Pretty Little Liars’ Sasha Pieterse Sheaffer’s PCOS Journey: Hormones, Hollywood & Heartbreak

Sasha Pieterse Sheaffer is not just a familiar face from the screen — she’s a multi-hyphenate powerhouse who’s transformed her platform into a voice for authenticity, health advocacy, and self-empowerment. Best known for her breakout role as Alison DiLaurentis on Pretty Little Liars, Sasha grew up in the public eye. But behind the Hollywood lights, she was quietly navigating a complex and often misunderstood health condition — one that affects millions of women worldwide: PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sasha moved to the U.S. as a child and quickly rose through the ranks of young Hollywood with early roles in Family Affair, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, and later in fan-favorite indie films like G.B.F.. By 14, she had already graduated high school — a testament to the same determination she would later apply to her health journey.

Sasha first opened up about her PCOS diagnosis while competing on Dancing with the Stars in 2017. The diagnosis explained years of unexplained weight gain, hormonal imbalances, and emotional exhaustion — symptoms she endured while working under the intense scrutiny of the entertainment industry. Her decision to speak out not only resonated with fans, but also helped break the silence around a condition that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, with up to 70% remaining undiagnosed.

Her story is one of resilience. Instead of retreating from the spotlight, Sasha leaned in, sharing her personal experiences to normalize body changes, challenge unrealistic beauty standards, and advocate for women’s hormonal health. She’s since become a passionate voice in wellness, speaking openly about managing PCOS through nutrition, movement, and mindset.

In addition to acting, Sasha is also a published author. Her cookbook and lifestyle guide, Sasha in Good Taste, blends elevated entertaining with down-to-earth advice, reflecting her warm, real-life approach to self-care. She’s also the founder of the Women In The Nude podcast, where she creates a safe, unfiltered space for women to share stories around health, identity, motherhood, and everything in between.

Today, Sasha balances her professional work with being a mom to her son Hendrix and a wellness entrepreneur. Through every project — whether on screen, on a podcast, or in a kitchen — she brings the same signature blend of honesty, humor, and heart. Her mission? To remind women everywhere that their health matters, their voices deserve to be heard, and that healing starts when we stop hiding.

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