My fitness journey is rooted in survival, strength, and the relentless pursuit of self-discovery. I began working out seriously in 2022, but the true beginning of this path started two years earlier, in January 2020, when I received a life-altering diagnosis: kidney disease caused by a rare genetic condition known as Alport syndrome.
From the very start, the outlook wasnât promising. Doctors didnât expect me to maintain an active lifestyleâmuch less compete. But I wasnât ready to surrender to statistics or assumptions. I chose to fight back through fitness, and I chose to believe in my bodyâs potential, no matter what the medical charts said.
Bodybuilding quickly became more than a physical pursuitâit became my therapy. At a time when my health was unraveling, when diagnoses of lupus and endometriosis were added to the list and multiple surgeries became part of my new normal, the gym gave me something nothing else could: control. Eventually, dialysis became necessary to stay alive. But even then, the gym remained my sanctuary. Inside those walls, I wasnât a patientâI was powerful. My illness didnât define me there. My fears didnât follow me in.
Fitness has changed every aspect of my life. It taught me what resilience really looks like, how discipline isnât just about reps and sets, and how to completely redefine whatâs possible. Even on days when I feel physically drained, lifting reminds me that I am so much stronger than any diagnosis I carry. I've learned how to adapt, how to train smart, and most importantly, how to show upâespecially when itâs hard.
One thing people may not know about me is that Iâve turned my pain into purpose. I now advocate for kidney patients across the country, using my voice to push for better care, more access, and greater awareness. Iâve even had the honor of speaking on Capitol Hill, sharing my story to help drive real change. My platform is dedicated to raising awareness and reaching out to those who feel isolated by chronic illnessâto remind them they are never alone.
As for whatâs next, I have no plans of slowing down. Iâm determined to return to the competition stage as soon as I can. Iâm also working on launching a wellness program specifically for chronic illness warriors, because I believe fitness isnât just about aestheticsâitâs about survival, self-love, and choosing to show up for yourself, every single day.
This journey has taught me that strength isnât about lifting the heaviest weightâitâs about carrying the heaviest burdens and still rising. And I plan to keep rising, one rep at a time.
