Elizabeth Smart has shown off her ripped physique while revealing her new endeavor as a competitive bodybuilder.
The 38-year-old activist took to Instagram Tuesday, sharing a photo of her onstage at the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding competition in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the picture, she flexed her muscles while wearing a navy blue bikini and high heels.
“When I posted the pictures in my [Instagram] story of me standing on stage in a bikini it probably shocked many of you,” she shared in the caption. “I understand the shock because had you asked me if I would ever compete in a bodybuilding show a couple of years ago I would have said, ‘absolutely not! Never in 100 years!’
“This is actually the fourth competition I’ve done, but I was too afraid to post it before,” she added. “Worried that I would be judged, not taken seriously, somehow perceived as less than or now unworthy to continue work as an advocate for all survivors.”
Smart launched the Elizabeth Smart Foundation — which aims to end sexual violence and offer advocacy for victims — in 2011, nine years after she was kidnapped at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City home by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee.
When Smart testified for the first time in 2009, she said she was repeatedly raped, drugged and starved by Mitchell during her nine months in captivity. Mitchell is now serving a life sentence without parole for the 2002 kidnapping of Smart, while Barzee was released in 2018 after serving 15 years.
In her Instagram post, Smart noted that her fears about making her bodybuilding career public are “eerily familiar” feelings for “too many survivors.”
“I think 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 wrote. “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.”
She confessed that while bodybuilding was “a big change” for her, she was “challenged not to give up.” She said she’s extremely proud of herself and wants to celebrate her body.
“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,” Smart added. “I refuse to feel embarrassed about trying something new and am embracing my chance at life to the absolute fullest I can.”
Smart concluded: “I only hope that we all find the courage to chase new experiences, goals, bettering ourselves, and most importantly happiness.”
In the comments, many fans expressed their admiration for Smart’s dedication to her new pursuit.
“I always stand by the sentiment that there is something so amazingly healing about seeing what a body that has been abused is capable of when you make the choice. You have so much to be proud of this is just one thing to add to the list.” one wrote.
“Putting in the work!! I loved reading this thanks for sharing,” another added, while a third wrote: “This is brilliant. Congrats. We are all more than one thing. Go Elizabeth.”
