Check Out Ty-Leah Hampton’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty-Leah Hampton.

Hi Ty-Leah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Fitness has always been a part of my life. As a former collegiate athlete, transitioning into the health and wellness industry felt natural. The discipline, competitiveness, and love for movement that defined my athletic career seamlessly carried over into my passion for fitness training. However, the journey to where I am today was anything but predictable.

After graduating college in May 2018, I set out to pursue my dream of becoming a professional athlete. Shortly after walking across the stage, I traveled to California with friends to celebrate—what was supposed to be a short trip unexpectedly turned into a permanent move. With nothing more than a suitcase, I decided to stay and chase my dream. For several years, I dedicated myself to training at the highest level, pushing my body to its limits.

Then, everything changed. An injury forced me to step back and reevaluate my path. What I had once considered my ultimate dream was suddenly slipping away, and I had to make a choice. Instead of walking away from the world of fitness altogether, I decided to lean into what had always come naturally to me—helping others become stronger, healthier, and more confident through fitness.

At the time, I was already sharing my training journey on social media, simply documenting my workouts and daily grind. To my surprise, people connected with it. They resonated with my story, my work ethic, and my passion. That connection led me to launch my first fitness brand—an apparel line designed to inspire and support those fighting for their dreams, just as I had been. It was more than a business; it was a movement. A portion of the proceeds went toward helping others, which gave my journey an even deeper purpose.

Balancing my training, my brand, and personal training clients became overwhelming. I was driving nearly an hour to train clients, managing orders, and still chasing my athletic aspirations. Eventually, burnout set in, and I knew I needed to pivot. The fitness apparel brand had a successful run, but after two years, I made the difficult decision to close it. At the same time, my pursuit of a professional athletic career was coming to an end. It felt like a turning point—a necessary shift into something new.

Rather than stepping away from fitness, I committed to deepening my expertise and creativity within the industry. I worked in environments that helped me refine my approach, learning new ways to bring value to people through health and movement. Eventually, I relaunched my personal training business, this time with a clearer vision and a renewed sense of purpose.

Today, I am proud of the journey that led me here. Every challenge, setback, and pivot shaped me into the trainer and entrepreneur I am now. I didn’t build this alone—it took the support of others, the lessons from my past, and the resilience to keep evolving. Fitness is more than just a career for me; it’s a way of life, and my mission is to continue inspiring and empowering others on their own journeys.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Behind every step of my journey has been a series of real, raw struggles—physically, emotionally, and mentally. I never initially planned to pursue a professional athletic career. That decision came after encouragement from former coaches who saw in me what I hadn’t yet fully seen in myself. Once I decided to go all in, I quickly realized this path would require more than just talent—it would demand everything.

I arrived in California with a suitcase and no long-term plan—just a desire to celebrate graduating college. I didn’t expect to stay, but life had other plans. Suddenly, I found myself in a new state, with no financial cushion, and no roadmap. I was in full survival mode, trying to chase a dream while also figuring out how to simply get by.

I took jobs I never imagined myself doing—some that felt far removed from who I was or what I thought my life would be—but I did them because I had to. I had to pay for training, take care of myself, and stay afloat. That balancing act between chasing my athletic goals and meeting basic needs was exhausting.

At the same time, I was dealing with personal challenges and trying to build new relationships—stepping out of my comfort zone, and push past intense feelings of loneliness. The pressure to keep going despite it all led me into a deep depression. I began to doubt myself. I felt like I wasn’t doing enough, even though I was giving everything I had. I started self-sabotaging—turning away from certain opportunities that conflicted with my training and letting outside opinions make me question whether chasing a dream was even worth it.

But I stayed committed. I truly believed in the dream I was working for. I believed in what I had inside of me. And in 2020, I reached what felt like a peak version of myself—physically. My body was in its best shape. My motivation was at an all-time high. I was finally starting to feel some-what aligned with my purpose.

Then COVID hit. Competitions were canceled. Training facilities shut down. But even when the world came to a stop, I didn’t. I was one of the few from my training group who kept going—finding any and every way to keep my body moving, to stay prepared. I couldn’t stop. Not after all the hard work I had poured into that specific season. I had come too far to let it all fade.

But another challenge came after the world slowly began to reopen. That’s when I suffered a major injury. The kind that forces you to pause—whether you want to or not. That injury not only disrupted my physical momentum, it forced me to face the possibility that my professional athletic pursuit might be ending. Letting go of that dream was somewhat hard. It wasn’t just a shift in goals—it felt like a loss of identity.

I had poured years of energy, time, money, and belief into this dream. Walking away wasn’t easy. It was heartbreaking. But even in that pain, I knew I couldn’t let the struggle go to waste. I had to find a new way forward.

And so I did. Those struggles—financial hardship, emotional battles, injury, and the grief of letting go—became the soil for something new. They taught me resilience. They gave me purpose. And they continue to shape the way I move through life and business today.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a fitness and wellness professional with a deep-rooted foundation in athletics, movement, and motivation. As a former collegiate athlete, fitness has always been a part of who I am—but my work goes far beyond the physical. I specialize in personal training, mobility coaching, and helping individuals—especially those in midlife and beyond—build strength, confidence, and longevity through intentional movement.

What I do is rooted in service. I don’t just train bodies—I help people transform how they see themselves. Whether it’s helping someone regain strength after an injury, build consistency in their health routine, or simply believe in their own ability again, I take great pride in creating programs that are accessible, motivating, and personal.

Outside of training, I’ve also grown into the role of an influencer and motivator online. Through fitness, personal growth, and raw storytelling, I’ve built a community around encouragement, dreaming big, and showing up as your most authentic self—unapologetically. One of the journeys I’ve shared openly is my lifelong struggle with my skin. It took a lot of courage to document something that had affected me so deeply, but I made the choice to be vulnerable online—to show my progress and talk about the emotional weight of that experience. In a time where social media often shows a filtered version of reality, I’m proud to offer something different: the truth. I let people in on my real-life challenges and the growth that comes from them. I believe that transparency builds trust and gives others permission to embrace their own stories—flaws, setbacks, and all.

What I’m most proud of is the woman I’m becoming through the obstacles I’ve faced here in California. I’ve encountered challenge after challenge, but I’ve met each one with no regrets. There have been moments I’ve failed—or at least felt like I did—but I still believe I’ve won far more than I’ve lost, simply because I never gave up. I’ve taken risks, put myself in positions where failure was possible, and learned so much through it all. And even though fear was present, I never let it stop me. That’s what I’m proud of. Not being fearless—but moving forward anyway.

What sets me apart is the way I lead—with love, with authenticity, and with accountability. I don’t pretend to have it all together—but I do show up 100% as myself. Always. I have an open heart, a sharp eye for growth, and I hold myself accountable for the space I take up in the world. That energy flows into everything I do, both online and in-person, and it’s what makes my work more than just fitness—it’s real-life transformation, rooted in truth.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The power of showing up for yourself—especially when it’s hard, uncertain, or lonely.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.tyleahbh.com
• Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/tyleahbh
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyleahbh?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tyleahbh?si=_hQy4gMc1k8JwuIa

Image Credits
I’m not sure who took my images. I forgot the name.. but I took the others of my clients.