The GRAZIA Game Changers initiative honours visionaries who challenge the status quo across fashion, beauty, technology, the arts, and sports. Embodying the spirit of women uplifting women, last year’s trailblazers have personally selected this year’s honourees.
Here, meet Kirstie Gannaway, a boxing champion and mixed martial arts fighter who is redefining combat sports through fitness coaching and artistry.
What motivated you to challenge the status quo in martial arts?
My biggest motivation has come from how martial arts positively impacted my life. I struggled as a kid, mostly because of a low self esteem. Deep down inside, I didn’t like myself. That branched out to making poor lifestyle choices, feeling unmotivated to pursue anything, and not respecting myself or people around me.
When I first started boxing, it was to learn how to fight. It was the beginning of what would ultimately lead me to changing my entire lifestyle—mentally & physically. Respect, discipline, teamwork, dedication, commitment, courage, resilience; these are just some of life’s principles that I was fortunate to learn through my journey in martial arts.
Have you ever faced a moment of self-doubt? How did you push past it?
In 2014, I was scheduled to make my professional debut in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). I was 23 years old and hadn’t competed for years. My life was in shambles, with no support system to lean on. As the fight neared, I battled insecurities, self-doubt, and online negativity. Then, two weeks before the fight, my father got into a motorbike accident and fell into a coma, with no guarantee of recovery.
Torn between fighting and staying by his side, I was ready to withdraw—until my brother told me, “You’re going to take the fight, because whether he makes it or not, pursuing your dream is what Dad would have wanted.” That belief gave me strength. I fought—and won by first-round submission.
What’s a system, standard, or stereotype you hope to completely rewrite?
The one-size-fits-all approach to health. When it comes to training, nutrition, and recovery, there’s endless information telling us what’s “good” or “bad.” But what works for one person may not work for another. So many factors—like genetics, gender, lifestyle, and underlying health conditions come into play. On top of that, we’re relying more and more on technology to tell us what to do, often at the cost of losing touch with our own intuition.
Don’t get me wrong—technology is an incredible tool. But that’s exactly what it should be: a tool. Something to assist and refine what we already know, not something that disconnects us from ourselves. At the end of the day, no app or device can replace the power of truly knowing and listening to your own body. It’s important we don’t lose that connection with ourselves.
What inspired you to pursue this path? Was there a defining moment that set you on this journey?
My brother was a huge inspiration to me growing up. Unfortunately, he was quite a troublemaker! My father enrolled him in boxing, hoping it would instill the discipline he needed. It turned out to be the best possible thing for him because, as a kid struggling with ADHD, it completely turned his life around for the better.
A turning point for me was watching his amateur fight in 2006. It was the first time I had ever been ringside for a match, and seeing him completely dominate his opponent left me in awe. He brought me to the gym that same week. Before that, I wasn’t into sports—I was uncoordinated, overweight, and clumsy. I’m not sure what came over me the moment I tried boxing, but from day one, I knew I wanted to become a fighter.
Have you ever been told “no” along the way? How did you turn that into fuel for success?
Looking back on my journey in martial arts, my career was largely fueled by people who didn’t believe in me—people who wanted to see me fail. I have them to thank because, without them, I might not have committed so fully or found the determination to fight for my dream. By nature, I don’t consider myself a competitive person, but I’ve realised that having people go against me was exactly what I needed to switch on and give my all in pursuit of my goal. The beautiful thing is that I started chasing my dream to prove people wrong, but in the end, I realised the most important person I was proving something to was myself.
What does success mean to you, and has that definition evolved over time?
To me, success means achieving my goals without compromising my values—honesty, respect, integrity, and courage, to name a few. This code of honour is very important to me. I take pride in upholding these values, and I believe they are essential for building strong, meaningful relationships, both personally and professionally. Life constantly tests our integrity, and staying true to yourself is a battle—one that requires strength, conviction, and the courage to stand by your principles.
What’s a belief or idea you held at the start of your career that you’ve completely rethought?
At the start of my career, I believed that my performance and achievements as a fighter would define who I was. But looking back on a decade of competing, I’ve come to realize that the most meaningful moments weren’t the wins or losses—it was the connections I made with people and the experiences I was fortunate enough to live through. Traveling the world, training alongside world-class athletes and coaches, meeting people from all walks of life, learning and growing with students of all ages, working with underprivileged kids, and witnessing firsthand how martial arts can change lives—these experiences have shaped me far more than any title ever could.
The journey of self-improvement, deepening my relationships with my family, and, most importantly, meeting my partner, Abdou, who is now my husband—these are the things that truly matter. To impact someone’s life in a meaningful way or share a connection that goes beyond the surface—that’s priceless.
What’s a failure that turned out to be a blessing in disguise?
Tearing my ACL. In 2017, I suffered a full ACL tear—a devastating, career-changing injury. For those unfamiliar, the ACL is the key ligament that stabilises the knee joint. At the time, I genuinely believed I wouldn’t make a comeback—I had to relearn how to walk! It felt like my dream of fighting for a title had vanished, especially since it came after a string of personal and professional struggles. That injury felt like the last straw.
At first, I was stuck in a negative headspace, but eventually, I made the decision to accept my reality and figure out how to move forward—whether or not I’d ever fight again. That same year, I threw myself into studying rehabilitation and became a certified personal trainer. I became fascinated with recovery and injury prevention, and when I eventually returned to coaching, that knowledge completely transformed the way I taught. My focus shifted from simply getting people fitter to helping them move better, get stronger, and train in a way that would keep them injury-free. I also started taking a more holistic approach to training, paying attention to things I had never prioritized before—sleep, nutrition, supplements, and mental and emotional well-being.
Looking back, getting injured was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It forced me to grow in ways I never expected and shaped how I coach, train, and live my life today.
What’s next for you? How do you plan to keep changing the game?
I truly believe martial arts can have a positive impact on anyone’s life, and I’m committed to spreading awareness of its physical and mental benefits. I’m also a strong advocate for self-defense, especially for women and children. There’s nothing more rewarding than sharing knowledge and seeing how it empowers someone—boosting their confidence and self-esteem. Beyond that, I want to continue finding fun and engaging ways to share insights on health and wellness from a holistic perspective, helping people build stronger connections with themselves—both physically and mentally.
What’s one habit or ritual that keeps you grounded amid chaos?
In martial arts—and in life—we all experience moments where it feels like we’ve taken one step forward and two steps back. Progress is never linear. You can do everything right and still not get the result you wanted. There are so many factors that influence an outcome, many of which are beyond our control. One thing I try to practice is not attaching my ego to a goal. That doesn’t mean I don’t give it everything I’ve got—I do. But I also accept that the outcome isn’t entirely in my hands. Things will unfold the way they’re meant to. Trust the process. Every experience, whether it feels like a win or a setback, comes with a lesson.
PHOTOGRAPHY DARREN GABRIEL LEOW
ART DIRECTION MARISA XIN
STYLING KELLY HSU
PRODUCED BY CHERYL LAI-LIM, DANISHA LIANG, AND PAMEYLA CAMBE
MAKEUP SVETA KLYN OF THE SUBURBS STUDIO, USING FENTY BEAUTY
HAIR AIYI ZHOU, USING KEUNE HAIRCOSMETICS
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT MELVIN LEONG
FASHION ASSISTANT NUR ASWANI
This story first appeared in the March 2025 issue of GRAZIA Singapore.
READ MORE
GRAZIA Game Changers: Amy Lim Is Designing Modern Spaces With Soul
GRAZIA Game Changers: Jungmin Lee On How Ksisters Is Redefining K-Beauty In Singapore