Elizabeth Smart has embarked on a surprising new venture—bodybuilding. The 38-year-old child safety advocate shared a photo from April 21st, depicting herself competing in a bodybuilding contest. She captioned the image, "When I posted pictures of myself on stage in a bikini, it probably shocked many of you. I understand the shock, because had you asked me a couple of years ago if I would ever compete in a bodybuilding show, I would have said, 'Absolutely not! Never in 100 years!'" The photo showed her at the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding and fitness competition, which took place April 17th to 18th in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Smart revealed that this was her fourth bodybuilding competition but admitted, "I was too afraid to post it before. Worried that I would be judged, not taken seriously, somehow perceived as less than or unworthy to continue my work as an advocate for all survivors."
During her nine-month-long abduction at age 14, Smart endured daily rapes, physical abuse, and starvation. She was reunited with her family in March 2003 after being found by authorities while walking the streets of Utah. Now, she champions children's safety.
She compared her feelings about sharing her new fitness endeavor to her trauma from her kidnapping, writing, "This past weekend it struck me how eerily familiar these feelings and thoughts are for too many survivors. It's easy to be labeled as one thing, and honestly, that's not me nor do I think it's any of us. We are more than just one topic, one idea, one label."
She continued: "I am interested in many things, and as I get older, I realize more and more how important it is to make the most of today. We don't know what tomorrow brings. And I don't want to reach the end of my life and look back and feel regret for only living a half-life, not going after all the things I want to do and try."
Bodybuilding, she wrote, was "a big change for me. It was hard, it pushed me, challenged me not to give up. I am so proud of myself for doing this. I am so proud of my body, and I want to celebrate it. My body has carried me through every worst day, every hellish grueling experience. It's created and nurtured three beautiful children. My body has risen to every single challenge life has presented it with, and carried me through so I refuse to be ashamed of it. I refuse to feel embarrassed about trying something new and am embracing my chance at life to the absolute fullest I can. I only hope that we all find the courage to chase new experiences, goals, better ourselves, and most importantly, happiness."
She went on to thank those who have supported her on her journey, including her coach Robyn Maher, who wrote on her stories that Smart is "the toughest person I know. An amazing mother, an example to all women—kind-hearted, genuine, humble, charitable, loving—and also a badass. Yes, you can be all those things at once."
