Elizabeth Smart is known for many things, but this year, she's added a chapter few saw coming. The child safety advocate has been quietly building a new passion throughout 2026, one that's taken her far outside her usual world. 

Smart, 38, first opened up about her new pursuit earlier this year, admitting she never imagined sharing this side of her life publicly. Since then, she's competed in multiple shows across the country, from Utah to Texas to Las Vegas to Pittsburgh, documenting the wins, the losses, and everything in between along the way. 

It started with a leap of faith. Smart's first competition came at the Wasatch Warrior, where she won the Fit Model Novice division and got her first real taste of stepping onstage. From there, the momentum didn't stop. 

From there, she kept adding shows to her calendar. As reported by Generation Iron, Smart went on to compete at the NPC Heart of Texas, then took her routine to the national stage at the NPC Masters USA in Las Vegas, each event another step toward an IFBB Pro card. 

Her most recent stop was the 2026 NPC North American Championships in Pittsburgh, a considerable jump in competition level. Unlike a local show, the North Americans draws competitors from across the country chasing IFBB Pro League status. 

Smart entered the Figure division, competing in both the Masters 35+ category and Open Class D. 

Getting there hasn't been simple. Contest prep demands months of structured training, strict nutrition, posing practice, and increasingly tight conditioning as show day approaches, all while Elizabeth Smart balances her advocacy work and family life. 

For Smart, the sport carries a meaning that goes beyond the scoreboard. She's said that preparing for competition gave her a new way to focus on what her body is capable of, rather than viewing it solely through the lens of her past.

Elizabeth Smart's bodybuilding story didn't end with one competition, and it clearly isn't ending here either. She's still chasing the next stage. 

When Elizabeth Smart opens up about standing at the bottom of the scoreboard 

The results weren't kind to Elizabeth Smart at her latest competition. Her reaction to them was another story. 

Smart recently participated in two separate events, Masters 35+,' which requires you to be 35 or older, and 'Open Class D,' which is height-based. During both of these events, she placed at the bottom of the scoreboard, but she did not let the results dampen her spirits. 

In an Instagram post she made after the competition, Elizabeth Smart spoke about how she felt about the results. 

"I placed at the bottom of both classes. Regardless of where I placed, I loved the whole experience, had an amazing coach, got to step onstage with my best friend, and had the best support squad in the audience I could ask for." Smart wrote in the caption of her Instagram post made on April 21.

She further wrote about how she was proud of herself. 

"I brought a better physique and stage presence than at my previous shows, and I'm so proud of myself for the hard work, discipline, and bravery it takes me to compete. So here's to pursuing goals and not giving up!" 

For Smart, this one wasn't about the scoreboard. It was about showing up and being proud that she did.

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco