Roya Karimi, a 30-year-old bodybuilder, is scheduled to compete in the World Bodybuilding Championships this week. Karimi, who was formerly a child bride and teenage mother in Afghanistan, achieved top-tier status in European bodybuilding less than two years after beginning her professional career in the sport.
Escape and New Life in Norway
In 2011, Karimi departed Afghanistan with her mother and young son, leaving her previous husband. She subsequently established residence in Norway as a refugee. In Norway, she continued her education, qualified as a nurse, and later married her current husband, who also participates in bodybuilding. Karimi has indicated that bodybuilding has contributed to her ability to overcome previous mental and social limitations. She has also noted the contrast with her previous experiences in Afghanistan, where she was unable to exercise freely.
Restrictions in Afghanistan
Karimi drew attention to the ongoing restrictions affecting women in Afghanistan, which have become more severe since the Taliban assumed power in 2021. These restrictions include prohibitions on schooling beyond the age of 12, limitations on employment, requirements for a male chaperone for extended travel, and mandates on vocal volume in public. Karimi expressed concern regarding the denial of fundamental human rights, such as education, for numerous women in her home country.
Transition to Professional Bodybuilding
Karimi's engagement with bodybuilding developed as a method to enhance self-confidence and redefine her personal identity after settling in Norway and pursuing a nursing career. She met her second husband, Kamal Jalaluddin, a bodybuilder, whose support she credits as instrumental in her decision to pursue professional bodybuilding.
Approximately 18 months ago, Karimi transitioned from her nursing profession to become a full-time professional bodybuilder. She cited adapting to newfound freedoms, following previous restrictions in Afghanistan, as a significant challenge. Karimi articulated a need to challenge "unwritten rules" that she perceives as originating from traditional, cultural, or religious contexts. Her public presentation in competitions, including attire and grooming, differs significantly from the social norms and official mandates regarding women's appearance in Afghanistan. This has resulted in online criticism, including threats. Karimi uses social media to engage with women in Afghanistan, promoting physical health, self-confidence, and personal identity development.