Former supermodel Mia Kang has decided to make a change. Now, the former supermodel is looking for a career in combat sports.
In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, as transcribed by MMA Fighting, Kang explained that modeling has been less than pleasurable.
“I’ve been judged on my appearance day in and day out every day since the age of 13,” Kang, who has been modeling for 15 years, told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I’ve been through every eating disorder, body dysmorphic disorder on the planet — that you can ever imagine. Anorexia, bulimia, addiction to diuretics, laxatives. Fully body dysmorphic. I would look in the mirror and see a fat person.
“I grew up obese and overweight and bullied. … I’ve lived on both extremes. I’ve been a size 14, I’ve been a size zero. And just day in and day out, feeling guilty every time you eat something and being criticized on every part time part of your body, I’d just had enough.”
Now, the former supermodel is looking to try her hand at combat sports.
“I just wanted to go to Thailand and be in the sun. Muay Thai and living in a training camp and going through all that, it taught me to respect my body. It brought me out of everything I was going through. Even basic things like eating three meals a day — I learned how to do that. I found strength in my body that I never knew I had. I saw things in my body … I had a six pack at one point — never in my life did I think I was gonna ave a six pack. It really gave me my self confident and really helped me rid a lot of insecurities that were weighing me down my whole life.” She said.
Last month, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model had her first fight in Muay Thai. She won by TKO in the third round.
While on The MMA Hour, Mia Kang admitted that she is interested in performing within mixed martial arts. For now, the fighter wants to work on her skill sets and continue pursuing Muay Thai.
“In the meantime, really laying down some foundations in wrestling, some jiu-jitsu,” Kang said. … “Let’s not forget, this is fun for me. This is what I want to do. I’ve really fallen in love with martial arts and I wish I’d done it earlier and I want to see what else is out there.” She said.
