WRITTEN BY GRETTY GARCIA
A leading figure in the world of fitness for over a decade, an entrepreneur continues to zero in on her mission: strengthening her community.
@kayla_itsines | @sweat
To say that Kayla Itsines is one of the most dominating figures in the fitness world is a massive understatement. For the past decade, she has gone from training clients in her parents’ backyard to formulating her Bikini Body Guide and subsequent Sweat app—both of which were über transformative in the world of wellness. Indeed, little did the trainer suspect that when she signed up for Instagram around the time of its inception and used it to share her clients’ success stories that she was laying the foundation that would ultimately lead to her amassing a global audience.
“The business grew really naturally because there were so many women who were looking for a way to train with me after following me on Instagram,” says Kayla, who has scaled Sweat to feature almost 50 unique programs and more than 8,500 on-demand workouts with a community of equally consummate trainers.
The entrepreneur’s programs emphasize the importance of balance, consistency and a more holistic approach to health and wellness, encouraging individuals to embrace fitness as a lifestyle, rather than a temporary fix. “Sweat’s purpose is to empower women through fitness. No matter what stage of your health and fitness journey you’re in, we’re here to support all women to make positive change.”
Sweat’s purpose is to empower women through fitness. No matter what stage of your health and fitness journey you’re in, we’re here to support all women to make positive change.
And if the ability to empower others were quantifiable, it may be helpful to assess Kayla’s stats since 2009. In that time, she’s gained over 15.8 million Instagram followers and counting, and led her company through a reported $400 million sale to fitness-tech company iFit. However, despite the numerical figures, she’s most proud of the intangibles—namely, the community she’s built. “When I look at everything Sweat has achieved as a business, it’s definitely the community we’ve built that I’m most proud of. There are so many incredible friendships that have been born out of the Sweat app, and I feel really lucky to be able to play a role in these women’s stories.”
When I look at everything Sweat has achieved as a business, it’s definitely the community we’ve built that I’m most proud of. There are so many incredible friendships that have been born out of the Sweat app, and I feel really lucky to be able to play a role in these women’s stories.
Despite accomplishing so much during her fitness career, there’s still tons more on Kayla’s docket. In just the past four months, she’s released a slew of new programs, including hyper-curated content such as pregnancy routines and member-requested, on-demand workouts—the former of which may be an ode to her own personal journey and role as a second-time mother to her son Jax, who was born in January. “There’s so much more coming up on the calendar that I think our community will love, and we’ll continue to lean into our purpose and empower women around the world with incredible health and fitness experiences. Watch this space!”
KAYLA'S TOP PICKS
A fitness icon whose mission it is to lift others Every. Single. Day.
@isaacboots
Isaac Boots is a walking contrariety. He is—for all intents and purposes—a celebrity fitness trainer; however, he denounces the term (“I’ve worked with the biggest superstars in the world, but I don’t think that just because someone is famous, they should be emulated.”) He’s in the business of fitness, but champions mental and emotional well-being first and foremost. And though he’s constantly surrounded by the glitz and the glam of Hollywood, he somehow feels most at peace in New York—the place that fostered his creative talents upon arrival from his native Hawaii and offered him a home in the most sleepless district that the most sleepless city has to offer: Broadway.
I’ve worked with the biggest superstars in the world, but I don’t think that just because someone is famous, they should be emulated.
“I was a Broadway dancer for about 12 years. I moved to New York when I was 17, and with the dream of being a dancer on Broadway, I just hit the pavement and didn’t have an agent,” recalls Isaac, almost as if experiencing all of the visceral emotions from way back when all over. And it makes sense. After all, it was during this transformative time—namely while on his run on West Side Story—that the wellness icon created his now-famous Torch’d workout.
“It was such a grueling show that I didn’t have time to go to the gym and do all the things that I love, whether it’s running in the park or taking class. Because as a dancer, my body has always been my machine. I have to keep it vibrant,” Isaac muses. But what began as a solo warm-up for the dancer became a group exercise for the entire cast, and ultimately led to Isaac receiving calls from heavy-hitters including Ariana Grande, Gwyneth Paltrow and Vanessa Hudgens.
And when the pandemic collectively shut down the world, the entrepreneur went from a trainer-to-the-stars to a star-in-training. “I offered Torch’d as a one-off on my Instagram Live. And it really just blew up there. It blew up there. And I started doing it every day at 11:00 am Eastern. I had everybody from Tokyo to Australia to all over Europe, to all over North America, Brazil, Guatemala, doing Torch’d every day, including my clients.”
I offered Torch’d as a one-off on my Instagram Live. And it really just blew up there. It blew up there. And I started doing it every day at 11:00 am Eastern. I had everybody from Tokyo to Australia to all over Europe, to all over North America, Brazil, Guatemala, doing Torch’d every day, including my clients.
I’ve done it all, and I appreciate it all, and I’ve worked my ass off. But what really matters and what I think is the most rewarding is using a platform and using any type of popularity that you may have for something that is actually meaningful.
Though one might assume that’s where Isaac’s story ends, it’s where his most striking paradoxical quality comes in: remaining centered in a space that has, until very recently, been predicated upon vanity. “I’ve worked at the top of the industries—and I say industries being theater, Broadway, Hollywood. I’ve choreographed the Billboard Awards, Grammys, I’ve choreographed countless Vevo-certified music videos. I’ve done it all, and I appreciate it all, and I’ve worked my ass off. But what really matters and what I think is the most rewarding is using a platform and using any type of popularity that you may have for something that is actually meaningful.”
And though meeting Torch’d fans around the world, partnering with causes including World Childhood Fund Foundation, the Trevor Project and Baby to Baby, and flying into Manhattan to host fundraiser events for friends with rare, noxious diseases might keep Isaac perpetually on his feet—and quite literally in the air—he remains grounded. “It makes the blessings that you have not seem vulgar, to me anyway. I live a very blessed life, but I’m still that boy from Waimanalo on food stamps. I can never forget who he is. And so having gratitude is huge to me. And showing gratitude I think is giving back even just a little bit, even if it means me going on Instagram and giving a 20-minute work workout.”
It makes the blessings that you have not seem vulgar, to me anyway. I live a very blessed life, but I’m still that boy from Waimanalo on food stamps. I can never forget who he is. And so having gratitude is huge to me. And showing gratitude I think is giving back even just a little bit, even if it means me going on Instagram and giving a 20-minute work workout.
ISAAC'S TOP PICKS
A psychologist with beaucoup scientific accolades disseminates her discipline to help others make enduring mindset shifts.
@drdeepikachopra | @allthingsarelookingup
Dr. Deepika Chopra is a psychologist, visual imagery expert and media personality known for her innovative approach to mental wellness. She’s also more colloquially known as the Optimism Doctor, a moniker bestowed by a client. Its meaning rings true to what it sounds like at face value: An expert who, albeit guided by science-backed evidence, still credits and champions the transformative power of inner positivity.
Though she’s made her mark in the wellness space and has amassed a legion of followers and fans, Dr. Chopra’s career trajectory was anything but linear. In fact, her first two jobs out of undergrad were at a punk record label and a bank. During her time doing mergers and acquisitions, she got the chance to work on a large public health-related project that propelled her into the field of psychology.
“I had an excellent mentor (my boss at the time) who pointed out how I lit up when we had an organizational psychologist come to our management retreat. With his blessing, I quit that same week and went back to the Neuro Psychiatric department at my alma mater, UCLA, and knocked on every single door offering myself as a volunteer or intern to learn more about the field before I decided to go head first and apply to the master’s and then doctorate program.”
It was during her graduate career, however, that Dr. Chopra began to increasingly fixate on the science behind the brain, optimism and visualization. The psychologist continued to be fueled by her inquisitiveness, which ultimately led to her starting her own practice and subsequent business. “It is really from that curiosity and the insatiable drive I had to learn about how our brains work and how we could all improve, grow and elevate our mindsets that Things Are Looking Up was born.”
I have always said, although I am known as that Optimism Doctor, I am not the most optimistic person.
The optimism deck, so to speak, comprises 52 cards—each of which has a holistic or science-based prompt or suggestion specifically targeted to increase joy, resilience and happiness. To this day, the project is one of Dr. Chopra’s most treasured master strokes. “Being able to be stretched outside of my comfort zone and creating something I am really proud of—and so many people all over the world use and benefit from—is something I really take pride in.”
But as much as the expert emphasizes practicing gratitude and optimism, she also makes space to be human. “I have always said, although I am known as that Optimism Doctor, I am not the most optimistic person,” she insists, adding that though her profession is her calling, she, too, is constantly working on and refining her own toolkit in the pursuit of elevating her own emotional state. “I am transparent in sharing my struggles and my journey as well.”
I am transparent in sharing my struggles and my journey as well.
DEEPIKA'S TOP PICKS
An immutable health cognoscente takes a highly personal route to wellness influence.
@samiclarke
Sami Clarke is one the brightest rising stars in the wellness space, but many of her earliest fans likely always knew she’d achieve cult-favorite status. After all, fitness and nutrition have always come naturally to the influencer, whose parents had continuously instilled in her the belief to always prioritize herself when it came to her health. It was ultimately a move to Los Angeles to pursue modeling, however, that changed everything for Sami.
“I began to share my wellness journey with fellow models and followers and it began to attract attention because I found a very healthy balance with wellness in my everyday life.” Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the model began sharing her at-home workouts across social media and quickly began amassing followers.
I began to share my wellness journey with fellow models and followers and it began to attract attention because I found a very healthy balance with wellness in my everyday life.
Fast-forward two years, and Sami’s content has permeated throughout social media apps, from TikTok to Instagram—so much so that she’s developed a digital platform called FORM, offering everything from workout programs and recipes to encyclopedic lifestyle guidance. “The community that I have established between FORM and our community members is something I’ve never experienced before—from our community walks taking place all over the world, Community Leads program with amazing ambassadors sharing FORM daily, and Whatsapp groups that have fostered some of the most intimate friendships with these incredible women.”
And with every passing day, people are drawn more and more to the wellness trainer’s lifestyle, proving that though they may come for her “What I Eat in a Week” and “Day in the Life” content, they stay for Sami because she’s lived and breathed the wellness lifestyle before it was trendy. “Continuing to believe in yourself has always been my priority. Staying true to myself and my journey is what set me apart from the rest of the influencers in the space.”
As for what’s next? A simple scroll on social media unveils that answer: Bootcamp sessions pre-Coachella with Alix Earle and a bevy of other preeminent influencers, candid content about the more austere moments she faces beyond the glitz and the glam that further build a bridge between herself and her followers, and constant open communication with countless FORM community members who consider her an inspiration. “It encourages me to continue being myself. I only share my honest most authentic self on my platforms.”
It encourages me to continue being myself. I only share my honest most authentic self on my platforms.
SAMI'S TOP PICKS
A journalist-turned-lifestyle maven uses her platform to inspire others vis-à-vis their relationship with food.
@bonberi
Nicole Berrie is no stranger to the multi-hyphenate title. After all, she’s a journalist, author and wellness expert whose passion for health has made her one of the leading figures in the industry. And yet, though the accolades of a multi-hyphenate are always marveled over, what’s less often discussed is the constant impasses they face before ultimately developing the tools—and tenacity—to remedy them.
I used to work as an editor in magazines in my 20s and was living my so-called dream life, but physically and mentally, my lifestyle was really taxing and I began to feel exhausted, burnt out.
“I used to work as an editor in magazines in my 20s and was living my so-called dream life, but physically and mentally, my lifestyle was really taxing and I began to feel exhausted, burnt out,” says Nicole about her life just prior to becoming interested in holistic health. From acupuncture and juicing to meditation and colonics, the businesswoman knew that the only way out of the episode was through the pursuit of wellness—and she dove in, headfirst. But as she began to improve, Nicole realized that though things weren’t as cut and dried as “taking a magic pill” or “living in a Spartan way,” there still wasn’t a streamlined place of inspiration others could turn to when they decided that they, too, wanted to embark on their own journey. Enter Bonberi.
Nicole realized that though things weren’t as cut and dried as “taking a magic pill” or “living in a Spartan way,” there still wasn’t a streamlined place of inspiration others could turn to when they decided that they, too, wanted to embark on their own journey.
Not only has the popular wellness site heightened in popularity over the years as Nicole has built a loyal legion of fans who turn to her for inspiration and advice on all things health and wellness, but her own starpower has increased with it. So much so, in fact, that she’s expanded beyond Bonberi—and its brick-and-mortar offshoot Bonberi Mart—and written her own book, Body Harmony, an intuitive guide to plant-based eating. Not only is the project the influencer’s self-admitted biggest accomplishment to date, but it’s the physical manifestation of Nicole’s dedication to her sphere. Once burnt out and lost, she is now shepherding a new wave of people determined to live happier, healthier lives.
Over time, Nicole’s influence has continued to grow as she inspires people around the world to embrace a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Her holistic approach to wellness is a refreshing antidote to the stress and chaos of modern life, and her dedication to helping others achieve their nutrition and wellness goals is a testament to her unwavering commitment to her beliefs.
What’s next? Ever the multi-hyphenate, Nicole wants to do more, and dreams of eventually hosting a traveling cooking show that features all the historic and new-wave health joints all across the world: “Think Anthony Bourdain meets Bonberi! I think he would approve.”
NICOLE'S TOP PICKS
A former athlete-turned-industry leader whose ontology is predicated upon the mantra, “Another day, another chance.
@joeholder
Joe Holder is a man whose reputation precedes him. After all, it’s been roughly a decade since his football-playing days at the University of Pennsylvania, where he first developed his signature Ocho System. An acronym that stands for “one can help others and others can help one,” the Ocho System was formulated amid a difficult period for the athlete at the Ivy League school.
In 2010, Joe sustained an ankle injury, but was able to get back on the field after taking some time to recover. However, shortly after his rehabilitation, he wound up breaking his leg. It was then that the athlete began thinking about the interconnectedness between his body and mind and conjured the system, which wound up being so efficacious that he was back on track and playing again within a few weeks. “To me, it’s not fitness in the sense of working out. It’s fitness for being able to design your own life. And I just think I presented it in a different way.”
To me, it’s not fitness in the sense of working out. It’s fitness for being able to design your own life. And I just think I presented it in a different way.
In the years following his undergraduate career, Joe began working with a company called Health Warrior—which was subsequently purchased by PepsiCo—selling chia seeds and bars. It was there that the trainer was further inspired by the relationship between food and fitness and connected it back with his time at UPenn.
Now, a preview into the countless successes Joe has amassed can be seen with a simple scroll on social media: Working as a consultant for brands like Smartwater, maintaining a Rolodex of celebrity clientele that includes Naomi Campbell and Romee Strijd, and launching System of Service—a community organization that provides accessible service opportunities for those looking to give back.
For all that the trainer has accomplished, he continues to show up for himself and those around him. “My biggest accomplishment was just showing up. Was saying yes to more things, was delaying gratification, was establishing relationships that weren’t just transactional. And it was proving my worth before I got my shot. Because you never want to figure it out after your name is called, for lack of a better term.” As for what’s in store? He tells LVR, “I just want to figure out the best ways to diffuse a positive message, help people get what they want. But you won’t have the spotlight forever, I got to take advantage of it. The next two years are really focused on that.”
JOE'S TOP PICKS
My biggest accomplishment was just showing up. Was saying yes to more things, was delaying gratification, was establishing relationships that weren’t just transactional. And it was proving my worth before I got my shot. Because you never want to figure it out after your name is called, for lack of a better term.
A wellness veteran who has turned her wealth of knowledge into a sophisticated, highly lauded fitness program.
@kirastokesfit
In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell repeatedly refers to the “10,000-hour rule”—a concept proposed by the psychologist K. Anders Ericsson, who postulates that the key to achieving true expertise in any skill is simply a matter of deliberate practice for that amount of time. With over 20 years—or 175,200 hours to be exact—of experience in the fitness industry, it’s difficult to encapsulate Kira Stokes’ staggering level of mastery. But one thing is for certain: She’s put in the work.
Kira’s journey to becoming a fitness maven is one of tenacity and unbridled passion, with beginnings that can be traced back even prior to the early aughts when it wasn’t deemed “cool” to be in fitness. “If you wanted to get into the industry, you were getting into it because you truly wanted to help people, and you truly wanted to inspire overall wellness to others,” she muses. “There was no inkling of ‘I want to be famous,’ or ‘I want to train celebrities.’ You honestly had to have your heart in it in the best of ways with the most honest of reasons.”
However, after a successful stint climbing the rankings in the Boston fitness scene and not-so-casually amassing a Rolodex of celebrity clientele that included Patriots players and other members of the city’s elite, the trainer’s husband proposed an idea after a promotion at the time led him to New York: Take a stab at continuing the practice in the city. After all, she recalls, “If you can make it there…”
It was around that time when Kira’s client and confidant, Brendan Fallas, wound up becoming her manager upon encouraging the wellness expert to expand her business beyond in-person training. “As a trainer, you’re capped,” she notes. “There’s only so many hours in a day. There’s only so many people you can train, and there’s only so much you can charge before people are like, ‘Yeah, I’ll go,’ despite how good you are.” Thus began the idea for a venture larger than herself, which began as a brick-and-mortar store that was ultimately never realized (“It was feeling claustrophobic. Did I want to be stuck in one place?”) and wound up becoming a virtual platform that has amassed a cult following and left an indelible mark on the fitness world and beyond.
I don’t know if I’ve ever said to myself ‘I’ve made it,’ because I’ve always had another phase in my mind, another step that I wanted to get to.
When asked about her “a-ha moment”—the definitive juncture when she just knew she’d made it, Kira finds it difficult to say. “I don’t know if I’ve ever said to myself ‘I’ve made it,’ because I’ve always had another phase in my mind, another step that I wanted to get to.” She says she’s working on it, though. Trying to relish living in the moment more, rather than being hyper-fixated on what’s next. So what’s next for the fitness mogul? “A global takeover,” she immediately deadpans. But after the well-over 10,000 hours she’s put into cultivating her brand and building her legacy, it’s a sure bet she’s well on her way.
KIRA'S TOP PICKS
A steward of connectivity and compassion takes open dialogue to new heights.
@vanessacornell | @nushu
“I had spent my whole life meeting everyone else’s expectations, and I had completely lost myself along the way,” says Vanessa Cornell, founder of NUSHU, a renowned wellness collective and expansive global community. The self-proclaimed “anti-influencer” experienced a profound breakthrough after two elite pedigrees (Harvard University and Goldman Sachs); five children, and eight years of being “pregnant, breastfeeding or both.” “I had a deep yearning to learn more about my inner landscape. I had been a high-achieving, people-pleasing perfectionist my whole life.”
I had spent my whole life meeting everyone else’s expectations, and I had completely lost myself along the way.
Curiosity got the best of Vanessa, who, in her nascent stages of creating NUSHU, turned to other women and their experiences as she began her own journey of reclaiming herself and catching up on lost time. Indeed, after feeling disconnected for years on end, the founder finally found the beauty of synergy—and she wanted others to feel the same. “The shift of energy was palpable. I don’t think people realize how much they hide their true feelings and pretend in their lives, and how freeing it is when you finally have a place where you can lay down all of those masks. When we do that, we realize that we are not alone. We realize we are supported.”
The shift of energy was palpable. I don’t think people realize how much they hide their true feelings and pretend in their lives, and how freeing it is when you finally have a place where you can lay down all of those masks. When we do that, we realize that we are not alone. We realize we are supported.
Since then, Vanessa has gone on to curate larger, more open discussions with potent thought leaders, offer community programming and train countless facilitators to approach their own conversations with the same awareness and respect that she’s not only refined, but mastered over the years. Still, she admits, what’s as important as progress is knowing that it’s not linear. “It’s so interesting how sometimes the wellness world can start to just feel like a pressure cooker. Achievement culture has seeped into wellness in a really damaging way,” she muses. “We’re trying to feel well but we just feel like we’re failing, like we should be meditating more or we should be eating better. At the end of the day, it’s so important to give ourselves tons of grace and to tune in instead and ask: ‘What do I need right now?’ Sometimes what you need is a break from the wellness journey.”
At the end of the day, it’s so important to give ourselves tons of grace and to tune in instead and ask: ‘What do I need right now?’
VANESSA'S TOP PICKS
A physical therapist uses her penchant for authenticity to inspire others around the world.
@lathoma3 | @daretobeactiveofficial
Getting married and having to live mostly outside of the U.S. proved to be a pivotal event that became the impetus for Dr. LA Thoma Gustin’s physical therapist-turned-global content creator career arc. While working at a physical therapy clinic, a majority of the patients she would care for suffered from chronic neck or back pain, or “things that could easily be prevented or managed with just a little bit of knowledge, adjusted habits and increased activity.” That’s when the idea of Dare to Be Active was born.
Figuring that she could expand her reach and help others, the wellness expert began doing what she did best: elucidating her wealth of knowledge on rehabilitation and fitness-related content and making it digestible so that others could learn from it. “That led me to start a YouTube channel where I could post more long-form follow-along workouts, and that led to getting the opportunity to develop my own app. Being able to coach people through workouts using my knowledge as a physical therapist has been such an amazing tool, and I really lean on that teaching aspect in my videos.”
A majority of the patients she would care for suffered from chronic neck or back pain, or “things that could easily be prevented or managed with just a little bit of knowledge, adjusted habits and increased activity.
Figuring that she could expand her reach and help others, the wellness expert began doing what she did best: elucidating her wealth of knowledge on rehabilitation and fitness-related content and making it digestible so that others could learn from it. “That led me to start a YouTube channel where I could post more long-form follow-along workouts, and that led to getting the opportunity to develop my own app. Being able to coach people through workouts using my knowledge as a physical therapist has been such an amazing tool, and I really lean on that teaching aspect in my videos.”
Being able to coach people through workouts using my knowledge as a physical therapist has been such an amazing tool, and I really lean on that teaching aspect in my videos.
One of the indelible hallmarks of Dr. LA Thoma’s approach is her emphasis on being pragmatic and making the most of the cards one is dealt. Case in point: She routinely advises her clients to try to refrain from taking a full week off from exercise (“It just makes it harder to get back into it!”). Instead, she recommends fine-tuning their regimen, even if it means getting in a 10-minute walk. “One of the biggest keys to truly making exercise part of your life is consistency over time.”
She’s also genuinely one of the most “real” influencers out there—a quality that keeps her followers coming back for more. “I think that people forget that social media is just a snapshot of someone’s life,” she muses. “The social media fitness and wellness world can be very intimidating and sometimes live on two ends of the spectrum. It is either super curated to make someone’s life look like they are on a constant wellness retreat, or it tells you whatever you are doing is wrong and it will show you the correct way to train, eat or live.” Dr. LA Thoma’s definitive stance lies squarely in the space between. “I always want to show a realistic and approachable window into my life to show people that living a healthy lifestyle does not have to be as complicated and curated as it can be made to seem.”
I always want to show a realistic and approachable window into my life to show people that living a healthy lifestyle does not have to be as complicated and curated as it can be made to seem.
Dr. LA Thoma Gustin's Top Picks
A professional dancer-turned-fitness magnate has mastered the art of knowing her brand.
@Meganroup
Though Megan Roup “quickly fell in love” with fitness while dancing professionally and working in fashion, it’s her continuous passion that has sustained her career and fed her entrepreneurial spirit in the years since. And it all began in 2017 with The Sculpt Society. Chances are, you’re likely familiar with the class—a dance-inspired workout that combines high-intensity cardio with targeted resistance training to sculpt and tone the body. A bonus? Not only is it incredibly efficacious, but it’s fun. And it was born out of Megan’s desire to create a space for women to feel confident in their own bodies.
“The Sculpt Society combines so many modalities—from reformer pilates, yoga, sculpt and dance cardio—to give women everything they need in a class in under an hour. The community and workout is built around a positive mindset within movement and fun, joyful practice.” And though it’s easy to glance at Megan’s Instagram or attend one of The Sculpt Society’s medley of classes IRL while it’s on tour and bear witness to how many lives it touches, turns out, it wasn’t always that way.
The Sculpt Society combines so many modalities—from reformer pilates, yoga, sculpt and dance cardio—to give women everything they need in a class in under an hour. The community and workout is built around a positive mindset within movement and fun, joyful practice.
“A big misconception is that people think The Sculpt Society was born overnight,” recalls Megan. The wellness influencer oftentimes has flashbacks to her first month teaching—days in which she would only have one or two people taking her classes as she worked assiduously to grow the community organically through word of mouth. But despite the amount of people in the room, her ethos remained the same: “Regardless of whether my class had one or two people or it was sold out, I always took the approach of giving everyone in the class the best experience, making sure they left feeling empowered and successful.”
As an accomplished entrepreneur, Megan has launched several successful businesses in the fitness industry aside from The Sculpt Society, including a line of athleisure wear and equipment. But that’s just the beginning for the professional dancer, who is laser-focused on continuing to build her community, which beelines to her “come for the results, but stay for the feeling.”
And though she’s at the helm of the distinguished brand, it’s those very same women Megan was inspired by at the beginning of her career trajectory who continue to shape her present and future ventures. “We want to make sure we have content and programs for every stage of life—everything from bridal to pre- and post-natal and all the moments along the way.”
MEGAN'S TOP PICKS
Touting an amalgam of gastronomical experiences and influences allowed this content creator to remain true to herself while inspiring others.
@veggiekins
For Remy Morimoto Park, what began as an Instagram food log to help her heal through an eating disorder turned into a transformational wellness empire predicated upon healthy living in all of its many facets. When she initially launched her blog Veggiekins, the now-full-time content creator was fairly new to veganism, thus a majority of the meal ideas she shared catered to other aspiring vegans and vegetarians.
“I think the timing was right because around the same time, people started to get more interested in the vegan lifestyle and I got more into cooking and recipe development,” recalls Remy about the inception of her journey. “Since then, my goal has been to help encourage others to take steps toward plant-based eating and living and a wellness-informed lifestyle.”
Since then, my goal has been to help encourage others to take steps toward plant-based eating and living and a wellness-informed lifestyle.
With her unwavering dedication to her craft, Veggiekins has become a leading voice in the industry, with a unique approach to veganism that emphasizes the importance of balance, nourishment and self-care. Over the years, she has moved on from food logs to an endless catalog of content spotlighting recipes, meal plans and lifestyle tips that innately improve one’s physical and mental health.
Those who have followed Remy over the years understand that while her social media channels and website showcase aesthetically pleasing content in a vibrant color palette of pinks and greens, her carefully curated feed digs much deeper into what it truly means to practice wellness from the inside out. She offers honest conversations about eating disorders, sobriety journeys and holistic healing.
And despite tackling this prodigious medley of paramount themes, Remy has managed to maintain her own sense of identity, incorporating her own Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese background into her recipe ideas and wellness tips. “I have to give credit to my mum because she always raised my sisters and me to think about health and wellness in a hybrid Eastern/Western way. We take a lot from our Eastern culture and modern science to inform our regimen. I think that intersection is really important, because I’m not one to shy away from conventional medicine where needed, but I’ll also preventatively take and supplement with the magic that Mother Earth has to offer through herbs and flowers.”
Remy’s multilayered leanings have spawned a bevy of opportunities over time, but the one she’s most proud of is her cookbook. Due out next spring, it is informed by her mixed cultural upbringing and her longtime, and at times complicated, relationship with food. “It is a traditional cookbook, but I also use food and recipes to tell the story of my own journey, because food is such a powerful storytelling tool.”
REMY'S TOP PICKS
A content creator conjures revelatory work informed by her own personal experiences and impressive pedigree.
@dr.winnatlife
“I realized that so many people give health and wellness advice, but they might not necessarily have a Doctorate of Physical Therapy to back up some of the scientific knowledge,” says Dr. Winnie Yu over the phone, when recalling her transition from the occasional Instagram post about wellness to full-on scaling her brand vis-à-vis her impressive résumé.
I realized that so many people give health and wellness advice, but they might not necessarily have a Doctorate of Physical Therapy to back up some of the scientific knowledge.
And the move made sense. After all, a simple scroll on the myriad social media apps readily at our disposal provides seemingly endless health and fitness content—a large amount of which comes from individuals who are far from well-versed in the space. Enter Dr. Winnie, who has spent a great deal of time in her career sifting through the noise to form an educated wellness mantra that has propelled her to the forefront of the fitness world.
Still, it took years for the physician to understand the importance of balance between not only physical health, but mental health as well. Around 2020, after a number of health issues—one of which was a cancer scare—Dr. Winnie says, “I was getting really burnt out that I just didn’t take care of myself. I was working out four or five days a week, but I didn’t realize that that wasn’t really being healthy. Just because I was moving, I wasn’t really prioritizing nutritious meals. I was eating three times a day, but it just wasn’t healthy. I wasn’t actually holistically healthy.” That’s when she redirected her focus.
Dr. Winnie’s philosophy of holistic health—embracing the good with the bad and accepting that life will invariably be messy at times— is grounded in a deep understanding of the transformative power of humanity. Now, the medic prioritizes patience over perfection, both for herself and her Rolodex of clients. “If they haven’t slept well in the last four days, I take that into consideration. And I’m like, ‘alright, so you scale back.’ And it’s not so much about pushing yourself; it’s more about taking everything into consideration.”
As for her words of wisdom for anyone embarking on their own wellness journey? “Work hard and then be patient at the good and the bad parts along the way.” Just what the doctor ordered.
Work hard and then be patient at the good and the bad parts along the way.
WINNIE'S TOP PICKS
A celebrity trailer forges a path of her own, forever inspired by a crucial coterie that has always believed in her.
@brittnebabe
Brittne Jackson is the embodiment of fortitude realized. She began her foray into the world of fitness after gaining popularity on Instagram by posting photographs of herself donning her track uniform, which prompted her followers and fans alike to not only look up to her, but want to emulate her.
Once she got her fitness certification, the revered celebrity trailer employed myriad strategies to cater to her ever-growing clientele, including giveaways that resulted in scores of e-mail inquiries from clients each day and a continuous stream of new followers. Soon thereafter, Brittne realized that she could help others by conjuring individualized regimens for their own wellness journeys and knew that she had something special. But it was her late mother who persuaded her to channel that power to create something enduring.
Encouraged by Mom, Brittne launched a website to sell online health coaching and one-on-one personal training directly to her clients. After all, who better than her to personalize fitness plans—something she’d been doing for herself for years. “All I’ve ever needed was my body. And I think people really responded to that. I didn’t need any fancy gym equipment or anything. I would always just use what was already available to me.”
All I’ve ever needed was my body. And I think people really responded to that. I didn’t need any fancy gym equipment or anything. I would always just use what was already available to me.”
It was that relatability and serving as a living, breathing testament that one could build their ideal body under seemingly non-ideal conditions that earned her the moniker “Queen of Home Workouts.” And in the years since, word continued to spread—so much so that the entrepreneur made good on the promise she made to herself and her mother, who wound up becoming her partner, to move to Los Angeles to continue her career.
Brittne now counts Jada Pinkett Smith and the rest of her famous family among the many big-name clients she works with. She’s also gone on to partner with countless brands, make numerous public appearances and secure lucrative sponsored social-media posts. But despite the many highs she’s experienced, there have been lows as well—namely, the death of her mother, partner and confidant in 2020. And though that devastating moment forced Brittne to retreat within herself for years, she’s shifted to finding her light once again.
“There’s the chapter of then versus the chapter of now,” she says, fully committed to get back on the path that she’s spent so long paving. And though she has her sights set on creating an app and continuing to issue her 21-day challenges, she remains grounded and intentional about everything she does and focuses on taking everything a step at a time—much to the chagrin of those who tell her to prioritize the big picture over the smaller moments. Brittne’s response? “At the end of the day, all you have is you. You’re born alone and you die alone and no one can do anything for you. You might as well do it as best as you can.”
