Child safety advocate Elizabeth Smart placed first in the Fit Model Novice category at the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding competition in Salt Lake City in mid-April. Smart, who survived a high-profile abduction in 2002, transitioned into the sport to celebrate her body’s strength and resilience after years of trauma.
The 38-year-old mother of three secured multiple honors during the event, including a second-place finish in the Fit Model category and third place in Fit Model Masters 35+. Despite the victory, Smart admitted to CBS Mornings on May 4, 2026, that performing in a bikini was a significant personal challenge.
“I grew up always just being so modest. I don’t think I wore a bikini until I was on my honeymoon,” said Elizabeth Smart, Bodybuilder and Advocate. “So stepping up on stage in a bikini felt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do. I was shaking.”
Smart explained that she had competed in three previous shows privately before deciding to share her journey publicly. Her interest in the sport began when knee pain interrupted her marathon training, leading her to seek new fitness goals with a coach.
“It was terrifying,” added Smart. “It was absolutely terrifying.”
The transition involved aesthetic adjustments that led to an unexpected complication during her stage routine. Smart described navigating the performance with unfamiliar accessories while being judged on her physique.
“I had these beautiful long mermaid hair extensions in that I’d never worn before in my life,” explained Smart. “And you have all this big jewelry on. And you go through like this whole posing routine, and there’s a point where you flick your hair back over your shoulder. And I hadn’t ever practiced it with the long hair and the big jewelry, and my ring got stuck in my hair onstage. And so I just had to rip it out.”
Smart viewed the experience as a way to reclaim her identity and move past the labels associated with her past. She noted that many survivors of sexual violence struggle with self-loathing or feelings that their bodies betrayed them.
“I think for so long I wanted to be taken seriously, I wanted whatever I had to say [to] matter, I wanted to feel like I was respected,” said Smart. “And I also feel like through doing this and putting this post out there, I feel liberated because I can be more than just one thing. I can be a body builder. I can feel beautiful or sexy, and I can still be an advocate for women and children against sexual violence.”
The advocate emphasized that her physical transformation serves as a tribute to her endurance through past hardships and the birth of her children. She expressed a desire to remove the shame often associated with survivor bodies.
“I shouldn’t be ashamed that I’ve taken care of (my body) and work to build it strong,” said Smart. “And I’m very proud of myself.”
Reflecting on her growth, she addressed her initial hesitation to post about the competitions on social media. She feared that being seen as a bodybuilder might diminish her professional standing as a serious advocate.
“I was too afraid to post it before,” Smart shared on Instagram. “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 currently resides in Utah and continues her work through the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. Her captor, Brian David Mitchell, remains in prison serving a life sentence, while accomplice Wanda Barzee was recently re-arrested in 2025 for parole violations.
“I only hope that we all find the courage to chase new experiences, goals, bettering ourselves, and most importantly happiness,” wrote Smart.
