The woman standing on stage glistens in a crystal-studded bikini. Her glowing, tanned skin shows off each of her well-defined muscle lines, the result of hours of weight training in the gym. Roya Karimi's perfectly-applied make-up and highlighted blonde hair wouldn't look out of place in the finals of Miss Universe.
It is hard to imagine that just 15 years ago, she was a teenage mother in Afghanistan, married off as a child bride, before she escaped to her new life. Now aged 30, she is one of Europe's top bodybuilders and will be competing in the World Bodybuilding Championships this week. Her rise has been meteoric – she only took up the sport professionally less than two years ago.
Roya fled Afghanistan with her mother and young son, seeking refuge in Norway where she made a new life for herself, continuing her education and becoming a nurse, while meeting her new husband, Kamal Jalaluddin, who also bodybuilds. Bodybuilding helped her break free from the mental and social limitations that had been imposed on her for years.
“Every time I go to the gym, I remember that there was a time in Afghanistan when I wasn't even allowed to exercise freely,” Roya told BBC News Afghan.
Roya's life story has been one of fighting against restrictive traditions and rebuilding her identity - and trying to inspire women in her home country who face widespread restrictions. Many of those restrictions have worsened since the Taliban returned to power, limiting women's rights and freedoms.
Years before the Taliban returned, Roya decided she “didn’t want that life.” In Norway, she faced a completely different environment. She had to adapt to a new culture, find a job to support herself and her family, and learn Norwegian while juggling all the demands. It was difficult at first, but her efforts eventually paid off.
Roya began her journey into bodybuilding last year, deciding to leave her nursing career and pursue bodybuilding professionally. The change was empowering but came with challenges as she navigated the freedoms that came after leaving the constraints of her past. However, she has faced significant backlash for her appearance, with social media inundated with criticism, threats, and insults.
Despite this negativity, Roya uses her platform to reach out to women back in Afghanistan, discussing the importance of physical health and self-confidence. As she prepares for the world championship, her desire extends beyond personal achievement; she aims to inspire other Afghan girls and women to embrace their potential and fight for their rights.
