Elizabeth Smart Opens Up About Bodybuilding Journey: 'I Refuse to Be Ashamed'

Elizabeth Smart, an advocate for sexual assault victims who was kidnapped in 2002, has participated in multiple bodybuilding competitions. Smart posted a photograph from a recent competition on social media on Tuesday and stated it was her fourth such event.

Personal Statements

Smart wrote that she previously would not have considered competing in bodybuilding. She said she had been concerned about being judged or taken less seriously in her advocacy work. Smart described these feelings as "eerily familiar" for 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 added that she has multiple interests and wants to make the most of each day.

In an interview with CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King on Monday, Smart stated that her first bodybuilding competition was a vulnerable experience. She said, "I grew up always just being so modest. I don't think I wore a bikini until I was on my honeymoon. So stepping up on stage in a bikini felt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do. I was shaking."

Smart described her pivot into bodybuilding as "a celebration" of her body. She stated:

"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."

She concluded:

"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, bettering ourselves and most importantly, happiness."

Smart noted that revealing her participation in bodybuilding likely surprised many followers. She said she feels "almost liberated to a degree," because for so long she wanted to be taken seriously and respected. She added that bodybuilding allows her to be multiple things simultaneously: a bodybuilder, someone who feels beautiful or sexy, and still an advocate for women and children against sexual violence.

Background

Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home on June 5, 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was found by police in Sandy, Utah, on March 12, 2003, after being missing for nine months. Smart now advocates for sexual assault victims through the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which aims to support victims and prevent sexual assault exploitation.

Public Response

The comment section on Smart's social media post included praise from users who called her "an inspiration," a "powerhouse," and "a survivor who has taken her power back."

One comment stated: "Now your strength is visible on the outside, too."