We recently had the chance to connect with NIKA Cristiani and have shared our conversation below.
NIKA, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Absolutely — I constantly stand up for women’s rights, against online bullying, and for healthcare, reproductive rights, minorities, freedom of speech, and personal freedom. Speaking up always comes with a price, especially when you’re in the spotlight as I am — whether it’s on Cuomo on NewsNation, QVC, or representing my brand GYM IN A BOX®.
When you speak your truth publicly, you inevitably face resistance. There are always people who disagree, misunderstand, or react out of envy and insecurity. Some even go as far as electronic harassment targeting me, my staff, or our business partners. But that’s the cost of integrity. I’d rather stand up for truth, justice, and the freedoms we all deserve — even if it comes at a personal or professional price.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Nika Cristiani — CEO, Inventor, and Creator of GYM IN A BOX®, a Los Angeles–based luxury fitness, beauty, and wellness technology brand. Together with my husband and co-founder, Nino Cristiani, we developed the patented ToneUp15® StimFit Technology, which powers our wearable innovations — from the StimFitBelt and BootyBooster Pants to our SmartLift™ E-Mask. Our mission is to make high-performance wellness effortless, science-backed, and empowering for every body — at any age.
But that’s just the beginning. Right now, I’m building my next game-changing venture — Nikazon(e) — an exclusive and revolutionary wellness platform designed to be the first luxury marketplace for fitness, beauty, and biohacking technology. Think of it as the “Amazon of Wellness,” where innovation meets integrity. Nikazon(e) will curate only the most advanced, clinically backed, and ethically produced products in the global wellness space — from smart wearables to skincare, supplements, and holistic solutions — all under one trusted, elevated ecosystem.
It’s not just a store; it’s a movement. Both GYM IN A BOX® and Nikazon(e) share one mission — to redefine how we age, how we perform, and how we live. My work is all about merging science, style, and self-empowerment to help people look, feel, and live stronger — because we are not our age; we are our energy.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I knew from a very young age that one day I would create something extraordinary — a fitness technology that would empower millions of people to feel stronger, healthier, and more confident in their own bodies. I always had this vision of building the most powerful wellness innovation in Los Angeles — something that would merge science, design, and purpose.
That dream became reality when I launched GYM IN A BOX® — the world’s first luxury wearable fitness technology powered by ToneUp15® StimFit Technology. To see people around the world using something I once only imagined — transforming their lives, their energy, their confidence — that was the moment I truly felt powerful. Not because of success or recognition, but because I turned a childhood vision into a global movement that helps others reclaim their own power.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes — during the pandemic, when the government shut down our business for nearly three years. We had worked so hard to overcome every hurdle, competing against billion-dollar tech corporations with nothing but grit, innovation, and belief in our mission. We received no government aid, no bailouts, and never filed for bankruptcy. We survived on pure determination — and I’m incredibly proud of that.
Now we’re facing another massive challenge — the ongoing Trump tariff war. These crushing taxes on imported components have hit small innovators like us the hardest. Our wearable technologies rely on specialized tech parts that simply can’t be sourced domestically, and after the lockdowns, our former U.S. manufacturing partners closed their facilities. Yet, we continue to fight to keep our products affordable for Americans, because fitness, wellness, and beauty should never be luxuries reserved for the few.
But like every challenge before, this too will pass. I’ve learned that resilience is built in the darkest hours — and giving up is never an option when you’re building something that truly matters.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d say I care deeply about helping others feel better — physically, emotionally, and mentally. I’m known for being straightforward and unapologetically vocal about what’s right and wrong. Fairness, truth, and freedom are non-negotiable to me.
Health is another cornerstone of my life — not just physical fitness, but overall wellbeing, balance, and longevity. I believe in living with integrity and purpose, and using my voice to stand up for others who can’t.
At the end of the day, what matters most to me are the people I love — my family, my friends, and anyone who needs my help. That’s my real wealth.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I never stopped fighting for a better world — that I used my voice, my work, and my inventions to make a real difference for those who deserved it. That I stood up for truth, fairness, and freedom even when it wasn’t easy.
And maybe they’ll laugh and say, “She was unstoppable — a little wild, but always fighting for the good.” Because if that’s my legacy, I can live — and rest — proudly with that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gyminabox.la
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gyminabox.la
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/nika-cristiani
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16Sk4rYTFi/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gyminabox
- Other: http://www.tiktok.com/@gyminabox
Image Credits
NIKA Cristiani
Chris Cuomo
NewsNation
