokol, which left her in tears. Shahar incorporated her background in hip-hop and street dance into her choreography, creating a unique style that helped her win the competition alongside Dor Harari.

Shahar also discussed her relationship with her husband Yogev Malka, revealing that their romance began after a heated argument during the show's live rounds. They married in September last year after two and a half years together. She explained how they set clear boundaries regarding her dancing with male partners on the show, emphasizing respect and modesty in her performances to ease Malka's concerns.

Shahar reflected on the challenges of public exposure, including anxiety attacks following her win and the pressures of dancing with an international partner, Australian actor Nait Bouzolitz. She acknowledged the difficulties of balancing fame, professional demands, and personal life but expressed optimism about their future. Malka is eager to start a family, and Shahar envisions being married with children and continuing her meaningful career in Israeli entertainment a decade from now.