\n<\/aside>\nSmart, a kidnapping survivor, admitted she was previously too scared to post about competing in bodybuilding competitions.<\/p>\n
\u201c[I was] 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,\u201d she explained in her caption. \u201cThen this past weekend it struck me how eerily familiar these feelings and thoughts are for too many survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smart said she was proud of her body and everything it has gone through.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a big change for me, it was hard, it pushed me, challenged me not to give up,\u201d she shared of her fitness journey. \u201cI am so proud of myself for doing this. I am so proud of my body, and I want to celebrate it.\u201d<\/p>\nSmart, seen here working out with fellow bodybuilder Mackenzie Paralee Holsombake, also took home second place in the Fit Model category and third place in the Fit Model Masters 35+ category. Instagram\/mpholsombake<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSmart, seen here with Holsombake, stunned fans when she revealed she was a competitive bodybuilder on Instagram Tuesday. Instagram\/mpholsombake<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cMy body has carried me through every worst day, every hellish grueling experience, it\u2019s created and nurtured three beautiful children, my body has risen to every single challenge life has presented it with, and carried me through so I refuse to be ashamed of it,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n
Smart shared that she \u201crefused to be embarrassed\u201d about trying something new and embracing her life to the fullest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI only hope that we all find the courage to chase new experiences, goals, bettering ourselves, and most importantly happiness,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n
The support from her followers, including celebrities, has been overwhelmingly positive.<\/p>\n
Kristin Chenoweth wrote, \u201cYou look strong and beautiful\ud83d\udcaa\u2764\ufe0f.<\/p>\nThe kidnapping survivor said she refused to be ashamed of her body. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe mother of three received plenty of support from her fans, who were shocked at her super fit physique. WireImage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDebbie Gibson commented, \u201cCongrats!!! What a fantastically empowering new discipline to embarking on ! Rooting for you ! \ud83d\udcaa\u2764\ufe0f.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow kidnapping survivor Kara Robinson Chamberlain<\/a> also showed her support, writing, \u201cI always stand by the sentiment that there is something so amazingly healing about seeing what a body that has been abused is capable of when you make the choice. You have so much to be proud of this is just one thing to add to the list. \ud83e\udef6.\u201d<\/p>\nSmart made headlines in 2002 after being taken from her bedroom<\/a>\u00a0in Salt Lake City when she was 14 years old. She was rescued by police nine months later, and became an advocate for survivors of sexual violence and a child safety activist.<\/p>\nShe created the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011, which seeks to bring hope, empowerment and change in the fight against sexual violence.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n