Being active is a family tradition for Jennifer Forrester. Her father was a college athlete, and her parents happened to meet at a gym. Having been raised around sports, it was a natural fit for Forrester to choose her career as a personal trainer and gym owner. But as of late, her constant exercise has played a therapeutic role in the times she needed it most. "After this incredibly difficult summer of racial injustices, movement has really been an outlet for me to release any compounded stress that last year has had on me as a woman of color," Forrester told POPSUGAR.
Most days, Forrester wakes up at 5 a.m. for a yoga class to help center her relationship with her body and set mindful intentions for the day. One of those intentions is changing the dialogue on the types of bodies women should strive to attain. As a former track athlete, Forrester never wished to have a thigh gap or any other mark of "fitness" that runs rampant on social media. That's why she started her page, as a platform to celebrate strong bodies — which will look different for everyone.
To help girls learn that their strength isn't defined by anyone else's expectations, Forrester currently serves as the codirector of TrackGirlz. "It's a nonprofit organization committed to empowering girls through sisterhood and track and field," she said. "We focus our efforts on helping amplify the voices of women in the sport." Seeing herself as a role model for those growing into their own, Forrester has curated her Instagram page as a platform for young women to be inspired and emboldened by fitness, instead of being afraid of it.
