NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Elizabeth Smart celebrated her accomplishments after placing at the bottom of her latest bodybuilding competition<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m so proud of myself for the hard work, discipline and bravery it takes me to compete,\u201d she wrote on social media on Sept. 5<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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The child safety advocate previously said that bodybuilding and stepping onstage in a bikini \u201cfelt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Elizabeth Smart<\/a> is proud of her bodybuilding accomplishments, regardless of where she finishes in competitions.<\/p>\nAfter competing in the North American Championships in Pittsburgh, the 38-year-old child safety advocate reflected on why participating in the event was a cause for celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother show for the books! Had such a blast,\u201d she wrote on Instagram<\/a> on Saturday, Sept. 5, alongside a video of herself posing onstage at the competition. \u201cI\u2019ve always said \u2018just stepping on stage is a win for me!\u2019 And I completely stand by that.\u201d<\/p>\nDuring the bodybuilding competition, Smart competed in two classes \u2014 a Masters 35+ class, which requires competitors to be 35 or older, and Open Class D, a height-based class \u2014 according to her post.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Elizabeth](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/09\/05\/e0e9b1bc-3e9c-3e9d-98ea-53f76bdf1e16\/50bfb0fc-f913-410b-a3ab-2efe98ee602c.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/div>\nElizabeth Smart competes at the North American ChampionshipsCredit: Elizabeth Smart\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\u201cI placed at the bottom of both classes,\u201d she continued. \u201cRegardless of where I placed, I loved the whole experience, had an amazing coach (@slcrobynmaher), got to step onstage with my best friend (@mpholsombake), and had the best support squad in the audience I could ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although she placed at the bottom, Smart emphasized how gratified she was to have \u201cbrought a better physique and stage presence than at my previous shows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m so proud of myself for the hard work, discipline and bravery it takes me to compete,\u201d she wrote. \u201cSo here\u2019s to pursuing goals and not giving up!\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Smart took first place in the Fit Model Novice Category<\/a> at the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding and fitness competition. She also took second place in the Fit Model category and ranked third in Fit Model Masters 35+.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Elizabeth](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/09\/05\/e0e9b1bc-3e9c-3e9d-98ea-53f76bdf1e16\/fdcbd955-d831-4724-805d-6035bc21ed8f.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/div>\nElizabeth SmartCredit: Elizabeth Smart\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
While posting a photo from the competition in April, the sexual assault survivor admitted, \u201cI was too afraid to post it before. 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<\/p>\n
During her nine-month-long abduction<\/a> at age 14, Smart was subjected to daily rapes and endured physical abuse and starvation before being found by authorities and reunited with her family in March 2003.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cIt struck me how eerily familiar these feelings and thoughts are for too many survivors,\u201d she continued at the time. \u201cI think it\u2019s easy to be labeled as one thing, and honestly, that\u2019s not me nor do I think it\u2019s any of us we are more than just one topic, one idea, one label.\u201d<\/p>\n
As she continued her bodybuilding journey, Smart shared that she found competing to be both rewarding and \u201cabsolutely terrifying<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Elizabeth](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/09\/05\/e0e9b1bc-3e9c-3e9d-98ea-53f76bdf1e16\/7fc681b2-7330-4703-8308-a686f65af404.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/div>\nElizabeth Smart (right) competes at the North American ChampionshipsCredit: Elizabeth Smart\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\u201cI grew up always just being so modest,\u201d she said during a May appearance on CBS Mornings<\/em>. \u201cI don\u2019t think I wore a bikini until I was on my honeymoon. So stepping up onstage in a bikini felt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cIn my line of work, I have met so many victims of sexual abuse and violence who feel like their body betrayed them,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd we see a lot of self-harm, eating disorders, feelings of self-loathing, loathing their body. For me, doing this, I feel like it has been a celebration of my body because it has carried me through every worst day, every bad experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read the original article on People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Elizabeth Smart celebrated her accomplishments after placing at the bottom of her latest bodybuilding competition<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so proud of myself for the hard work, discipline and bravery it takes me to compete,\u201d she wrote on social media on Sept. 5<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
The child safety advocate previously said that bodybuilding and stepping onstage in a bikini \u201cfelt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Elizabeth Smart<\/a> is proud of her bodybuilding accomplishments, regardless of where she finishes in competitions.<\/p>\n After competing in the North American Championships in Pittsburgh, the 38-year-old child safety advocate reflected on why participating in the event was a cause for celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnother show for the books! Had such a blast,\u201d she wrote on Instagram<\/a> on Saturday, Sept. 5, alongside a video of herself posing onstage at the competition. \u201cI\u2019ve always said \u2018just stepping on stage is a win for me!\u2019 And I completely stand by that.\u201d<\/p>\n During the bodybuilding competition, Smart competed in two classes \u2014 a Masters 35+ class, which requires competitors to be 35 or older, and Open Class D, a height-based class \u2014 according to her post.<\/p>\n Elizabeth Smart competes at the North American ChampionshipsCredit: Elizabeth Smart\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cI placed at the bottom of both classes,\u201d she continued. \u201cRegardless of where I placed, I loved the whole experience, had an amazing coach (@slcrobynmaher), got to step onstage with my best friend (@mpholsombake), and had the best support squad in the audience I could ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n Although she placed at the bottom, Smart emphasized how gratified she was to have \u201cbrought a better physique and stage presence than at my previous shows.\u201d<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so proud of myself for the hard work, discipline and bravery it takes me to compete,\u201d she wrote. \u201cSo here\u2019s to pursuing goals and not giving up!\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Smart took first place in the Fit Model Novice Category<\/a> at the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding and fitness competition. She also took second place in the Fit Model category and ranked third in Fit Model Masters 35+.<\/p>\n Elizabeth SmartCredit: Elizabeth Smart\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n While posting a photo from the competition in April, the sexual assault survivor admitted, \u201cI was too afraid to post it before. 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<\/p>\n During her nine-month-long abduction<\/a> at age 14, Smart was subjected to daily rapes and endured physical abuse and starvation before being found by authorities and reunited with her family in March 2003.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt struck me how eerily familiar these feelings and thoughts are for too many survivors,\u201d she continued at the time. \u201cI think it\u2019s easy to be labeled as one thing, and honestly, that\u2019s not me nor do I think it\u2019s any of us we are more than just one topic, one idea, one label.\u201d<\/p>\n As she continued her bodybuilding journey, Smart shared that she found competing to be both rewarding and \u201cabsolutely terrifying<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Elizabeth Smart (right) competes at the North American ChampionshipsCredit: Elizabeth Smart\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cI grew up always just being so modest,\u201d she said during a May appearance on CBS Mornings<\/em>. \u201cI don\u2019t think I wore a bikini until I was on my honeymoon. So stepping up onstage in a bikini felt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn my line of work, I have met so many victims of sexual abuse and violence who feel like their body betrayed them,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd we see a lot of self-harm, eating disorders, feelings of self-loathing, loathing their body. For me, doing this, I feel like it has been a celebration of my body because it has carried me through every worst day, every bad experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Read the original article on People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div>