If I could master English in three years and become an American citizen in five, I knew no challenge was too big—bodybuilding became my ultimate test, both physically and mentally. As a young Chinese woman, I’d been boxed into stereotypes of being small, docile, fragile—but I refused to fit that mold, stepping onto the stage of my first bikini competition to shatter every expectation. The 12-week prep pushed me to my limits: sculpting my physique, adhering to a grueling diet, and battling mental fatigue and mood swings. Yet the deepest cut wasn’t the physical strain—it was the sting of rejection from my relatives, who saw bodybuilding as ‘no woman’s place,’ especially not mine. With my parents’ and friends’ unwavering support, I pressed on, earning 2nd place in my debut and 1st place in all my 2020 competitions. Bodybuilding ignited a passion that knows no finish line—only constant growth. My journey is a call to others: step out of your comfort zone, especially if you’re marginalized, an immigrant, a woman in spaces not built for us. We belong, and we will thrive.