My Story
As a kid, I preferred to play sports with the boys while other girls were playing with Barbies. I was teased for being a “tomboy,” pushed around and laughed at for my buck teeth, and bullied in high school for being a lesbian. But on the field, everything was different. There, I was a star, winning trophies and titles, and bringing a certain amount of “glory” to my team. But once off the field, I continued to be rejected, and I suffered from low self-esteem.



Everything changed when I found my strength in weight training.
I realised that discipline and hard work could turn insecurity into empowerment. I threw myself into becoming a body builder—eating for strength, training harder than anyone else, entering competitions–and eventually ascending the podium a champion.


Achieving this kind of empowerment was something I wanted to share, especially with those who had ever felt unseen, pushed around, or excluded. So, I became a fitness coach, first in Australia, then Canada, and later in China, where I helped thousands of people reshape not only their bodies but also their lives.
For years, I revelled in my success. But when cancer hit, it shattered everything I thought I knew about myself.
For the first time, I was knocked down in a way that felt insurmountable. After all, I was Kara, the strong coach, the person who could handle anything—but suddenly, I felt broken. Who was I if I was not training or coaching? Would people still see me as strong? Who would take advice from a “coach with cancer”? I was lost and afraid, questioning if I’d ever find my way back to the life and identity I’d built.
Recovery was slow. Yet, through determination, faith, and a newfound resilience, I beat cancer and rebuilt my life. From my couch, I began coaching online, reaching clients all over the world. Later, I began speaking at international schools. I inspired both parents and children alike to believe that even the biggest obstacles don’t have to stand in the way of achieving our dreams. My mission was to teach people how to rise up and become their strongest, happiest selves through healthy diet and exercise.



” Since my full recovery, I have told my story from the TEDx stage. “
I have written two books sharing my coaching expertise. Perhaps most importantly, as a proud wife and a mum to twin boys, I have discovered that my biggest joy is to coach other mums who want to feel their best, take care of their health, and be active, present parents for their kids. Coaching parents to live their best lives for themselves as well as their families—without giving up the foods and activities they love–is the most rewarding vocation I could imagine for myself.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that true strength isn’t about never falling down. It’s about finding the courage to get up, as many times as that takes. I will help you to do the same!

