Before she ever dreamt of winning bodybuilding titles, Bryana Johnson was just trying to find peace of mind. The 23-year-old Clarendon native remembers feeling overwhelmed by anxiety and bouts of depression. She didn’t know it then, but the very thing that would change her life was waiting for her inside a gym.
“I started exercising when I was a bit depressed, when I used to have anxiety issues,” Johnson recalls. “At first, it was just to kill time. But slowly, I realised how being in the space, exercising, fixing my nutrition, and just showing up every day was helping me. I started to become more confident, and I didn’t have the same self-esteem problems any more.”
What began as a coping mechanism evolved into a passion and then into a purpose. Today, Johnson is not only a two-time bikini wellness champion but also a fitness and wellness coach dedicated to helping others find strength through movement.
Her journey didn’t begin in the spotlight, but in silence. Growing up, Johnson often felt she didn’t fit society’s narrow standards of beauty. “The gym helped me love myself more,” she said. “That’s when I decided I wanted to help others feel the same transformation.”
Johnson’s experience is a timely reminder that wellness starts from within. “Fitness gave me structure and purpose,” she shares. “It taught me discipline, and that discipline spilled over into every part of my life. I want to show people, especially young women, that taking care of your body can transform your mind.”
Before she found her calling, Johnson was working as an operations manager in logistics. It was steady work, but not fulfilling. “Even though I had a nine-to-five, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life,” she said. “What I knew for sure was that anything I did, I wanted to create a difference. I wanted to add value to people’s lives.”
Encouraged by co-workers and coaches who noticed her dedication, she transitioned from casual gym sessions to the disciplined world of bodybuilding. It wasn’t long before she was competing among the best.
“When I first started, I didn’t think I’d go far,” she admits. “But the more I trained, the more I realised how much mental strength the sport requires. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about pushing past what you think are your limits.”
COMING FULL CIRCLE
That mindset carried her to the stage of the Mayberry Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) National Senior Championships in September, where she successfully defended her title in the fiercely contested bikini wellness category.
“When I heard my name again, I was excited, proud, emotional, everything all at once,” she reflects. “It wasn’t just about winning. It was about knowing I had improved, that I presented the best package on stage. Bodybuilding isn’t only about the muscles, it’s about performance, presentation, and presence, and I delivered that.”
There was added symbolism in the moment. The competition was held at the Little Theatre, the same stage where Johnson once performed as a student in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival. “Acting was my first love, but after school, I didn’t get to pursue it,” she said. “Being back on that same stage, this time as a champion, felt full circle. It reminded me that even though the path changed, I still found a way to perform, to shine, and to inspire.”
Now, as the founder of B3 Body Lab, Johnson channels her passion into helping others transform both physically and mentally. “My goal is not just to transform bodies, but to transform minds,” she said. “When clients come in stressed about work or life, I see how fitness helps them apply discipline outside the gym. They start meditating, reading, [and] even launching businesses. That’s the power of wellness.”
Her training philosophy is grounded in balance, not perfection. “Training has never been the hardest part for me,” she explains. “It’s the dieting, eating the same thing every day. That discipline, though, is what builds resilience. You learn to push through discomfort and stay committed.”
As she sets her sights on international competition, Johnson remains rooted in her mission: to be a voice of encouragement for those struggling silently. “The biggest thing I want young women to know is: never give up,” she said. “Life doesn’t always go the way you plan, and sometimes your dreams change. But passion is important because that’s where you’ll find true happiness. Fitness helped me find myself, and once you find yourself, you feel like you can do anything.”
For Johnson, bodybuilding is more than a sport; it’s a statement. A reminder that strength isn’t about conforming, but about transforming. For a generation navigating uncertainty and stress, her story is a beacon, proof that healing can start with one small, determined step towards self-belief.