Kenzie Woycenko' Story

I would truly like to introduce you to Kenzie Woycenko. I had the pleasure of meeting Kenzie from a model casting call that we had. Our photoshoot with Kenzie went well; she was hitting the poses that we were looking for with ease, a great smile, and personality.  But it was also her personal story of what she had been through at such a young age that made me appreciate her even more.

I am delighted to have Kenzie share her story with you. Please enjoy and feel free to comment below. 

My name is Mackenzie Woycenko, and I’m 18 years old. My story is about far more than just fitness; it’s about survival, self-discovery, and choosing to rise when it feels as though everything is against you. Over the past few years, I’ve faced unimaginable setbacks, physically, emotionally, and mentally. But instead of giving up, I chose to fight. I’ve learned that true strength isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build through pain, perseverance, and purpose. I’m sharing my journey not just to reflect on how far I’ve come, but to remind others, especially young women, that no matter what you’re facing, your story isn’t over. In fact, it might just be beginning.

My world first shifted in 2022, when I began experiencing seizures out of nowhere. I was later diagnosed with epilepsy, something no one saw coming. Overnight, everything I thought I understood about my body changed. The fear, confusion, and loss of control was overwhelming. For a while, I didn’t feel like myself at all. But slowly, I began to adjust. I learned how to keep going, even on the days when everything felt uncertain. Just as I was settling into a new rhythm, I faced another blow. In May of 2024, I blew out my knee during the Nike Elite XI soccer tournament. Soccer had been my outlet, my passion, my structure and suddenly, it was gone. Losing that part of myself, on top of learning to live with epilepsy, felt like everything was being taken from me. But through both experiences, I discovered something I still hold on to today, you can’t always control what happens to you, but what you can control is how you choose to move forward.

That truth would be tested again. In April of 2025, just as I was starting to rebuild, I was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident as a passenger. I suffered very serious and potentially life-threatening injuries and trauma that affected me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Lying in the hospital, I realized how close I came to not being here, and that moment changed everything. I knew I couldn’t waste the second chance I’d been given. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t just survive, I would come back stronger, more grounded, and more determined than ever to take control of my life and my future. That decision, made in one of the darkest moments of my life, became my turning point.

Fitness became the foundation of that healing. It gave me structure, purpose, and a sense of control when everything else felt uncertain. Training became my outlet, a space to reconnect with my body, clear my mind, and remind myself of how far I’ve come. Every rep, every stretch, every drop of sweat was a statement. “I’m still here, and I’m not done”. I train because I’ve learned what it means to fight for your health. I train because I refuse to let what happened to me define me. And I train because I want others to know that no matter what they’re going through, they’re not alone and they’re not broken beyond repair.

Although I’m only 18, my story has already taught me what some people don’t learn in a lifetime, that pain can lead to purpose, and rock bottom can become the foundation of something beautiful. I wouldn’t have made it here without my brother Mason, my parents Raeanne and Kevin, my best friend Kinsley, and the amazing circle of people who lifted me when I couldn’t lift myself. To anyone reading this, whether you’re facing a diagnosis, a setback, or a season that feels impossible, please remember. It’s never too late to start. It’s never too late to come home to yourself. The road might not be easy, but I promise you, it’s worth it. You are more capable than you know, and your strength might just surprise you. Keep going because the strongest, most powerful version of you is already in the making.