Elizabeth Smart is celebrating her bodybuilding journey despite finishing at the bottom of both classes at the North American Championships in Pittsburgh. For the 38-year-old child safety advocate, the competition was never simply about winning a trophy. Instead, stepping onto the bodybuilding stage represented courage, discipline, personal growth and a powerful celebration of what her body has carried her through.
Smart reflected on the experience in an Instagram post shared Saturday, Sept. 5, describing the competition as another memorable chapter in her bodybuilding journey.
“Another show for the books! Had such a blast,” Smart wrote alongside a video of herself posing onstage. She added that she has always believed that simply stepping onto the stage is a victory for her.
Elizabeth Smart Competes in Two Bodybuilding Classes
At the North American Championships, Smart competed in two different categories. One was the Masters 35+ class, which is open to competitors aged 35 and older. She also participated in Open Class D, a height-based category.
Although Smart did not place highly in either division, she remained proud of her performance and the progress she had made since previous competitions.
“I placed at the bottom of both classes,” she shared. However, she quickly emphasized that the result did not take away from how much she enjoyed the experience.
Smart credited her coach, Robyn Maher, for helping her prepare for the event. She also had the opportunity to compete alongside her best friend, adding another meaningful element to the experience. In addition, she praised the support she received from friends and family watching from the audience.
For Smart, the biggest victory was seeing improvement.
She said she was proud to have brought a better physique and stronger stage presence than she had demonstrated at her previous competitions. That progress, rather than her final ranking, became one of the most important takeaways from the event.
Smart Says Bodybuilding Has Been a Celebration
Smart’s bodybuilding journey has also carried a deeper personal meaning. Earlier this year, she competed in the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding and fitness competition, where she won first place in the Fit Model Novice category. She also finished second in the Fit Model category and third in Fit Model Masters 35+.
Despite those achievements, Smart previously admitted that sharing photos from the competition made her nervous.
She explained that she worried people might judge her or see her differently because of her decision to compete in bodybuilding. As a longtime advocate for survivors of sexual violence, she questioned whether appearing onstage in a bikini could somehow affect how people viewed her advocacy work.
Those concerns ultimately led her to a broader realization: people should not be reduced to a single experience, profession or label.
Smart has spoken openly about how many survivors struggle with their relationship with their bodies following abuse and trauma. Her own bodybuilding experience has allowed her to approach her body from a different perspective.
Elizabeth Smart Opens Up About Vulnerability
During a May appearance on CBS Mornings, Smart described bodybuilding as both rewarding and frightening. She explained that she had grown up being extremely modest and had rarely felt comfortable wearing revealing clothing.
Walking onto a bodybuilding stage in a bikini therefore represented an enormous personal challenge.
Yet Smart said the experience also became empowering. Rather than viewing her body through the lens of painful experiences from her past, she began to see it as something worth celebrating.
She has explained that her body carried her through some of the most difficult moments of her life. For that reason, bodybuilding became more than a fitness pursuit. It became an opportunity to appreciate her strength and reclaim a sense of confidence.
Smart Encourages Others to Keep Pursuing Their Goals
Following the North American Championships, Smart once again focused on perseverance rather than placement.
She celebrated the hard work, discipline and bravery required to compete and encouraged herself and others to continue pursuing their goals.
Her bodybuilding journey demonstrates that success does not always have to be measured by medals or rankings. Sometimes, success means overcoming fear, showing up, improving and refusing to give up.
For Elizabeth Smart, stepping onto the stage was itself a victory. And regardless of where she finishes in future competitions, her message remains clear: personal progress, confidence and perseverance can be achievements worth celebrating.
