I couldn’t remember a time when I looked
in the mirror and actually liked what I saw.
I was living in New York City and excelling
as a signed working model, but inside I was
incredibly unhappy.
After being asked to fast for ten days for
a shoot, I’d had enough and asked for a
vacation.
I went to Thailand, and after passing a local Muay Thai gym, I asked if I could give it a try.
I immediately became obsessed.
I stayed for nine months and learned not only physical,
but mental strength.
Before I started boxing, I had no respect
for my body.
I thought that it had to look a certain way
because everybody told me that it had to look
a certain way.
Now that I’ve started boxing, I have the
utmost respect for my body.
I completely let go of any standards held
above me by the modeling world and gave my
body to the sport.
I eventually came back to New York City with this newfound strength and demanded to my
clients and agents
that this new mindset and body was just as beautiful, if not more beautiful, because
the woman that returned now had something to say.
I’m not the typical fighter, and often I’m
not taken seriously.
I first considered myself a professional athlete, when I realized I was training on the same level
as a professional athlete.
For me there’s no typical training day,
no two days of training are the same.
I try to mix it up everyday.
The amount of time I have, I give, whether
it be 20 minutes or 4 hours.
Fighting in martial arts is a male dominated sport.
In order to be treated equally I have to earned it.
I have to show people that I could not only do what the man do but I can do what they
do an succeed at it.
Being a body advocate is a responsibility
and a duty that I have as being a part of
this industry and representing women.
Being a body advocate means that I fight for diversity, and representation.
My name is Mia Kang, I’m a fighter and a
model.
I’m fearless every time I step into a fight.
And I urge women to step outside of their
comfort zones.
That’s where the best stuff lives.
