Growth comes in many forms — through challenges faced, boundaries broken, and lessons learned along the way.
We’re celebrating strength, resilience, and growth by sharing the inspiring stories of women in fitness who are breaking boundaries and making waves.
Each of these athletes has faced their own challenges and overcome them with determination, passion, and the support of a community that embraces inclusivity and progress. Through their journeys, they’ve not only transformed their own lives but also become advocates for breaking down stereotypes and proving that strength has no limits.
Get ready to be inspired by women who are redefining what it means to be strong—and showing the world that fitness is for everyone.
Can you please introduce yourselves and share your journey with us? What led you to where you are today in your fitness career?
Valeriia & Anya: @vallitfit & @anyundik
My name is Valeriia, and I’m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and Online Fitness Coach. Alongside my sister, Anya, we’ve built a platform that promotes strength, inclusivity, and the belief that fitness is for everyone — regardless of ability. Our journey started from a deeply personal place: a desire to take control of our own health while proving that strength has no labels.
I moved to the United States from Ukraine at 15 years old and pursued my passion for nutrition science, earning both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the field. While I was immersing myself in research and clinical practice, my own transformation led me to expand beyond nutrition into strength training. When my family was finally reunited after the war tensions in Ukraine, I created a wellness plan that included both nutrition and fitness — not just for myself, but for Anya and our parents as well. What began as a way to support each other soon evolved into something much bigger.
Witnessing Anya's growth and resilience inspired our family to share our journey online, which quickly resonated with people worldwide. Our constant drive to achieve what others may think is impossible, along with our mission to break stereotypes, has fueled our fitness career and advocacy work.
Natalie-Amber: @natalie_amber1
I am Natalie-Amber and I raise awareness for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, both are IBD Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.I trained as a dancer from age 16/17, at a private dance school. I was UK, British and Welsh Champion in Taekwon-Do sparring competitions. I represented my school in the Wiltshire long distance trials in secondary school. I was mis-diagnosed for 7 years and constantly told by doctors, that because of my profession as a dancer and model I was anorexic, I had a really tough time - I was told I was in the top 2% of dance school but I was lazy and never in, and therefore unlikely to succeed!
In December 2017 I found the answer to the ‘real’ reason to why I was called ‘lazy’. I collapsed, went blind, had sepsis and kidney failure, and blue-lighted to hospital, I had 2 emergency surgeries with 48 hours. I died on the table, was brought back and left with a huge scar down my stomach, a drain scar and also a stoma bag. I was unaware of this for over one week – it was a life changing shock. I have since had my stoma reversed, now I have 3 scars on my belly, I raise awareness and dedicate my life in helping women remember how beautiful they are. All bodies - all shape sizes, all disabilities, all genders, all are beautiful and worthy.
Emma: @livewellwithapell
My name is Emma, 24 years old from Sweden with a goal to inspire more women to love themselves, embrace life, and stay active.
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always said: “I just want to make the world a better and happier place.” That remains my mission to this day. I want to inspire women to live a life they love, to never be afraid to dream big, and to take care of their bodies every day.
My own fitness journey began with an "all or nothing" mindset, often leading to restrictive phases. However, those experiences taught me what fitness should truly be about: health. In the summer of 2020, I started my Instagram account while embarking on my own journey to gain strength. I later earned my certification as a personal trainer and nutritional advisor, along with a BSc in Psychology.
What inspired you to start your fitness journey, and how has it shaped who you are today?
Valeriia & Anya:
Our fitness journey was born out of a desire to create structure and stability in our lives.
As we started training, I saw firsthand how strength could transform lives beyond just aesthetics. Anya’s balance, coordination, and confidence improved in ways that doctors never predicted. Seeing her conquer challenges that once felt impossible changed my perspective on fitness — it wasn’t just about performance, it was about empowerment. This journey has shaped me into the coach, advocate, and sister I am today. It reinforced my belief that strength is about pushing past your own perceived limits, not about comparison, and it's about proving that no matter who you are, you belong in this space!
Natalie-Amber:
I was told by my surgeon that the reason I survived on the operation table was likely due to my fitness, which is a strong factor on why I am so passionate about the importance of moving your body. And I personally find fitness helps my own metal health. I was diagnosed with PTSD due to my trauma and when I am at my lowest, I have to drag myself to the gym, to a dance class or even just go for a walk, but I feel so much better for it after.
Also, knowing how unpredictable Crohn’s Disease is, one day I can be fine but the next be having surgery just like that, the importance of keeping active is so crucial. I had to learn to adjust to a new body and changes. This shaped me so much, and I now no longer care about these little things as they do not matter. What matters is I am alive, and I refuse to be ashamed when the alternative was not living to tell the tale.
Emma:
I remember seeing a woman lifting weights in the gym when I was about 15 and thinking ”oh wow she is so cool”.
It was one of my first times in a gym, and back then, seeing women in the strength area unfortunately wasn’t very common. A part of me wanted to be as strong as she was one day, and from that moment, I started training - on and off - for a few years. Then came a time in my life when I would say I trained for the wrong reasons. I had zero knowledge, worked out too hard, and ate too little. But that phase also made me realize what I truly wanted: to be that strong, confident girl lifting weights. So that’s exactly what I started working toward.
Can you share a defining moment in your journey that changed your perspective or pushed you to keep going?
Valeriia & Anya:
One of the most defining moments in our journey happened when Anya confidently walked up a flight of stairs without hesitation — something she used to fear. It might seem small to some, but it was a testament to the power of consistency, resilience, and belief in oneself. At that moment, I realized our journey was bigger than fitness — it was about breaking barriers and proving to ourselves and the world that abilities don’t define limitations. That moment solidified our mission: to show that strength has no labels and to inspire others to challenge their own perceived limits.
Natalie-Amber:
I was very dedicated to train as a PT. Every Saturday over winter I would have to travel outside of my hometown a round 42 mile trip to spend 6 hours learning the theory and practical elements. There were times where I felt like I just wanted to give up, the coursework took a lot out of me, I could be up until 5am rechecking and researching. However, I felt so amazing once I qualified because I had achieved something major. I knew that I could now work in my specialist field – I wanted to specialise in training women with chronic illnesses as I GET IT! I understand them, I understand chronic fatigue, I understand the restriction of stoma bags and surgeries.
Emma:
I went from being a teenage girl training for the visible six pack to a woman training for health, happiness and strength. It truly changed everything for me. Because once I did reach my goal of having a visible six pack I realized that it wasn’t what made me feel more confident in my body. Feeling strong was what gave me confidence. So, I shifted my focus toward building strength and training for my health. It’s an incredible transformation because suddenly, you start focusing more on performance and less on the size of your body. You go from training to be smaller to training as a celebration of everything your body is capable of.
How has being part of a women’s fitness community impacted your journey?
Valeriia & Anya:
Being part of a women’s fitness community has been incredibly empowering. It has shown us the power of collective strength and support. We’ve connected with women who uplift and inspire, who challenge the outdated notion that fitness is about looking a certain way rather than feeling strong and capable. For Anya, this community has been especially meaningful. Seeing women of all backgrounds push past their own struggles has reinforced that she, too, belongs in this space. It’s been inspiring to witness the way women rally around each other, celebrating victories big and small.
The women’s fitness community has also taught us the value of representation. The more we share our story, the more we realize how many others have been looking for a space where they feel seen and included. And that only pushes us to advocate even harder for a fitness industry where everyone feels they belong.
Natalie-Amber:
To go grab those dreams girl! How can you be a positive change if you don’t push to be the positive change. I really do think the reason I was saved on the operating table was for a reason, that reason, to make changes and help those who do not have a voice have one.
Emma:
That you are always capable of more than you think. This goes for your fitness journey and life itself. Us women are capable of fantastic things, we just need to believe in ourselves enough to see it ourselves.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another woman in fitness?
Valeriia & Anya:
One of the best pieces of advice we’ve received came from the owner of our gym, who reminded us that our journey is our own and no one can take that from us. She always encourages us to keep showing up, even when others doubt us. We’ve learned that the only way to create change is to keep pushing forward, regardless of what others say.
Natalie-Amber:
I recently recorded a documentary ‘Dare to Defy’ for Amazon Prime with Richard Whitehead (double paralympic gold medallist) and Adele Roberts, (radio presenter, celebrity) Adele is now the Guinness World Record Holder for running the fastest marathon with an ileostomy (stoma). She told me to believe in myself, and to not doubt that I can achieve my fitness goals because I can.
Emma:
Working out is an act of self love. It is something we should do to take care of ourselves. Fitness is here to enrich your life, it should never take away from it. It should never make you feel restricted. Because If we want to make it a lifestyle we should focus on creating a good balance. So do just that, create your own balance, set a goal take care of yourself every single day and never doubt your own potential.
These stories showcase the power of community, resilience, and the belief that strength comes in many forms. Whether overcoming challenges, redefining fitness goals, or simply showing up each day, these women inspire us to push past our limits and embrace the journey.
As we continue to celebrate the strength of women in fitness, let these stories remind you that you, too, have the power to achieve greatness. Keep lifting each other up, breaking barriers, and never stop believing in your potential!
