Patricia DeArmas

Connect What fuels your passion for health and fitness?

Strength is beautiful and fighting is feminine! In a world where people are still trying to prove that a woman can be strong, fit, and determined not in spite of her womanhood but BECAUSE of it, my passion for health and fitness stems from a personal mission. With every tough day of training, I remember that my very existence serves as proof that any woman can be strong, and any woman can be a fighter- including a hijabi Muslim woman in her 30s. Inspiration through action = success!

What’s your favorite way to train or stay fit?

I train and stay fit because I believe fighting is feminine, too. I’m a 4th degree black belt in ITF Taekwon-Do, an elite martial art similar to kickboxing, and I’m an international competitor and US National Team member. I am a World Cup Bronze and Panamerican Silver medalist as well as a National Champion and my favorite way to train is to strive towards becoming a World Champion (perhaps the first hijabi World Champ). I train in martial arts and strength and conditioning to hone my body.

What would you do with $20,000?

While it’s been an honor to represent USA, the US government does not sponsor ITF Taekwon-Do athletes. It is extremely costly to travel to international tournaments and seminars to countries where TKD is more prominent. This $20K would be a huge benefit to me as a competitor and towards my dreams of being a World Champion because I would use it to cover the costs of travel and fees to attend tournaments and seminars around the world, allowing me to get the experience I need to be the best!