Tessa Brower’s journey into fitness wasn’t just about building muscle - it was about rebuilding herself. “It helped me feel so much mentally stronger, and then physically stronger. It made me rebuild my character and reevaluate who I am and who I want to be in the future,” she reflects. At a time when she felt like she had hit rock bottom, Tessa knew something had to change. “I knew I wanted to find love for myself again. I wanted to do something I loved and be able to redevelop myself.”
Tessa’s path to the gym wasn’t a smooth one. "I was going through a lot at the time - I was in a mentally weak place," she recalls. "Around the end of eighth grade and the start of freshman year, I was hanging around a toxic group of guys who ironically were the ones who introduced me to the gym - but not in a supportive way." They’d belittle her with comments like, “We’re so much stronger than you,” or “You wouldn’t survive our leg day.” Though she had always been athletic, playing basketball and other sports, Tessa quickly realized that stepping into the gym as a beginner was a challenge in itself. Instead of encouragement, the group used her inexperience to criticize her - calling her out for “half reps” and mocking her form.
Over time, Tessa recognized how toxic these influences were and made the courageous decision to cut them out of her life. With that, she began a new chapter - one focused on building not just physical strength, but also inner strength. This shift in mindset was reflected in her growing confidence and her passion for creating a supportive community for women in the gym.
At first, believing in herself was a struggle. But, as she explains, “Sometimes, you don’t believe in yourself at first, but when you take action - when you put in the effort to invest in yourself - you start to find your own value.” For Tessa, the gym became more than a space for physical transformation - it was where she began to rediscover her self-worth. “You gain purpose in what you do, and over time, you develop a deep respect for yourself,” she says. “You realize, ‘I can do this.’ Anyone has the power to do it. And when you’re constantly pushing yourself to improve, that respect for yourself only grows.”
This insight, paired with her growing realization of the disparity between men’s and women’s access to fitness knowledge, drove Tessa to bring a sense of community to Stevenson through Girls Who Lift. "The biggest thing I wish I had when I started my fitness journey is community," she says. "I remember when I first started, I’d see a girl every now and then, and it made me feel so much more comfortable. There was just something about seeing another girl across the gym - it made me feel like we understood each other."
Through Girls Who Lift, Tessa offers the kind of support she once lacked. "We teach so much - from fitness misconceptions to gym culture, harassment, and how to navigate certain behaviors, especially from men," she explains. “It’s about understanding what you're doing and having someone to ask questions to.” Tessa’s mission is clear: to create a space where women feel empowered, informed, and supported on their fitness journeys. “I believe it’s important to start teaching young women how to lift, because lifting is becoming more normalized for women, and it should,” she adds. “The future generations of women need these opportunities to grow up knowing how to confidently lift, just like men."
The club gave her a chance to build on her vision. “I want to make a positive impact on people's lives by using what I’m good at to help others,” she says. "To me, this club is so much more than just lifting. It’s about giving women the community and resources they need to understand fitness and break stereotypes. It’s a social mission. I’m proud of what we’ve built - seeing these girls connect and have fun is amazing. It means a lot because it shows how far I’ve come. I never expected to be in this leadership position, but now I’m using what I’ve learned to make a positive impact on others. I’m grateful for the role model position and for helping normalize women lifting in the gym."
