Alexa Bliss, one of WWE’s top female superstars, has openly credited her early career in bodybuilding and fitness competitions as a crucial factor in overcoming a life-threatening eating disorder she battled during her teenage years. The journey from that difficult time to becoming a multiple-time WWE Women’s Champion is a story of resilience that continues to inspire many fans and fellow athletes alike.
A Dark Battle in Adolescence
At just 15 years old, Alexa Bliss (born Alexis Kaufman) was fighting an eating disorder severe enough to nearly cost her life. In interviews, she has recounted harrowing experiences including hospitalizations and medical interventions due to the impact her disorder had on her health. According to a WWE insider, “Alexa’s battle with anorexia was a dark and defining moment early in her life, one that she has courageously chosen to share to help others not feel alone.” The severity of her illness meant that simple acts like sleeping were once considered dangerous by medical staff, who feared for her survival[1].
The Turning Point: Bodybuilding and Fitness Competitions
It was during the early 2010s that Bliss discovered bodybuilding and fitness competitions, an outlet that became instrumental in her recovery. Engaging in structured training, muscle-building, and a healthier approach to nutrition provided her a constructive way to reclaim control over her body and health. Rather than focusing on an unhealthy relationship with food, she learned discipline and self-care through physical fitness.
A source close to WWE reveals, “Alexa found tremendous strength and purpose in the discipline of bodybuilding. It was transformative—not just physically, but mentally—and it set the foundation for her WWE career.” This period helped shift her mindset from one dominated by an eating disorder to one focused on empowerment and physical excellence[2][5].
From Bodybuilding to WWE Stardom
Alexis Cabrera, as she is legally named, signed with WWE in 2013, entering their developmental brand NXT. Her fitness background and strong work ethic translated perfectly into professional wrestling, where she quickly rose through the ranks. By 2016, she made her main roster debut on SmackDown and went on to become the first woman to hold both Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships. Her accomplishments also include winning historic matches such as the second women’s Money in the Bank ladder match and the first women’s Elimination Chamber match[2].
However, beyond titles and accolades, Bliss has become a vocal advocate about mental health and eating disorder awareness, using her platform to help others. “Every few years, I deal with a really bad spell of depression, but I’ve learned it doesn’t have to overtake your life,” she shared in a candid WWE interview. “I go to therapy, I work to keep my brain in a healthy place, and I share my story so others know they aren’t alone.”[1][3]
Advocating Mental Health and Eating Disorder Awareness
Alexa’s openness about her struggles with anorexia, depression, and anxiety has been widely praised. She participates in campaigns and WWE programming aimed at addressing mental illness stigma. According to a WWE insider, “Alexa’s willingness to be vulnerable breaks down barriers for fans worldwide. She embodies strength both in and out of the ring.”
Her story is also a source of inspiration to many young women and men facing similar issues. By linking her early fitness endeavors to her recovery, Bliss highlights how channeling energy into positive habits can be life-changing. She recently echoed these thoughts on WWE programming, stating, “My past helped mold who I am today. Fitness saved me physically; wrestling saved me emotionally.”
Personal and Professional Growth
Alexa’s journey also shows the interplay of physical health and mental well-being—an important message in professional wrestling and beyond. WWE’s supportive environment has aided her ongoing growth, and the company values her role as a role model.
Sources close to Bliss confirm she continues to maintain a rigorous training and self-care regimen, ensuring her health remains a priority while performing at the highest level. Her current reign as one-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions alongside Charlotte Flair demonstrates her sustained excellence in the ring[2].
Final Thoughts from Behind the Scenes
Backstage, WWE personnel appreciate Alexa’s openness and resilience. A producer stated, “She’s gone from a vulnerable young woman battling serious illness to a shining example of perseverance and success. Her story motivates not just the WWE Universe, but everyone she meets.”
Alexa Bliss’s candid discussions about her eating disorder and how bodybuilding empowered her recovery provide hope to fans struggling with similar challenges. Her career is a testament to the power of determination, discipline, and the support of a healthy outlet.
By sharing her full story, Alexa Bliss has emerged not only as a champion inside the squared circle but as a beacon of hope and inspiration for those facing mental health battles. Her journey underscores that recovery is possible and that strength comes in many forms—physical, mental, and emotional.