The Stunning Transformation Of Teddi Jo Mellencamp

Teddi Jo Mellencamp — also known as Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave — is one of the stars of Bravo's reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. If you're trying to figure out why her name sounds so familiar, it's because the reality star is also the daughter of another well-known celeb, John Mellencamp.

Growing up as the daughter of a 1980s pop sensation means that Mellencamp's life has never exactly been normal, but she's managed to stay grounded in spite of spending her life rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous. Mellencamp might be a housewife, but she's not just hanging out in her multi-million dollar house — she keeps pretty busy. If you can't get enough of Mellencamp on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, have no fear. We've got all the details on how the reality star has transformed over the years, from her childhood as a famous musician's daughter to her Real Housewife status.

It wasn't long before it became clear that Teddi Jo Mellencamp had her own impressive talent. In her younger years, Mellencamp was something of a pro on horseback. The young equestrian was a champion rider, and the hobby was a formative part of her childhood. Mellencamp started riding at the tender age of 4, and, after her parents divorced, it was horses that helped her get through it. "There are some kids that when that happens, they get a little lost, but riding gave me so much to focus on and so much positivity in my life I was unable to ever feel those moments," she told Sidelines. 

She went on the equestrian circuit, spending much of her time hitting the road and going to competitions. "My parents were very supportive and understanding," she said.

She added, "My parents understood that that's what I wanted to do, and I was lucky to have trainers that kept me safe and organized and helped me reach my goals."

Teddi Jo Mellencamp gave birth to her first child, Slate, in 2012 and her second, Cruz, in 2014. Before giving birth to Cruz, who was conceived through IVF, she had multiple miscarriages that left her devastated. She finally opened up about her struggles with infertility in 2019. "When it was happening to me, I felt so alone because I didn't realize how many people it had happened to because as we get further in time, more people are being open about their struggles and it's OK," she told Us Weekly. "You hide in it because you don't want anybody to know that you're struggling. ... I didn't even want [my husband] to know."

While she'd love to have another child, she said that she doesn't think she could go through IVF again. "It's hard right now," Mellencamp said. "It's something I still struggle [with].... I would love to have another baby, but I don't know that I can do that again."

In her younger years, Teddi Jo Mellencamp's equestrian lifestyle helped her stay in shape. Even if she gained weight, she found it fairly easy to get back to a healthy weight. After she had kids, though, Mellencamp's body changed. The reality star found it harder to lose weight and got to a point where she simply wasn't happy with her body.

"Throughout my life my weight fluctuated many times; I would pretend that those highs and lows didn't affect me but that just isn't the truth," Mellencamp wrote on her website. "At my heaviest, I felt lonely, sad and angry. At my smallest, I felt panicked, stressed and worried that I would gain the weight back. I very rarely felt great in my own skin." She continued, "After struggling to get pregnant with my son and undergoing multiple IVF treatments, I gained 80+ pounds. I was thrilled to have my healthy baby boy but was left feeling broken inside."

The Mellencamp we see on TV is slim, but, at her heaviest, the star revealed that she weighed over 200 pounds. 

Teddi Jo Mellencamp is living a healthier lifestyle, but she wasn't content with simply transforming her own life and body. She decided that she also wanted to help other people make similar lifestyle changes. To do this, she started a new career as an accountability coach who helps others transform their bodies and their lives. "We set goals that we can actually accomplish," she told NBC News about her business. "I don't want to be there forever for you. I want you to say, 'I don't need you anymore, because I am accountable for myself.'"

The strict program helps people lose weight by making them answer to someone. Clients are required to follow a healthy diet and text proof that they've worked out. Mellencamp only accepts those who are serious about changing the way they eat and exercise. "And if you can't follow the program?" she said. "You're out. The people that can't, they don't want it bad enough."

The business seems to be doing pretty well. Mellencamp said that she has over 350 clients working with more than a dozen coaches and that the business has an extensive waiting list. 

Even though she grew up in a well-known family, Teddi Jo Mellencamp still had to adjust to the limelight shining on her so brightly. She'd seen firsthand what being famous looked like, but she still required an adjustment period after joining the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2017.  After she became a celeb in her own right, she suddenly had to learn how to handle the press herself.

"The East Coast is different," she told Sidelines, referring to where she grew up. "I lived with my mom, but growing up with my dad and going to horse shows with him, nobody really made a big deal about [his fame]. So the press is all new to me."

Mellencamp was a fast learner. Even though she claims to be a novice when it comes to dealing with the press, she doesn't seem at all fazed by the cameras.

Juggling her career, fame, and her family can be a challenge, but Teddi Jo Mellencamp knows to focus on what's important and to take care of herself. She knows that self-care isn't critical just for her own mental health, but for the sake of her family. "I think so many of us, especially moms or women who are constantly on the go, we forget to take care of ourselves," she told NBC News. "And a big part of being the best mom, being the best wife, being the best boss, being the happiest you can be, is taking care of yourself, putting yourself as a priority."

Mellencamp added that a little "me time" isn't selfish, but is instead the opposite. "What's selfish is not taking care of me and being in a bad mood all day," she said.

Mellencamp said that personal time doesn't mean ignoring her family. "If it's a Saturday, and you've worked all week and you don't want to take that time away from your kids because you feel guilty, you can say, 'Let's go on a family hike. Let's do this together. Let's all embrace it.'"

Teddi Jo Mellencamp has certainly changed a lot over the years, but one thing that has not wavered is her relationship with her dad. She and her famous father share a tight bond that hasn't been shaken as she's grown up and had kids of her own. In fact, John Mellencamp is super close with his grandchildren, too. "They call him Peepaw," Teddi Jo Mellencamp told People. "He's so much fun with them."

Pictures of the singer can regularly be spotted on his daughter's Instagram page, further proving her special connection with him. "Shoutout to my pops who not only sends me daily reminders of what's important but continues to spread a message of hope and the American dream through his music," the Real Housewives star wrote in the caption of a video of her dad playing with her kids. "So proud of all he's accomplished."