Lebanese American Fitness Model Maya Nassar Talks About Empowering Women, Setting Goals and Defying Stereotypes
BY: Nynke Burggraaff/Contributing Writer
Who says Arab women aren’t emancipated? Lebanese American fitness model Maya Nassar was endorsed by the Lebanese government to compete on behalf of the country in international female body building competitions. By competing in this mostly male dominated sport, Maya is defying standards and becoming a symbol of empowerment for women all over the the world. In this interview, we introduce Maya to the readers of Arab America.
Tell us about yourself, your childhood and educational career.
I was born in New York and grew up in Nigeria and England before moving back to Lebanon for high school. I would say I am very multi-cultural because my mother is Dutch and my father is Lebanese and I have traveled all over the world. I studied sociology and anthropology in the American University of Beirut and graduated in 2007.
How did you get started in fitness?
I used to follow a very unhealthy lifestyle of eating as much food as I wanted and did no exercise whatsoever. This led to me having a very low immune system, suffering from bad asthma and also gaining a significant amount of weight. My jeans no longer fit me and I became very insecure and self-conscious. This is when I had a wake up call and realized that I am responsible for my own lifestyle and this is when I changed my diet to eat healthy foods daily and start going to the gym.
How did the endorsement with the Lebanese Ministry of Youths and Sport come about?
After losing all the weight I had initially gained, I decided to take things one step further and start competing in fitness modeling abroad. These competitions do not exist in Lebanon and this is when I first had the idea of approaching the Minister of Sports. I wanted the ministry to recognize my competition and endorse me to officially represent Lebanon internationally. I set up a meeting with the minister, asked for his endorsement and he wrote me a letter giving me permission to represent Lebanon in my competitions.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day varies every day, but on a typical day, I would say I go to MTV to host my TV show, then I go to the gym to train. I spend my time between meetings, photo shoots and helping others with diets and exercise programs.
Do you ever get negative backlash and how do you deal with that?
Yes, I have certainly received negative criticism about my competitions, mostly from religious fanatics or conservatives. I deal with this by turning a blind eye to negative comments and realizing that I do not need anyone’s permission or approval to do the things I am passionate about. Instead, I focus on the positive words and messages of encouragement that I have received from so many people. I use criticism and negativity as an opportunity to grow stronger and do better each time.
What do you feel are misconceptions about Arabs/Lebanese in the US and the West?
Unfortunately there are many misconceptions. The Middle East is very diverse and I feel that Westerners believe that Lebanon is similar to what they watch on the news. Our country is beautiful, peaceful and full of history and culture. Every time I receive friends from abroad they all fall in love with our country and can’t wait to come back – not to mention the delicious food!
Do you have any Arab/American sports idols?
I really admire basketball player Rony Saikaly because he has gone very with his career and has made his country proud.
How do you personally feel about being viewed as a role model for many young Arab women?
I consider this as a great honor and I hope to show that that they can achieve their goals if they believe in themselves and work hard. There is no such thing as failure!
What are your long term goals?
My long-term goals are to open my own gym so that I can help to change the lives of even more people. I am also planning to launch online coaching on my website in order to help those who live far or simply cannot afford in-person coaching.
Anything you would like to add?
Yes! I launched the first ever fitness mobile app in Lebanon which has been endorsed by the Lebanese Minister of Sports. My app contains meal plans, workout programs, recipes and tons of information to help change anyone’s life for free. It has also been ranked number one many times by the Apple store. Anyone can download it by searching for “startlivingright” in their smartphone stores.