Elizabeth Smart said bodybuilding is about more to her than just transforming her appearance. By: Inside Edition<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Elizabeth Smart<\/strong> recently competed in the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding and fitness competition in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she took first place in the Fit Model Novice category, second place in the Fit Model D category and third place in Fit Model Masters 35+ category.<\/p>\n Following her win, the kidnapping survivor sat down with Inside Edition<\/em> anchor Eva Pilgrim<\/strong> to discuss how the competition became about more than just transforming her body.<\/p>\n Elizabeth Smart struggled with how the world might see her differently. By: Janet Gough\/AFF-USA.COM\/MEGA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Before the competition, Smart struggled with how the world might see her differently.<\/p>\n \u201cI just kept on thinking, would people still believe me when I\u2019m talking about fighting s****** violence? The more I thought about it, my body has carried me through every bad experience in my life \u2014 it deserves to be celebrated,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Smart was 14 when she was abducted from her home and held captive for nine months, during which she suffered repeated abuse, physical violence and starvation. She was found alive in March 2003 and has since devoted her life to advocating for the protection of children.<\/p>\n \u201cI have one shot at life, and if my kidnapping should have taught me anything, it should teach me to live the life I\u2019ve always dreamed of, to do everything I want to do,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Smart also spoke with Gayle King<\/strong> on CBS Mornings<\/em>, on which she opened up about just how nerve-wracking competing was.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was terrifying. It was absolutely terrifying,\u201d she said. \u201cI grew up always just being so modest. I don\u2019t think I wore a bikini until I was on my honeymoon. So stepping up on stage in a bikini felt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do.\u201d<\/p>\n The mother of three admitted she was \u201cshaking\u201d when she first walked out, and the nerves only got worse after she suffered an issue with her wardrobe while on stage.<\/p>\n \u201cI had these beautiful long mermaid hair extensions that I\u2019d never worn before in my life,\u201d she recalled. \u201cAnd you have all this big jewelry on. And you go through, like, this whole posing routine. And there\u2019s a point where you flick your hair back over your shoulder. And I hadn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\nHer body \u2018deserves to be celebrated\u2019<\/h2>\n
<\/div>
\u2018The most vulnerable thing I could possibly do\u2019<\/h2>\n
How Smart got into bodybuilding<\/h2>\n