I fell in love with movement at the age of 3 when I started competitive dancing. For 13 years, I practically lived at the studio, spending most of my waking hours training in numerous dance styles. I quit dance at 16, feeling lost without that discipline and healthy outlet. After high school, during a challenging time when my father fell ill, I joined a local gym. I taught myself resistance training through instructional videos on YouTube and various Instagram trainers I followed. The gym became my escape and significantly helped my mental health. I soon fell in love with the discipline that strength training reintroduced into my life and became obsessed with the principles of bodybuilding. As my strength and confidence grew in the gym, it carried over into other areas of my life. I could not only cope with my family’s situation but also proved to myself that I could overcome challenges. The gym became a tool for me to transform myself physically and mentally.

Initially, my goal was to be smaller, and I was strongly attached to the number on the scale. After years of spinning my wheels with that mindset, I worked through those barriers and began training to become strong. That’s when I saw the most progress, both in my physique and mindset. Watching my strength increase and muscle development became a badge of honour. I had aspired to compete as a bikini competitor for many years before fully committing to it. One thing was certain – fitness, the gym, and self-care transformed me. I wouldn’t have been able to face life’s adversities without the confidence and self-discipline that this lifestyle has given me. It taught me that showing up for myself in small daily habits compounded into something much more significant.