We recently connected with Meliza Fernandez and have shared our conversation below.

Meliza, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Killer Bodies NYC wasn’t just some random idea—it came from a real need. I didn’t sit down and think, “What kind of business should I start?” It was born from movement, energy, and a deep frustration with the way the fitness industry made women feel about their bodies.

How It Started

I’ve always been about movement—dance, fitness, pushing past limits—but everywhere I looked, the message around fitness felt off. It was either too rigid, too serious, or too focused on making women feel like they needed to “fix” themselves. Where was the space to just feel strong, confident, and powerful?

I started leading small-group dance and HIIT classes in NYC, and that’s when I noticed something. Women came in for the workout, but they left with so much more. They were standing taller, walking out with more energy, feeling themselves in a way they hadn’t before. That’s when it hit me: this is bigger than just fitness.

Why I Knew This Was IT

I wasn’t just trying to give people a “good sweat.” I wanted them to feel like badasses. Like they could take up space without apologizing for it. And I knew if I felt that gap in the industry, other women felt it too.

🔥 The problem? The fitness world was either too hardcore, too robotic, or too focused on “fixing” women. There weren’t enough spaces where women could show up, move, and feel sexy, powerful, and strong AF—without overthinking it.
🔥 The approach? I wanted to mix dance, HIIT, strength, and mindset work—a workout that wasn’t just about getting stronger but about seeing yourself differently.
🔥 The moment I knew? When I saw women smiling in the middle of an intense workout, twerking between sets, and leaving the room with their heads higher than when they walked in. That was it. That was the sign.

The Bigger Picture

Killer Bodies NYC started in NYC studios, but I knew it had to be bigger. That’s why I expanded into fitness retreats, online coaching, and immersive experiences—so women could step out of their comfort zones, not just in movement, but in life.

I knew this would work because it wasn’t just about the physical transformation. It was about the mental shift. When you feel strong in your body, you start showing up stronger in every part of your life.

And that’s what Killer Bodies NYC is really about.

It’s not just a workout—it’s an experience. It’s a movement. And I’m just getting started.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Meliza, the founder of Killer Bodies NYC, and my journey into fitness wasn’t just about lifting weights or breaking a sweat—it was about rebuilding myself from the inside out.

Growing up Latina, I didn’t see many women who looked like me in the fitness industry. The representation wasn’t there. The industry often felt like it catered to one type of body, one type of experience, and if you didn’t fit that mold, you weren’t included.
On top of that, my own relationship with my body was complicated. I’ve battled body dysmorphia. I’ve struggled with an eating disorder. I’ve been in spaces where I felt like my body wasn’t good enough, no matter how much I tried to change it. I know what it’s like to look in the mirror and only see what you want to “fix” instead of seeing your strength, your power, your worth.
For a long time, fitness was just another way to try to control my body—to shrink it, to punish it, to make it something it wasn’t. But that mindset didn’t bring me happiness, and it sure as hell didn’t bring me confidence. What did? Learning how to move because I loved my body, not because I hated it. Learning how to eat to fuel myself, not to deprive myself. Learning how to train in a way that made me feel strong, not just smaller.
That’s why Killer Bodies NYC was born. Because I know firsthand that fitness can either be something that breaks you down, or something that builds you up.
What I Do & Who I Help

Killer Bodies NYC started as small-group dance and HIIT classes in NYC, but it’s evolved into something so much bigger—because movement isn’t just about workouts, it’s about how you show up for yourself.

🔥 The KB Blueprint – My signature coaching program that combines 1:1 coaching, customized training, and deep mindset work. This isn’t just about following a plan—it’s about building a system that works for YOU, so fitness stops feeling like a struggle and becomes part of your life. Whether you’re trying to build muscle, lose fat, improve metabolic health, or just feel damn good in your body—we figure out what’s going to actually work and make it stick.

🔥 KillerCations – Think of this as fitness meets adventure meets culture. My getaways aren’t just about working out in a beautiful place—they’re about stepping out of your comfort zone, experiencing new cultures, and pushing yourself in ways that go beyond the gym. We train hard, we explore, we dance, we connect—because real transformation happens when you break routine and immerse yourself in something new.

At its core, Killer Bodies NYC isn’t just about fitness—it’s about rewriting the way we see ourselves. I help women:
💥 Find a way to train and eat that actually works for THEM, not just what “should” work
💥 Break free from toxic fitness culture and learn to love movement again
💥 Shift from punishing their bodies to taking care of them, building strength, and showing up fully

Because at the end of the day, this only works if we create something that works for who you are today while you strive to build yourself up. No forcing, no guilt, no “all-or-nothing” BS—just real, sustainable results and a whole new level of confidence.
What Sets Me Apart?

I don’t do one-size-fits-all fitness. I don’t believe in shoving people into a rigid plan that doesn’t fit their life. My goal is not just to give you a program—it’s to find what actually works for YOU.

Yes, sometimes we need to shift our habits, learn crucial nutrition for our internal health, and push ourselves in ways we never have before. But at the end of the day, this only works if we build something that aligns with who you are today while you strive to build yourself up.

You don’t have to become a different person overnight.
You don’t have to fit into some unrealistic mold of “healthy” or “fit.”
You don’t have to force yourself into workouts you hate or diets that feel miserable.

What I want is for you to walk into a room and feel like you own it. To train in a way that makes you feel strong, sexy, and powerful. To ditch the guilt, drop the all-or-nothing mindset, and finally create something sustainable.

And I know it’s possible, because I’ve done it. And if I can, so can you.
What I’m Most Proud Of

The community. The women who have stepped into Killer Bodies NYC—whether it’s through my classes, my coaching, or my retreats—they leave different. Not just stronger physically, but mentally. They see themselves with new eyes. They move differently. They carry themselves differently.

I’m proud that I’ve built a space where women can feel seen, heard, and celebrated in their power.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Authenticity & Lived Experience:
I didn’t come into this industry trying to be what was already out there. I built Killer Bodies NYC because I saw a gap—a lack of representation, a lack of realness, and too many fitness spaces that made women feel like they needed to “fix” themselves. I’ve been through body dysmorphia, eating disorders, the struggle of not seeing my body type reflected in fitness spaces, and I bring all of that into my coaching. People connect with real experiences, not just expertise.I wasn’t interested in creating another cookie-cutter training program that makes people feel like they’re failing if they don’t follow it perfectly. I focus on building confidence, not just bodies—and that energy shows in every class, every coaching session, and every retreat I lead. The music is loud, the energy is high, and the goal is always to walk out feeling stronger than when you walked in—physically, mentally, emotionally.

I don’t push toxic fitness narratives. I don’t preach unsustainable approaches. I’m not here to sell a quick fix. What I do works because I teach women how to make fitness fit into their lives, their culture, their lifestyle—not the other way around. And that’s why it sticks.

At the end of the day, my reputation was built on showing up, delivering results, and creating a space where women feel powerful AF—inside and outside of the gym.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Hustling Harder Doesn’t Always Mean Winning

For the longest time, I believed that if I wasn’t grinding 24/7, I wasn’t doing enough. That if I wasn’t constantly pushing, sacrificing, or struggling, then I didn’t deserve success.
I come from a culture where hard work is everything. As a Latina, I was raised seeing people around me grind nonstop just to get by. There was no such thing as “rest” or “balance.” If you wanted something, you worked for it—no excuses, no breaks. And I carried that into everything I did.

When I started building Killer Bodies NYC, I operated from that same mentality. Say yes to everything. Train back-to-back clients, run from class to class, answer DMs at all hours, never take a break. Because in my head, if I wasn’t exhausting myself, I wasn’t doing enough.
And at first, it worked. The brand grew. My reputation grew. The business took off.
But I was running myself into the ground.

I had to unlearn the idea that burnout was a badge of honor. That more hours, more hustle, and more exhaustion meant I was “doing it right.” Because the truth? Rest isn’t weakness. Slowing down isn’t failure. And working smarter, not just harder, is what actually creates long-term success.
Now, I run Killer Bodies NYC in a way that’s powerful, sustainable, and in alignment with my actual life. I work hard, but I don’t destroy myself in the process. And I teach my clients the same thing—because if your fitness, your routine, or your mindset isn’t sustainable, it’s not gonna last.

I had to learn that grinding yourself into the ground isn’t the flex you think it is. Moving with intention, energy, and strategy? That’s real power.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.killerbodiesnyc.com
• Instagram: themelizafernandez