Bump. Set. Spike. Gabrielle “Gabby” Reece has an impressive resume. She is a volleyball star, a model, a fitness expert and an author. She is also a former Florida State Seminole! Her athletic accomplishments are remarkable. She did not seriously play volleyball until she entered 11th grade, and despite the late start, the scholarship she attended FSU with was a volleyball scholarship. After two years of playing volleyball at FSU, she was recruited as a model and named “One of the Five Most Beautiful Women” in the world by Elle. She does not limit herself to one identity, though.
“I’m not just a model who plays volleyball, or a volleyball player who supports herself modeling,” she said. “I’m a female athlete personality.”
It did not take her too long to return back to the courts at FSU where she proceeded to excel. She set the record in solo blocks and total blocks at FSU with 240 solo blocks and 747 total blocks, and these numbers are still the ones to beat today. In 1997, Reece was inducted into Florida State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduating with a degree in communications and as a star volleyball player, Reece turned pro. She competed in beach volleyball tournaments, and her team won first place at the very first Beach Volleyball World Championship. Even when she was five months pregnant, she was playing beach volleyball. She still plays today, which is encouraging women to stay in shape.
Nike saw how amazing she was, and she was their first-ever female cross-training spokesperson. She was even the first female to design a shoe for Nike. You may have also noticed her as a trainer on The Biggest Loser in 2010. She takes healthy living very seriously, and she does everything she can to help others stay healthy. If you visit www.gabbyandlaird.com, you can find 48 training workouts designed specifically for women that are living the everyday life.
It’s almost hard to believe, but her awesomeness doesn’t stop there. Reece is the creator of The HoneyLine. According to her website (www.gabriellereece.com), The HoneyLine is “a fast-paced, magazine-style broadcast that delivers realistic solutions to women’s questions concerning style, health & fitness, relationship challenges in the home, food and environment.” The content of The HoneyLine features one-on-one interviews with celebrities, such as Sheryl Crow, Eva Longoria and Courtney Cox. How cool is that? You can find these interviews on www.rachelrayshow.com.
Last year, Reece became an author for the second time. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Foot is Too Big for the Glass Slipper. The book has been described as “the brutally honest, wickedly funny, and deeply helpful portrait of the humor, grace, and humility it takes to survive the happily ever after.” I highly suggest picking it up when you have the chance!
It is safe to say that this Florida State University alumnus is doing well. Reece is dedicated to giving everyone a chance to be healthy. Her story is very inspiring, and I think she puts it best when she says, “I’ve always been one of those hardheaded chicks who believe that we’re all responsible for our own happiness.”
Have fun with finding your happiness, ladies!