The woman standing on stage glistens in a crystal-studded bikini. Her glowing, tanned skin shows off each of her well-defined muscle lines, a result of hours of weight training in the gym. Roya Karimi’s perfectly-applied make-up and highlighted blonde hair wouldn’t look out of place in the finals of Miss Universe. It is hard to imagine that just 15 years ago, she was a teenage mother in Afghanistan, married off as a child bride before she escaped to her new life. Now aged 30, she is one of Europe’s top bodybuilders and will be competing in the World Bodybuilding Championships this week. Her rise has been meteoric – she only took up the sport professionally less than two years ago. None of this looked likely when Roya fled Afghanistan with her mother and young son. Back then, she sought refuge in Norway, where she made a new life for herself, continuing her education and becoming a nurse while meeting her new husband, who also bodybuilds. Bodybuilding helped her break free from the mental and social limitations that had been imposed on her for years, she says. Every time I go to the gym, I remember that there was a time in Afghanistan when I wasn't even allowed to exercise freely, Roya told BBC News Afghan. Roya's life story has been one of fighting against restrictive traditions and rebuilding her identity - and trying to inspire women in her home country who face widespread restrictions. Many of these restrictions existed when Roya lived in Afghanistan as a result of social norms but have worsened since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Women in Afghanistan are now banned from attending school beyond the age of 12 and are restricted from many jobs and traveling without a male chaperone. I was lucky to be able to get out of that situation, but many women still don’t have their most basic human rights, such as education. It’s really sad and heartbreaking, comments Roya. However, in her quest for independence, Roya has forged a path that exemplifies resilience. Her decision to leave Afghanistan in 2011 was filled with risks for a woman in traditional Afghan society, an act she was not keen to recount. In Norway, she embraced a different culture, adapted to a new environment, and pursued a nursing career while juggling personal challenges including learning a new language. Eighteen months ago, she made the daring leap into professional bodybuilding. Despite facing backlash and threats over her provocative stage presence and decisions, she pushes on, motivated by a thirst for autonomy and the desire to inspire others. People only see my appearance and my bikini. But behind this appearance, there are years of suffering, effort, and perseverance. These successes have not come easily, she remarks. As she prepares for the World Championships in Barcelona, she reflects on her achievements with pride, motivated to represent Afghan women on an international stage. With the support of her husband, Kamal, also a bodybuilder, Roya feels stronger than ever, ready to make history for women from her homeland.