Elizabeth Smart, the kidnapping survivor turned child safety advocate, has taken first place in just her fourth bodybuilding competition.
Videos by Wide Open Country
The 38-year-old competed at the Wasatch Warrior event in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday. She won the Fit Model Novice category.
Smart also impressed across multiple divisions, continuing her unlikely but powerful journey into bodybuilding.
Survivor-Turned Bodybuilder Claims First Place in Competition
In addition to her first-place finish, Smart placed second in the Fit Model category and third in the Fit Model Masters 35-plus division.
The mother of three shared her experience in a candid and emotional Instagram post. She reflected on how unexpected the journey had been.
"When I posted the pictures in my story of me standing on stage in a bikini it probably shocked many of you, and I understand the shock because had you asked me if I would ever compete in a bodybuilding show a couple of years ago I would have said, 'absolutely not! Never in 100 years!'," she wrote.
Smart admitted she initially feared that competing might impact how others viewed her work as an advocate.
However, she said her mindset shifted, guided by a simple yet powerful belief to embrace the present fully.
She explained that she did not want to look back on life feeling she had lived only a "half-life."
Smart Embraces New Chapter With Social Media Post
Reflecting on her achievement, Smart expressed pride not just in the result, but in the journey itself.
"I am so proud of myself for doing this. I am so proud of my body, and I want to celebrate it," she added. "My body has carried me through every worst day, every hellish grueling experience, it's 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."
"I refuse to feel embarrassed about trying something new and am embracing my chance at life to the absolute fullest I can."
She concluded with a message of encouragement: "I only hope that we all find the courage to chase new experiences, goals, bettering ourselves, and most importantly happiness."
Her post was met with an outpouring of support from followers and public figures alike.
Smart first made headlines in 2002 when she was abducted from her Salt Lake City home at the age of 14.
She was rescued nine months later and has since become a prominent advocate for survivors of sexual violence.
She founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011, dedicated to prevention, recovery, and advocacy.
In January 2026, Netflix released Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, a documentary that "unfolds through her own words and never-before-seen material."
