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From Afghan child bride to European bodybuilding champion: Roya Karimi's rise
Roya Karimi, a 30-year-old Afghan refugee turned elite bodybuilder, will compete in the World Bodybuilding Championships in Barcelona this week-just 18 months after turning professional. Her journey from a teenage mother in Afghanistan to a gold medalist in Europe underscores a defiance of cultural constraints and a redefinition of personal freedom.
Escape and reinvention in Norway
Fifteen years ago, Karimi fled Afghanistan with her mother and infant son, seeking asylum in Norway. There, she rebuilt her life: mastering Norwegian, training as a nurse, and eventually meeting her second husband, Kamal Jalaluddin, a fellow Afghan and bodybuilder. The transition was arduous-balancing work, language barriers, and single motherhood-but it laid the groundwork for her transformation.
"Every gym session reminds me of a time in Afghanistan when I wasn't even allowed to exercise freely," she told BBC News Afghan. Bodybuilding became more than a sport; it was a tool to "break through the unwritten rules" imposed by tradition, culture, and religion.
Breaking taboos on stage
Karimi's stage presence-crystal-studded bikinis, sculpted physique, and bold glamour-contrasts sharply with Afghanistan's current restrictions on women. Since the Taliban's 2021 takeover, Afghan women are barred from education beyond age 12, most jobs, and unchaperoned travel. Karimi's visibility has drawn backlash, including violent threats on social media.
"People only see my appearance and my bikini. But behind this are years of suffering, effort, and perseverance. These successes did not come easily."
Roya Karimi, to BBC News Afghan
Yet she leverages her platform to advocate for Afghan women's physical health, self-confidence, and autonomy, using social media to bridge the gap between her new life and those still trapped under Taliban rule.
Rapid ascent in competitive bodybuilding
Karimi's shift from nursing to professional bodybuilding in 2023 marked a turning point. Within months, she claimed gold in the Wellness category at Norway's Stoperiet Open (April 2025), a division prizing natural fitness over extreme muscle mass. Victories at the Norway Classic 2025 and European Championships followed, securing her spot in Barcelona.
"I feel a deep sense of happiness, pride, and honor," she said ahead of the competition. "This journey has been tough, but step by step, I've earned these medals."
Competing for more than herself
For Karimi, the world championships represent a chance to "make history for Afghan girls and women." Her husband and son, her steadfast supporters, will cheer from the sidelines. "Seeing Roya on stage was the fulfillment of a dream we built together," Jalaluddin said.
Her story-of fleeing oppression, embracing freedom, and excelling in a male-dominated sport-serves as both a personal triumph and a symbol of resistance for women still denied basic rights in Afghanistan.
