Namita Nayyar:
You won Ms. Fitness Universe 2025 in Las Vegas – one of the most prestigious titles in the industry. Walk us through the moment they announced your name. What went through your mind?
Maya Nassar:
Winning Ms. Fitness Universe 2025:
When they announced my name in Las Vegas, my first thought was: “This is for every person who was told they couldn’t do it.” Standing there as a mother of four and a business owner, it felt like a validation of years of 4:00 AM wake-up calls. It wasn’t just a win for me; it was a win for the message that your “prime” is whenever you decide it is.
Namita Nayyar:
In 2014, you became the first Lebanese athlete endorsed by the Lebanese government to compete in a bodybuilding event outside Lebanon. That must have carried immense responsibility. How did you handle the pressure of representing an entire nation?
Maya Nassar:
Representing Lebanon in 2014:
Being the first female athlete endorsed by the government was a heavy mantle. I felt I was carrying the reputation of Lebanese women on my shoulders. I handled the pressure by focusing on professionalism—I wanted to show the world that a Lebanese woman could be strong, competitive, and an elite athlete while maintaining total grace.
Namita Nayyar:
You also won first place at the 2014 Pure Elite UK Championships. Looking back, how did that early win change your self-belief compared to your victory in 2025?
Maya Nassar:
2014 vs. 2025:
Winning at Pure Elite in 2014 gave me the belief that I belonged on the stage. Winning in 2025 gave me the certainty that I could lead an industry. The first win was about proving it to myself; the second was about inspiring others.
Namita Nayyar:
Your blog “Start Living Right” evolved into a top-ranking fitness app endorsed by the Lebanese Ministry of Youth and Sports. What was the hardest lesson you learned when transitioning from content creator to tech entrepreneur?
Maya Nassar:
Transitioning to Tech:
The hardest lesson was learning that content is easy, but systems are hard. Transitioning Start Living Right from a blog to a top-ranked app required me to learn the language of developers and user experience. I realized that to help people at scale, I had to be a CEO first and a trainer second.
Namita Nayyar:
In 2017, you opened a physical gym in Antelias, Lebanon, sponsored by Nike – no small feat. How did you secure that sponsorship, and what does Nike’s trust mean to you personally?
Maya Nassar:
The Nike Sponsorship:
Securing Nike’s sponsorship for my gym in Antelias was about shared values. I didn’t just ask for money; I showed them a vision of a community that empowered women. Their trust meant the world because it signaled that my “Start Living Right” philosophy met a global gold standard.
Namita Nayyar:
You’re a certified personal trainer, sports nutritionist, and radio host. How do you balance being on air, running a business, training clients, and competing at an elite level?
Maya Nassar:
The Daily Grind
Balancing the roles:
I don’t believe in “balance”; I believe in prioritization. My secret is a rigid schedule. My training is a non-negotiable appointment, my business tasks are batched, and I use my platform as a radio host to amplify the very work I’m doing in the gym. It’s all one ecosystem.
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