Introduction: Swimming the Sea to Strength and Stability

When life feels like an endless sea of chaos and confusion it’s hard to imagine reaching the land. Sports and fitness became my anchor, gently guiding me towards my better self.

Just like any working class family, growing up there was no shortage of leaks in the boat. First gen immigrant parents, council housing, precarity and uncertainty subjected our canoe to a level of instability that even Noah’s Ark would struggle with. However in the midst of the tumultuous waters emerged a safe haven donned with metal palm trees, rubber lily pads and endless reflective surfaces bouncing off aesthetically placed lights. Whilst navigating the uncertainty of homelessness, I discovered the gym - a place that transformed my life and ultimately set me on a path to success in both fitness and the beginning of my professional career.

Finding Strength Amid Hardship

At a time when I felt powerless, fitness gave me control. The weights didn’t depend on my circumstances—they simply reflected my effort. My journey in powerlifting began with small steps, but each lift was a personal triumph in a competition against the odds. These milestones - competing for Team GB, becoming the strongest female powerlifter in Cambridge and Oxford Varsity history - weren’t just milestones; they were reminders of the lengths I swam to reach a shore of strength, stability and most importantly happiness.

My experiences inspired the founding of Bear the Brunt, a charity designed to help others use fitness as a springboard for success. We’re proving that the grit it takes to train for a sport is the same grit that can drive progress in all aspects in your life, including professional development. Whether you’re lifting weights or pitching ideas in the boardroom, the skills you develop through sports—teamwork, focus, and resilience—are your greatest assets.

Your Challenges Can Be Your Strengths

If there’s one lesson going to the gym has taught me, it’s this: in the same way you can shrink, build and repurpose your body so it functions the way it should, you can also do the same to your life. By embracing fitness and focusing on personal growth, I found the strength to rewrite my story—and now I’m determined to help others do the same.

Let’s keep pushing boundaries, breaking barriers, and building futures. Whether in the gym or in life, the fight is always worth it.