More than 400 women are set to take part in a major international fitness competition in Wangara this weekend, celebrating strength and body confidence.
The event, known as The Butterfly Effect Competition, is being held at CrossFit Access in Wangara and will have women of all ages and fitness levels compete across four different workouts and divisions.
The competition was founded in 2015 by Rowena Calderwood and Karly Kentwell to challenge the emphasis on appearance in the fitness industry and give women a supportive space to celebrate their physical abilities.
Ms Calderwood said she was looking forward to the Perth event, with competitions also planned in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland, Queensland and Tasmania this year.
“We are so excited to see the demand for the Butterfly Effect Competition in Perth,” Ms Calderwood said.
“We are partnering with Wanneroo city council and expecting around 1800 people to come out and support the athletes. It’s going to be a fantastic event.”
Camera IconMore than 400 women will come together in Wangara this Saturday for The Butterfly Effect fitness competition. Credit: Supplied
Ms Calderwood said the competition was established to support the Butterfly Foundation, which helps raise awareness of eating disorders and challenge narrow beauty standards in the fitness industry.
She said her own struggles with food and body image were a key reason she wanted to challenge those attitudes.
“I spent most of my childhood worried about food and, ironically, my teens not really caring about food at all,” she said.
“I believed fat was what separates you from being a good or bad person.”
In her 20s, after becoming homeless and living off scraps from people’s plates at cafes, Ms Calderwood said she gained a new appreciation for food and nourishing her body, vowing never to take it or her health for granted.
Camera IconThe competition aims to give women a supportive space to celebrate their physical abilities Credit: Trent Callaghan Photography
According to the Butterfly Foundation, an estimated 1.1 million Australians were living with an eating disorder in 2023, equivalent to 4.45 per cent of the population.
The report also found that 1273 people died due to eating disorders in 2023.
For co-founder Karly Kentwell, body image has also long been a personal challenge.
“Growing up in Asia, where my peers’ builds were typically quite slight, I found myself constantly comparing,” Ms Kentwell said.
“Even though I was athletic and skinny and never struggled with my weight, just being a little taller than my peers was enough to make me feel like I was fat.
“What I saw in the mirror never quite matched how others saw me. This has carried on to my adult life. I still struggle to not critique every part of my body. It will always be a work in progress.”
Drawing on her own experiences with body image, Ms Kentwell said she wanted the Butterfly Effect events to help women build confidence in their abilities and feel supported regardless of their body shape or size.
“The aim is to shift the focus from appearance to appreciation for what our bodies can do. Everyone’s journey is different, and I want to help create a space where women feel empowered by their strength, not defined by their looks,” she said.
“When I see a woman achieve something she didn’t think she could do, when I see kids/dads/friends in the crowd watching and cheering the athletes on and most importantly, when I see women come together and celebrate each other — that’s what I love the most.”
The competition will kick off about 7am on Saturday, with 420 athletes set to compete. Competitor places are sold out, but spectator tickets remain available.