She’s circling her wagons.
In the wild new TLC reality series “Suddenly Amish” (premiering Tues. Jan 13. At 10 p.m.), six people from the regular world are sent to go live in Amish society. For Billie Jo, 44, the experience was a lifelong dream come true.
“I have always been intrigued and always been interested in the Amish lifestyle, since I was a young kid,” she told The Post.
“I saw Amish [people] at farmers markets, and had curiosity. As I grew up, I learned about how the Amish lived their life, and there was some peace to that that I really admired and was so curious about….I realized, I think that’s the lifestyle that I want to live.”
In the outside world, Billie Jo was a barista in Ithaca, New York. (She didn’t reveal if she’s still a barista or if she’s now integrated in the Amish community, as that’s a spoiler for the show).
“It’s not a lifestyle others that I have around me think they would want to do,” she explained. “I stood out a bit, even among my friends and family and coworkers. Everybody is like, ‘why would you want to be Amish?’”
The “Suddenly Amish” star added, “For me, it’s a community that is religiously based and filled with love and support. I felt like I wanted to be a part of it.”
The show follows Billie Jo and five others as they leave behind their “English” lifestyle (as the Amish call outsiders) and join an Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Amish youths traditionally embark on a “Rumspringa,” to briefly get a glimpse of the “English” world, but the community rarely lets outsiders in.
In recent years, TikTok and Instagram has seen an influx of “trad wife” influencers, advocating for a more “traditional” and “simple” lifestyle.
Billie Jo said the “trad wife” trend didn’t impact her desire to be Amish, however.
“I have desired to be Amish before Instagram. I don’t think that fueled anything for me. People may think that it’s a little strange, but for probably twenty years now, I have collected buggy wheels and quilts. This is something that was in my heart, way before social media.”
She called herself a “different breed,” and said, “I’ve never met anyone quite like me.”
On the show, Billie Jo and the other “English” people must get used to giving up technology, electricity, and makeup – including surprising inconveniences like having to use an outhouse instead of a bathroom.
“I’m constantly learning new things. I know how the Amish dress…I know that modesty is big. However, I’m learning as I go, there’s a lot of surprises in the Amish world.”
On the first episode, Billie Jo was dismayed when she had to use the bathroom and an Amish man directed her to an outhouse.
“I guess I don’t know what I expected, but I certainly didn’t expect that!”
She added that the “biggest adjustment” was living without air conditioning.
“I’m not your average – I’m a heavyset girl, I rely on air conditioning,” she explained.
“The adjustment was seeing how my body was going to work in the heat without air conditioning. I knew I wouldn’t have electricity, but I was like, ‘I’m in for it,with this.’”
She noted, “There are several moments where I definitely was wondering when I got myself into, for sure. Amish life is not for everyone.”
