(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — For Paty Regalado, fitness wasn’t just a passion, it was the lifeline that helped her reclaim her strength, rebuild her faith, and turn one of the darkest moments of her life into a purpose-driven mission to empower other women.
“I’ve always been an athlete,” Regalado said. “Fitness was always part of me. But in college, I drifted away, and I could tell that not having that structure really affected me.”
It was during that time, she shared candidly, that she endured one of the darkest moments of her life. She experienced being sexually assaulted in college, a time where we are all feel the most vulnerable before even experiencing trauma. “That was the catalyst for everything that came after. As painful as it was, I can look back with a victory mindset now. It gave me empathy I never would’ve had otherwise.”
After college, Regalado moved to Nashville, where she found healing and rediscovered her strength through TITLE Boxing Club. “Even when I didn’t want to wake up at 4 a.m. to go before my 9-to-5 job, I did,” she said. “Something inside me sparked this realization that I am capable of doing hard things.”
“I can do hard things” became the foundation for everything Regalado would go on to build.
As she began sharing her story and workouts online, Regalado found her messages resonated with women across Nashville and beyond. “It wasn’t just about fitness anymore,” she explained. “It became mental, spiritual, and emotional. I wanted to help women understand how powerful they are when they integrate all of those parts.”
That passion led her to become a certified personal trainer, even after initial doubts. “People kept asking me to train them,” she said. “I had imposter syndrome at first. But eventually, I realized this was the next step in what God was calling me to do.”
Regalado’s journey evolved into a full-fledged brand, Own You, a lifestyle platform combining faith, fitness, fashion, and community.
The idea first sparked after attending a Passion Conference in Georgia in 2019, where speaker and evangelist Christine Caine, founder of the anti-trafficking organization A21, deeply moved her. “Her story resonated so much with mine,” Regalado said. “I felt this calling to somehow merge my faith and fitness with a mission to fight human trafficking and support women in recovery.”
That calling turned into a vision: wellness and mission trips to Ecuador, her parents’ home country, to support safe houses for survivors. “We’d go down, cook for the women, talk with them, build, clean, serve, and then we’d spend some time at the beach to reset,” she said. “It was about healing through community.”
Though COVID-19 paused those plans, Regalado pivoted again. “I started Own You Athleticwear,” she said. “It’s a lifestyle brand that empowers women through faith and fitness, to know their full potential in God.”
Her athleticwear line quickly sold out, and she’s now working toward a relaunch, alongside developing an Own You app where clients can find training programs, community events, and mindset content.
When asked what advice she’d give to women who feel stuck or afraid to start, Regalado’s answer was simple yet powerful:
“It’s never too late to restart,” she said. “You just have to take one small step. Like Will Smith said, brick by brick, eventually you’ll have a wall. Start with baby steps, even if that’s just cleaning your room and creating peace so you can think clearly again.”
Regalado hosts monthly wellness events through Own You, often partnering with local businesses like Nashville Wellness Club, Next Level Fitness, and Framework Boro. “It’s mostly just me organizing everything,” she said. “But I’m so grateful for my friends and community. Without them, these events wouldn’t happen.”
When she’s not running events or managing her brand, Regalado trains clients at Next Level Fitness in the WeHo neighborhood. “It’s a great space for people who might feel uncomfortable in big gyms,” she said. “We have about 20 trainers, and everyone’s just focused on helping their clients grow.”
Outside the gym, Regalado keeps her peace through her morning routines, walks, and “hot girl walks” with friends. “If anyone ever wants to meet up for a walk and smoothie, I’m always down,” she said with a laugh.
At the heart of everything she does from training, to events, to apparel, Regalado’s message remains the same: resilience, faith, and empowerment.
“I just want women to know they are capable,” she said. “Even if it feels too late, even if you’re scared, take one step. You can do hard things.”
As she continues building the next chapter of Own You, from her sold-out line to her upcoming app, it’s clear that Regalado isn’t just leading workouts, she’s leading a movement.
Follow Paty on her Instagram or check out the Own You website to get started with this ray of sunshine now.
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