Daily Inspiration: Meet Nicole Stuart

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Stuart.

Hi Nicole, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Las Vegas in the 1970s. After graduating high school, I moved to New York City to study acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. I later returned to Las Vegas to audition for a Vegas revue called Bottoms Up, and eventually took the show on the road. Afterward, I went back to Las Vegas to finish college and earn a degree in broadcast and communications. I completed three years at University of Nevada, Las Vegas before moving to Los Angeles.
I originally went for a weekend and decided to move there three weeks later. With a car full of clothes and $400, I arrived in 1991, and it was a glorious time to be in Los Angeles. I’ve been here ever since, balancing my Pilates career while continuing to pursue my passions for writing, art, and acting.
During the 1990s, a friend of mine from the Uta Hagen acting class knew I was a dancer looking for a new job. He mentioned that Mari Winsor—the number one Pilates trainer at the time—might be hiring instructors at her studio. I stopped by to meet the team, but Mari was away training Sharon Stone. We spoke on the phone, and she encouraged me to take sessions at the studio to familiarize myself with the work. I quickly realized I loved Pilates. It felt like an incredible career path—one that could strengthen me mentally and physically.
There was one challenge: after returning from training Sharon Stone, Mari decided she wasn’t hiring anyone new. Still, she told me to stay in touch—and I did. I persisted. In the 1990s, she was one of the few people teaching Pilates professionally, and her studio was filled with celebrities. Mari trained everyone, and if she wasn’t personally working with them, someone from her studio, Winsor Fitness, was. It was the perfect example of the Robert Evans quote: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”
Eventually, Mari agreed to meet with me. She said, “Come in. I’m training Madonna at 12. I’ll meet you at 1.” After our meeting, she hired me on the spot to answer phones and learn the craft of Pilates. That became a major turning point in my life. Sometimes you meet people who completely change your path for the better. They open doors you never even knew existed and lead you toward your destiny. They see something in you that you don’t yet see in yourself. It has happened only a handful of times in my life, and Mari was one of those people. Soon after she hired me, my Pilates career took off. Kate Hudson was also another one of those people in my life.

I’ve now been teaching Pilates for more than 25 years, and I truly love it. I also co-authored the book Total Body Beautiful, which features a foreword by Kate Hudson. The book was featured on Oprah Daily and received endorsements from celebrities including Julia Roberts, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Alicia Silverstone, among others. I’m incredibly proud of what my co-authors—Andrea Orbeck, Desi Bartlett, and I—accomplished with the book. We worked diligently on it because we genuinely love what we do and wanted to share the knowledge we’ve gained through more than 25 years in the fitness industry.
I’m always learning and continuing to evolve creatively. More recently, after producing my short film 40ish…—which won numerous awards and was accepted into more than 30 film festivals, including the Cannes Short Film Corner—new opportunities began to open up for me. I’m currently filming my first feature film, The Egg and I, which has several notable names attached, including Ed Begley Jr., Jonathan Silverman, Jennifer Finnigan, Heather McDonald, and Craig Shoemaker.
Throughout my 25-plus years in Pilates, I’ve consistently found ways to continue pursuing my art and expanding my creative horizons.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My road has been anything but smooth. Chasing my dreams has been a constant fight, but I’ve never minded the hard work. I love the challenge, I love the fight, and I’m grateful I never gave up. The struggles I’ve faced have built tremendous strength and given me a deep appreciation for life. I truly love everything I do, and I’m incredibly grateful for every opportunity that has come my way.
Nothing in my life has come easily. From getting hired by Mari Winsor to landing my first role on V.I.P. alongside Pamela Anderson, every step has required determination and perseverance. I’ve always found a way forward, but it has come through persistence and believing in myself.
What I’ve learned is that I can’t wait for opportunities to come to me—I have to create them myself. That realization led me to begin writing and producing my own projects, which has become one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve been a Pilates trainer for more than 20 years and specialize in classical Pilates, which is what I’m best known for today. Over the years, I’ve built a career centered around health, movement, and helping people feel stronger both physically and mentally. I’m also an entrepreneur and created a women’s fitness product called FITBIB, designed to help protect women from sun exposure and skin cancer while staying active outdoors.
I’m also the co-author of Total Body Beautiful, which features a foreword by Kate Hudson and endorsements from celebrities including Alicia Silverstone, Kimora Lee Simmons, Heidi Klum, and Julia Roberts. I’m incredibly proud of the work I’ve done over the past 30 years since moving to Los Angeles, dedicating myself to Pilates, dance, and fitness while continuing to pursue writing, producing, and acting.

Most recently, I’m especially proud of my award-winning short film 40ish… and my new feature film, The Egg and I, which I’m currently filming in Los Angeles.

But the accomplishment I’m most proud of is being a mother to my son. Even that was a fight. I was told by a doctor that having a child would be like “winning the lottery” for me. Well, I won the lottery. My son is the most incredible blessing in my life and my greatest achievement. That experience taught me, more than anything else, the power of perseverance, faith, and never giving up on what matters most.

What sets me apart is my persistence and willingness to evolve creatively. I’ve never limited myself to one path. Whether it’s fitness, entrepreneurship, writing, acting, or filmmaking, I’ve always believed in creating opportunities rather than waiting for them. That passion, resilience, and drive to keep growing have shaped every part of my career.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe the most important part of my success has been my drive, determination, and refusal to give up. I’ve learned that a “no” from one person doesn’t mean there won’t be a “yes” from someone else. More importantly, I’ve realized that the only person who can truly stop you is yourself.
As long as you’re pursuing your dreams and staying true to your vision, other people’s opinions don’t matter. You have to keep your eye on the goal, continue moving forward, and learn to tune out the negativity and distractions. I’ve found that the closer you get to achieving something meaningful, the more doubt and criticism can appear around you. That’s why resilience, focus, and believing in yourself are so important.
For me, success has always come from persistence—continuing to push forward no matter the obstacles, setbacks, or opinions of others.

Pricing:

• Total Body Beautiful $23.57 Amazon
• Qe2 Workouts 2.99 – 9.99
• WeShort – 40ish… 6.99 https://weshort.com/collection?s=11180
• FITBIB 24.99

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.nicolestuart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolestuartla/