A popular rural Utah influencer and beauty queen is under fire for what critics call an unrealistic depiction of postpartum life after she competed in the Mrs. World pageant about two weeks after giving birth to her eighth child.

• The dustup comes amid growing scrutiny of the wealth and conservative politics that support some "tradwife" and "farmfluencer" content.

Who she is: Hannah Neeleman, aka "Ballerina Farm," has attracted nearly 9 million followers on Instagram and 7 million on TikTok with her idyllic content depicting her life as a homemaker at her family's farm near Kamas.

• She's also a Juilliard-trained ballerina who won the title of Mrs. Utah in 2021.
• She was crowned "Mrs. American" last August, representing South Dakota, whose pageant was open to out-of-staters.
• The latest: Neeleman finished among the top 17 finalists at Mrs. World on Jan. 21.

Context: She'd announced the birth of her daughter Jan. 4 with a photo, later posting a video of a home birth in a candlelit, clapboard bathroom.

• Ten days later, Neeleman began to share videos of "postpartum pageant prep" and flat-tummy fashion struts — a feat that typically takes several weeks after birth.

What happened: The backlash was swift, with commenters and other online personalities complaining that Neeleman was setting an unattainable example for women who are in a vulnerable and exhausting stage of life.

• The counter-backlash soon followed, with Neeleman's defenders accusing her critics of being insecure and unsupportive of women's choices.

Catch up quick: Neeleman's postpartum glow-up isn't the first time the superstar has been accused of painting an unrealistic picture of her rustic life.

• She married into the family that owns JetBlue and several other airlines — a detail that left some fans feeling deceived.
• Flashback: In 2011, Neeleman was featured in a Deseret News story that specifically highlighted her frugality and modesty.

The other side

Two heavily debated bills that would upend diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and restrict the rights of transgender Utahns are on their way to the governor's desk.

State of play: Both bills were prioritized and fast-tracked through the Republican-dominated state Legislature in the first two weeks of Utah's 45-day session.

Details: H.B. 261 would dismantle DEI programs at public universities, colleges, and government agencies.

• H.B. 257 would ban transgender people's access to sex-specific public restrooms and locker rooms unless their birth certificate matches their gender identity.

The other side: Utah Democrats have spoken out against both bills, saying they would harm historically underrepresented groups and LGBTQ+ communities in the state.

What we're watching: The far-reaching bills' full ramifications on the public education system are not yet understood and could prompt litigation, according to Democrats.

Of note: A spokesperson for Utah Gov. Spencer Cox did not confirm on Friday whether he planned to sign either of the bills.

In 1913, four store clerks in Salt Lake strapped some wood to their feet to see what the Scandinavians and Swiss were so excited about.

• Little did they know they were helping pioneer a sports culture that would become central to Utah's and economy.

This is Old News, our weekly run down the black diamonds of Utah history.

What happened: Members of the "Retail Clerks ball team" spent a winter morning getting their bearings, and by afternoon navigated the inaugural lines of Salt Lake's first ski club.

• They skied the foothills above the Avenues, just behind the city cemetery, the Salt Lake Telegram reported on Dec. 30.

Reality check: Folks had been skiing in Park City for a few years at that point.

Yes, but: The "boys" of Salt Lake didn't want to be stuck on the bunny hills for long. For their second outing, they planned to shred the slopes east of Beck's hot springs near 900 North.

• "The club members are of the opinion that they learned enough of the art of skiing last Sunday morning to attempt a more difficult descent," the Telegram wrote.
• Leave it to the retail clerks for the first documented bravado in Salt Lake's skiing history.

🧳 Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente last week addressed the accessibility and financial challenges of hosting in Park City the world's largest film festival. (Deseret News)

• Her comments spurred speculation that the festival could be looking for a new home after 40-plus years.

🏫 The Utah father of a high school basketball player accused an athlete on an opposing team of being a transgender girl and requested she no longer play after his daughter's team lost. (The Salt Lake Tribune)

• LGBTQ+ advocates said the false accusation is a result of a 2022 law that prohibits transgender girls from competing in school sports. A judge reversed the ban after it was challenged in court.

The women danced on the snow — spinning, dipping, and flipping, all while hucking off a jump in a show of athletic creativity that left the crowd stunned.

Why it matters: This is the Winter X Games, held in Aspen since 2002, and renowned for its progression and equity in snow sports, Axios' John Frank reports.

State of play: For the first time at the competition, women displayed their talents in the ski and snowboard knuckle huck event, jumping off the flat part of a ski jump and down the landing in stylish pirouettes.

• First-time competitor Egan Wint, who grew up in Denver and now lives in Salt Lake City, competed in the snowboard event, where a local Girl Scout troop filled the spectator section with hollers and cheerful signs.

Wint landed on the podium with a bronze despite never competing in such an event.