When I was just 12 years old, I announced that I would be hula hooping as my pageant talent in the Miss Connecticut Teen pageant. (See photo) People laughed. I overheard the comment "what a joke, hula hooping isn't a talent!" No one was expecting me to be crowned 'Miss Connecticut Teen' that day, but I was! (See photo) Fast forward 20 years when I discovered the FXP Hoop Fitness Certification program, which is certified by the American Exercise Council. People laughed. They said "No way is hula hooping fitness. No one is going to come do that, why don't you try a real fitness program!?" Slowly, but surely, my FXP Hoop Fitness class has gained popularity and currently has a following of about 10 dedicated women each week.

When I applied to be America's Fit Mrs., people laughed. I was told "don't bother, they only crown real athletes, not joke ones like you." I have a feeling they stopped laughing when I was crowned America's Fit Mrs. 2016 (See photo) and went on to win America's Fit Queen 2017.

Two weeks from now, I'll be making the drive back up to Boston to attend an FXP Hoop Fitness Certification class as a refresher course. Once again, I hear the jokes "you're really going to travel 2 hours to take a hula hoop class?!" Yes, and I'm going to be a better instructor because of it!