For Her Daughters: The Strength to Begin Again

When Samantha Weller made the decision to leave her marriage and become a single mum to three young daughters, she wasn’t chasing a new life. She was reclaiming the one she almost lost.

"I was subjected to many years of being told I wasn’t good enough, put down and left feeling less than anything on a daily basis," she shares. "I lost myself. I started isolating myself in my marriage, I didn’t enjoy the things I once loved, and my mental health began to unravel."

But at her lowest, she chose herself—and in doing so, she chose a new future for her daughters.

"Taking control of my life wasn’t just for me. It was to set an example for my girls," Samantha says. "I want them to believe they can do anything, that they never have to settle, and that they are enough."

Since making the bold decision to leave her marriage a year ago, Samantha has been on a powerful path of rediscovery. Not the typical version of a personal trainer, Samantha is someone who meets women where they are. She understands what it feels like to not fit into society’s expectations, to struggle with self-esteem, to feel invisible.

"I have always struggled with my weight and self-esteem. Since high school, I never felt like I fit in with society’s norms. There were always the 'pretty' and 'beautiful' people, and I never felt like I belonged to that group."

But everything changed when she became a mother.

"I wasn’t encouraged from a young age to love myself or be proud of who I am. It wasn’t until I had my daughters that I started to really see the impact of society and social media on how women view themselves."

Motherhood lit a spark in Samantha—one that would eventually lead her to the gym, to personal growth, and to the community of women who would help her find her strength again.

"Some of the most important and inspiring decisions I’ve made happened during sessions with my personal trainer and close friend. Sometimes those gym sessions turned into mental health check-ins. That support gave me the confidence to believe in myself and become a personal trainer too."

Now studying for her Certificate IV in Fitness and already working in the industry, Samantha is building a new kind of space—not just for her clients, but for herself.

"Becoming a personal trainer has helped me feel confident in my own skin. I want to help women feel the same. I want to create a space where women feel beautiful and strong—no matter where they are in their journey."

Between full-time work, raising three daughters under the age of seven one of whom has an ASD diagnosis, group fitness sessions, studying, and managing all the extras that come with motherhood, Samantha juggles more in a day than most. But she does it with purpose.

"The best kind of motherhood comes when you have friends who support you through every hurdle. It takes a village. And I show up every day for my girls, because I want them to be proud of their mum."

Her advice for other mums?

"Prioritise self-care. Even if it feels impossible, make small changes. Build a support network. Don’t be afraid to ask for help."

She’s not claiming to have it all figured out. But Samantha Weller is living proof that strength doesn’t come from having an easy path—it comes from walking through the fire and deciding to rise, again.

"I can’t say I’m 100% happy with myself yet. But I’m on my way. I tell myself one thing I love about myself every day. That’s where it starts."

For Samantha, showing up for herself is how she shows up for her daughters. And in their eyes, that might just be the greatest strength of all.