At a Glance
- Professional dancer Kendra Bates left her LA career to join TLC’s Suddenly Amish, premiering Jan. 13 at 10 p.m. ET
- The 33-year-old, formerly on OnlyFans, sought to realign her life with newfound Christian faith
- Bishop Vernon immediately challenged her short skirt and plunging neckline, triggering tears
- Why it matters: The series spotlights extreme culture clashes as six modern Americans immerse themselves in traditional Amish life
Reality television meets radical lifestyle swap when Kendra Bates trades sequins for suspenders on TLC’s new series Suddenly Amish. The 33-year-old professional dancer walked away from nine years in the Los Angeles entertainment industry to live among the Amish, a decision she says was driven by her recent Christian baptism and desire to escape work that no longer matched her morals.
From LA Clubs to Amish Farms
Bates’s journey began after she found faith and grew disillusioned with dance gigs. “I don’t necessarily align anymore with being a dancer. I really have to be picky with which jobs I morally feel comfortable doing, and that’s none,” she told News Of Losangeles ahead of the January 13 premiere.
Her past also includes modeling on OnlyFans, a chapter she calls her “lowest point.” In the show’s first episode, she confesses she still struggles to forgive herself for that period. When she spotted a casting call for Suddenly Amish on social media, the opportunity felt providential. “I was like, ‘This could be the out that I was looking for,'” she recalls.
Family history added extra pull: Bates has roots in the Mennonite community, a group that shares beliefs with the Amish but typically embraces more modern conveniences.
Culture Shock Hits Hard
Cameras captured the instant culture clash. Amish leader Bishop Vernon questioned Bates about her revealing outfit the moment she arrived. Accustomed to dance costumes, she wore a short skirt and low-cut top; the Bishop’s reprimand over modesty standards reduced her to tears. “I wasn’t expecting it to be that hard,” she admits after the confrontation.
That encounter exemplifies the “culture shock” Bates says permeates the series. Six cast members, all from modern backgrounds, must navigate strict Amish rules while cameras roll. Moments of levity surface as the newcomers bungle farm chores and old-world customs, yet the emotional weight of adjustment lingers.
Mutual Learning Curve
Despite friction, both sides express curiosity. Bates insists the cast “genuinely wanted to be there,” though second thoughts hit once the reality of limited electricity, plain dress, and manual labor set in. “We have to support each other through it because we came there for a reason,” she says.
Conversations flow both ways. Bates introduced her host family-whom she affectionately calls her “Amish dad”-to Beyoncé and explained cosmetic procedures like BBLs. “They’re cool. They’re people, just like us,” she notes. “They are open to learning.” Each exchange highlights contrasts between English (non-Amish) and Amish worldviews, from technology to pop culture.
Key Cultural Moments
- Bishop Vernon challenges Bates’s wardrobe within minutes of arrival
- Cast members learn hand-milking cows and lamp-light dinners
- Amish hosts ask for definitions of slang, celebrity names, and modern gadgets
- Participants reflect on gratitude, simplicity, and faith
Faith and Redemption
Bates frames her participation as part of a spiritual reset. After her baptism about a year ago, she distanced herself from anything she deemed incompatible with Christian values. Dance gigs dried up, and OnlyFans income stopped. The show’s premise-total immersion in a devout, family-centered community-promised the fresh start she sought.
Still, forgiveness remains a work in progress. Bates tears up recounting past choices, emphasizing self-acceptance as her next hurdle. Cameras follow her journaling, praying, and seeking counsel from Amish mentors who stress humility and repentance.
Production Details
TLC filmed the first season across several weeks, documenting daily routines of cooking, farming, and worship. Producers paired each participant with an Amish host family, requiring adherence to community guidelines: no electricity, no automobiles, plain dress codes, and church services in homes.
The premiere episode, airing Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 10 p.m. ET, clocks in at one hour and sets up future conflicts over technology withdrawal, gender roles, and communal labor expectations. Subsequent installments promise barn-raisings, candle-lit singing, and emotional departures.
Episode Schedule
| Episode | Airdate | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan. 13 | Arrival and wardrobe showdown |
| 2 | Jan. 20 | First full week of farm chores |
| 3 | Jan. 27 | Church service tensions |
Viewer Takeaways
Early clips suggest Suddenly Amish will mine culture-clash humor-participants fumbling with horse harnesses and oil lamps-while also exploring deeper questions of identity, faith, and belonging. Bates believes audiences will relate to the discomfort of sudden change and the universal search for purpose.
She hopes her story encourages others wrestling with career versus conviction. Leaving behind a steady income and city lifestyle terrified her, she says, yet the risk already feels worthwhile. “It’s just very interesting getting two different sides,” she reflects, noting that mutual respect grew out of seemingly opposite worlds.
What’s Next
Bates has returned to mainstream society but keeps in touch with her Amish friends, calling the experience life-altering. TLC has not announced a second season, though executives hint that strong ratings could expand the franchise. For now, viewers can follow the six participants’ journey as they navigate buggies, bonnets, and belief systems far removed from the LA club scene.
Key Takeaways
- Bates left dancing and OnlyFans after a Christian conversion
- Her Amish immersion began with an immediate dress-code clash
- The series highlights both humorous and heartfelt cultural exchanges
- Premieres Jan. 13 at 10 p.m. ET on TLC
