Elizabeth Smart was abducted out of her bedroom in the middle of the night nearly 25 years ago this summer. She spent nearly a year with her kidnappers before she was finally rescued. She’s spent the last two decades advocating for child safety, speaking out about her experience and healing. She made a shocking career change recently that left fans divided. Keep reading to find out why she kept it a secret and see the pictures of her career milestone.
Elizabeth Smart’s Kidnapping Gripped The Nation
Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping in 2002 made national news. A young girl from Utah abducted out of her bedroom in the middle of the night. The entire nation was transfixed, wondering where she was and who had taken her. The media surrounding the shocking case is similar to the attention the kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s mother is getting now.
Elizabeth Smart’s younger sister, who was the sole witness to the abduction, played a crucial role in her rescue. Mary Katherine Smart later recognized her sister’s kidnapper as a handyman who worked on the house. Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, were charged in the kidnapping after they were recognized while walking around town with Elizabeth Smart.
After her rescue, Elizabeth Smart detailed the horrifying ordeal, which included sexual abuse. Years after her kidnapping, she began a career producing movies about abductions. But after decades as a motivational speaker, she has a shocking new career.
Elizabeth Smart Makes Shocking Career Change 2 Decades After Abduction
Elizabeth Smart is now a married mother of three. She married Matthew Gilmour in 2012. The kidnapping survivor took to social media this week to share a shocking image of her new career after reaching a huge milestone. Elizabeth Smart took first place in a bodybuilding competition in Utah. It was only her fourth event.
Given her religious background and the traumatizing abduction, the news of her career change was a little jarring, to say the least.
Why She Kept It A Secret
Elizabeth Smart was able to keep her new career on the down-low by competing under her married name. However, she couldn’t resist sharing her huge win with fans. The career change sparked some comments that she felt she had to address.
She took to Instagram to share more details about her surprising career change. “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!” This is actually the fourth competition I’ve done, but I was too afraid to post it before,” she began in a lengthy caption.
She continued, “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.” However, she chose to share her bodybuilding career to celebrate her body, which has carried her through so much.
Elizabeth Smart didn’t reveal if she plans to continue competing in bodybuilding events now that she’s won first place. However, she refuses to be embarrassed by the career change.
Tell us your reaction to her new career in the comments.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
