Fitness influencer and two-time bodybuilding champion Alix Small has died at the age of 26, years after overcoming anorexia to compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The Scottish athlete, originally from Forfar, died on November 8, with news of her death confirmed by her mother, Karen Small, and a close friend.
Bodybuilding news account Beyond The Stage TV announced her death on Instagram, writing: “Shocked to hear to the terrible news of the passing of 2 x Fitness Pro winner and Olympian alixsmallll.”
The account added that it had received confirmation from Small’s mother and best friend.
According to TMZ, her cause of death has not been disclosed, and the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear.
Alix Small overcame anorexia to become bodybuilding champion
Small began struggling with anorexia when she was just 15 years old, with her weight reportedly dropping to around 70 pounds before she discovered bodybuilding.
In a 2021 interview with STV News, she credited the sport with helping her recovery by shifting her focus away from appearance and toward physical strength.
“People think bodybuilding is an aesthetics sport and it is but you’ve got to let go of what you look like and it’s about the performance side of it,” she explained.
“That’s really helped me along my journey and I just want to be the best that I can be.”
Small earned her IFBB Pro card at just 19 years old and won the 2021 Europa Pro Championships in Spain, qualifying for the prestigious Olympia competition, where she finished 12th.
Instagram/Alix SmallShe followed that success with another victory at the 2022 Mr. Big Evolution Pro in Portugal, securing a second Olympia qualification. However, health issues forced her to withdraw, and she never returned to professional competition.
Following her death, fellow bodybuilder Phoebe Goodwin shared an emotional tribute.
“You were such a funny, caring and thoughtful person, and I’ll always remember the kindness you showed me,” she wrote.
“I’ll never forget you being there for me when we got home after winning my IFBB Pro card. It’s a memory I’ll always hold close.”
Small’s mother also paid tribute to her daughter, writing: “We are simply devastated. She was my best friend and we did everything together. The world will be a lonely place without her.”
There is currently no established connection between Small’s history of anorexia and her death
