'DWTS' Winner J.R. Martinez Admits He Was Questioning His Life After His Accident
When J.R. Martinez won the mirror ball trophy on the 13th season of Dancing With the Stars, his story of overcoming pain became an inspiration to everyone who watched orheard his tale.
In 2003, Martinez was serving as an Army infantryman in Iraq when the Humvee he was driving hit an IED and Martinez suffered burns on his face and more than 30 percent of his body.
MORE: The 8 Most Memorable Moments From the 'DWTS' 10th Anniversary Special
With hard work and support Martinez persevered, landing an acting job on the ABC soap opera All My Children and becoming a motivational speaker in 2008, leading to his victorious run on DWTS.
Speaking with Oprah's Where Are They Now?, Martinez admits that after his traumatic injury and before his acting and speaking careers took off, he had his share of doubts about his life and his future.
WATCH: Janice Dickinson Dishes on Her Supermodel Origins on 'Oprah: Where Are They Now?'
"It was a year after my injury, and I was in his space of a young 20-year-old where I was kind of learning that I had this potential to influence simply by using my story," Martinez explained in the special. "At the same time, underneath all of that, there still was an element of the darkness."
Check out the video to hear more from Martinez about the challenges and obstacles he faced to become the success he is today.
Oprah: Where Are They Now? will air this Saturday at 10 p.m. on OWN.
Related Gallery
