We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Pantoja. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.

Stephanie, appreciate you joining us today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

Well the craziest story is how I really got started, I was reached out by the CEO of Solin which is where I now run my programs and fitness challenges. I basically was “bullied” into launching a fitness challenge by Matt (Solin CEO) lol. He had emailed me a few times and I ended up scheduling a call with him and every time he would call I would be “busy” I remember I was doing cold calling software sales and while I was at work one day Matt had called again lol. I said “Could you please call me back at another time, I am busy at work”. Then he hits me with the “Are you sure you want me to call you back or are you just trying to get me off the line” (he said something like that I can’t fully remember) he then said “Steph I have an opportunity for you to make $$$ without you putting any money up how does that sound” Then I said I most defiantly want you to call me back and gave him a time that same day. As soon as I got off of work he called me again and finally we spoke and he explained to me what Solin was and how I had so much potential to create a business selling programs and challenges based off of my content on my social media. I had been documenting my weight loss journey on TikTok for about 7 months then. I was very apprehensive in launching any type of program or fitness challenge because I had not gotten to my goal physique yet and I feared the judgement of others since I don’t have the “ideal fit body”. Also, I never intended on training others or getting into the online coaching space. I was on that call with Matt for probably almost an hour and he convinced me that I had what it took to create a successful challenge. So I took the leap of faith and launched my 21 day Reset challenge and made my monthly salary at my 9-5 in about a week. I ended up going on a “medical leave” from my job and never looked back since. I was able to sustain myself by selling that 1 program, it truly woke up the entrepreneur in me. Since then I have launched a weightlifting program and recently another challenge. I also am launching a 1 on 1 online coaching business in the next several weeks and I am beyond proud of myself but sometimes I do have imposter syndrome. I am in disbelief that this is my life, like I am really an entrepreneur. My life has dramatically changed in the matter of 1 year. I’ve always prayed “God I just to want to serve my purpose in this world”. Ask and you shall receive, I am very excited for what the future holds with my new career.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

So I am a former college wrestler and I have been in athletics since the age of 13. Since I was a little girl I have always been known for my athletic ability and how strong I am. Funny thing is when i was a kid i was an aspiring actor and model but i was always turned down because of my size. i have always been a bigger girl and got made fun of a lot growing up not by kids but more by adults. since i was turned down from my very first passion (acting and modeling) i turned to sports where i wasn’t judged by my body, i was judged by my athletic ability and how i performed. fast forward i ended up getting a wrestling scholarship which was the way i was able to receive a higher education. Wrestling built me into the woman that i am today strong, disciplined and resilient. Nothing good in this world comes easy, you have to fight for what you want. Although wrestling taught me that, i did end up developing a unhealthy relationship with food. since wrestling is a sport where you constantly have to weigh yourself and at times “cut weight” for your prospective weight class. i ended up developing a binge eating disorder, at times i would eat to the point of discomfort and then feel remorseful about it and take laxatives to undue the damage i had done. that lasted for about 10 years and honestly i didn’t even know it was considered a eating disorder until the age of 24. throughout that time my weight yo yo’d for years id lose 60lbs and then gain it right back every time. this most recent time that i have lost weight i have taken a much more holistic approach (which has taken much longer than before), first of all i am not losing weight to compete in a sport. i am losing weight for my health. Fitness is a form of respect and that’s the message i push to my clients and my social media community. its not a race its a marathon, i think what sets me apart from others in the fitness space is i truly understand what it is to look in the mirror and hate everything about yourself, to not want to go out and enjoy life because of body insecurities. to lose weight and gain back over and over. i am very relatable because of my transparency and vulnerability on the internet. i have always aspired to inspire doing what i do a for a living is like a full circle moment,

How did you build your audience on social media?

The way i truly grew a community on social media is by being authentic. I keep it real in everything I post and I don’t fake the funk. I think that’s why so many individuals gravitated towards me and my story, I am just like them I just choose to share certain parts of my life on the internet which they can relate too. My biggest advice is find your niche, don’t just try to clout chase. Have substance have passion, if you love makeup post about make up if you like fashion do get ready with me. i think now a days it takes more than just a pretty face to build a following that you eventually want to turn into customers or clients.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

My best source is my transformation videos on social media, that’s how i was able to make a lot of sales because I showed the journey . There was a time that i posting every single day and people could see the difference which made it realistic and i think created that ” if she can do it then i can too” mentality. which honestly is one of my goals. I aspire to inspire others to become the best version of theirself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Stephsblessedd
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephsblessedd/?igsh=bTk0bWFhOGxmZmd2
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephsoblessedd/