When the storm takes everything, resilience builds it back stronger
TIMELINE
How It All Started
Christa’s story began on the field. A Division I soccer player at NC State, she pushed herself to the highest levels, playing semi-professionally and training for the pro combines. Her future looked unstoppable — until a near-fatal cycling accident ended her athletic career overnight.
What could have been the end of her story became a powerful beginning: learning that identity isn’t defined by titles or trophies, but by resilience.
Just prior to the cycling accident, Christa faced one of the darkest chapters of her life: surviving sexual assault.
It was an experience that could have silenced her forever. Instead, Christa chose to speak louder — turning trauma into testimony, and becoming a voice for others who had endured violence.
When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, it destroyed Christa’s home, her hospital, and everything she had built. Standing in the aftermath of devastation, she once again found herself starting over.
It was in these moments — when the storm took everything — that she discovered her purpose: to be a leader who reminds others they can rise, too.
Christa went on to dedicate over 20 years to healthcare, serving as a clinical exercise physiologist and cardiac rehab professional. She combined science with humanity, helping patients not just recover, but truly reclaim their health.
Her journey with Hashimoto’s disease deepened her compassion for those living with chronic illness, giving her a unique perspective that blends wellness, empathy, and advocacy.
Christa was also chosen to carry the Olympic Torch for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, recognized for her extraordinary resilience and ability to inspire others.
Today, Christa stands on keynote stages and works with select coaching clients to deliver one message: resilience is not just surviving storms — it’s finding your voice, your power, and your community in the aftermath.
Her mantra — “One woman. One story. One voice for all.” — is not about leading from above, but about lifting from within. She uses her platform to stand with her community, amplify voices too often ignored, and inspire change that lasts.
Christa’s journey has proven that storms don’t define us — how we rise does. And she’s just getting started. Whether speaking to global audiences or coaching one-on-one, Christa’s story continues to be a story of belonging, resilience, and unshakable hope.
Christa Camarillo is more than just a Keynote Speaker…
Christa is a survivor of violent assault, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and the ongoing challenges of Hashimoto’s disease. Yet, each storm strengthened her resolve to rise, rebuild, and use her voice to lead others through their own challenges.
With over 20 years in healthcare as a clinical exercise physiologist and cardiac rehab professional, Christa pairs scientific expertise with lived experience. She also holds a Health & Life Coach Certification and has worked with one of the nation’s top alcohol reduction programs, helping individuals reclaim health and hope.
In recognition of her resilience, she was honored to carry the Olympic Torch for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
Today, Christa stands as a proud LGBTQ+ advocate and powerhouse speaker whose mantra is simple but profound: “One woman. One story. One voice for all.” Her message blends science, story, and advocacy to deliver more than inspiration — she delivers transformation in motion
