PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT turns 11 years old today! Can you believe it?

As we celebrate eleven years of inspiring women and making fitness fun, we invited some former PGS Ambassadors to reflect on their time with us and give us the inside scoop on where they are now! Keep reading below to hear their stories! Oh, and head on over to the shop for a nice little birthday gift, too!

Jenno Fit

New Jersey native Jennifer Okorie goes by “Jenno Fit” when she’s sweating it up! This former PGS ambassador is a Doctor of Physical Therapy by day and a stellar chef by night–fun fact: she just released her first electronic cookbook!

1. What school did you attend, and how did you discover PGS?

Montclair State University. I discovered PGS through social media. I remember coming across PGS and learning more about what it was all about and knew that I wanted to be a part of it! 

2. What is your favorite memory from your time with PGS?

Hosting sweat shows in fun ways and sharing the mission of Pretty Girls Sweat with others on my campus.

3. What impact has PGS had on your career choice?

Growing up, I’ve always been active because I would play different sports and participate in different activities, but being a part of PGS reminded me of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and that was reflected in my choice to get my bachelor’s degree in nutrition with a concentration in dietetics and my doctorate degree in physical therapy. Additionally, the weekly assignments showed me how much I love educating others on healthy living and that is very important within my career. 

4. What is the most valuable lesson that PGS has taught you?

That you can truly go further together. My fellow ambassadors and I were able to host such great sweat shows because we worked well together and knew that we had a great mentor in Aeshia if anything were to ever come up. That has been translated to other areas of my life. 

5. Seven years later, what does PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT mean to you now?

It’s been about 7 years since I first joined PGS and I know the importance of having a sisterhood as you go through life’s changes and achieving goals, especially health and fitness goals. 

Yaa Takyiwaa

Yaa Takyiwaa has made health a lifestyle AND a career! After graduating from SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Upstate Medical University with a Master’s degree in Public Health, Yaa is now a Senior Research Analyst on the healthcare team at Buzzback.

What school did you attend, and how did you discover PGS?

SUNY Binghamton. I discovered PGS through Gabrielle Sagaesse who enthusiastically invited me to join the first chapter of PGS on the Binghamton University campus. 

What is your favorite memory from your time with PGS?

My favorite memory from PGS would have to be the sweat shows! I still think about them from time to time. I loved the sisterhood that brewed from the shows. From a variety of fitness classes from Hatha Yoga to Boot camps, it was all incredible. I wish there was an after-graduation version of PGS to be involved in!

What impact has PGS had on your career choice?

PGS has stuck with me throughout my career. The communication and teamwork skills I gained from being on PGS have positively impacted how I move in my day-to-day work life. In my current role, cross-collaboration is a major component of my job and those soft skills that I gained from being a part of PGS have led to my current success in my role.

What is the most valuable lesson that PGS has taught you?

The most valuable lesson that PGS has taught me is the power of taking care of your physical health and its impact on your mental health. As much as PGS is a sisterhood, the core values of taking an active role in your health lives with me today. 

Four years later, what does PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT mean to you now?

4 years later, Pretty Girls Sweat means dedication, perseverance, and health as a priority!

Kaedi Bowers

Former PGS ambassador Kaedi Bowers lives a busy life, but she still makes time for fitness! After graduating from Clark Atlanta University in 2019, Kaedi is now an elementary school teacher, online fitness coach, and wellness educator who aids others in living their healthiest lives yet! Check out her classes, nutrition programs, and more awesome resources here!

What school did you attend, and how did you discover PGS?

I attended Clark Atlanta University from 2015-2019. I discovered PGS through a friend who came across an Instagram post about the ambassador program. She thought I’d be a good fit for the organization. She shared the IG post with me, then I signed up and joined the CAU chapter in 2017, my sophomore year of college. 

What is your favorite memory from your time with PGS?

My favorite memory from my time with PGS is the immediate sisterhood in my first year of being a part of the organization. I gained friendships with young black women who had common interests and like-minded goals about their fitness journeys. However, there are a ton of great memories with my CAU chapter, such as game nights, attending dance classes, running stone mountain on Saturday, celebrating Sweat Sisters’ birthdays, and serving at the PGS festival.

What impact has PGS had on your career choice?

I pursued Physical Therapy throughout college, and being a part of PGS kept me focused on that goal through the support system I gained. Also, inspired by many women trainers in the fitness industry, I became a Certified Personal Trainer in my junior year of college. In my senior year, I shifted, joined ‘Teach For America’ and became a teacher. Although I went into a different field, my passion for fitness remained. In 2022 I started an Online Fitness Business, Kaedi Fitness LLC, to help women of faith feel liberated, and live a life of impact while taking care of their Spirit, Soul, and Body by teaching fitness, nourishment, and whole-person care. 

Sisterhood is a necessity, no matter how fit, how strong, or not you are, we all sweat and need each other on our journeys. 

What is the most valuable lesson that PGS has taught you?

Sisterhood is a necessity, no matter how fit, how strong, or not you are, we all sweat and need each other on our journeys.

Three years later, what does PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT mean to you now?

• P – Prioritize my health 
• G – Gratitude every day 
• S – Serve others from a place of love, joy, and authenticity

Aren’t these ladies AMAZING? They’ve made PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT so proud! Chime in down below and tell us about your fave PGS memory, #SweatSisters! To learn more about our programs for female college students, visit sweatmakescents.org.