On Friday’s Ellen, professional dancer Cheryl Burke, a two-time Dancing With The Stars champion, opened up about the negative public reaction she’s received as a result of her reported weight gain during the seventh season of the ABC ballroom competition.

“I was like, maybe I should just starve myself for four weeks just so people would shut up,” says Cheryl, who is a size four, mind you. “But at the end of the day … I’m an athlete. I like to eat, I like to work out, and I like to feel healthy, and I feel healthy.”

“You don’t have to be a size zero to be beautiful,” she added.