My name is Eva Anna Jenina Simanavicius, and I am a fitness coach and have been for the past 2 years in London. I will be running the Amsterdam Marathon on October 15th to raise awareness for Eating Disorders and the wellbeing of students studying performing arts.

Before I decided to take on the fitness industry, I trained for 18/19 years as a dancer. I moved to London at the age of 17 to pursue a career in dance and study a BA (Hons) Degree in professional dance and musical theatre.

Being a dancer or performer of any kind is an incredible profession, but the education system have many faults when it comes to the welfare of their students (I'm sure the working industry will do too, however I'm going to be talking from a college experience).

After a few months in my first year at college, I fell into some harmful eating habits that resulted me in becoming extremely underweight.

This stemmed from years before college as my weight and body was continuously commented on negatively. At school we were weighed before and after holidays, we were compared to other students and were surrounded by mirrors every single day, while also going through puberty and growing into our young adult selves.

There needs to be more education for students on fuelling their bodies and allowing to live a happy and balanced life, enjoying all foods in moderation to enhance their careers. This also should not be a voluntary class. It should be scheduled.

There was and always has been a stigma around Eating Disorders.

Students should never feel scared to speak to someone, with the worry it could jeopardize their career. There should be an ‘open space’ for students to talk about any battles they are facing at ALL colleges and training camps. Singing off or suspending a student shouldn’t just be the only option.

The industry is very aesthetically focused, based on looks and shape. This is damaging to young students. I have also received stories from those graduated and studying who courageously opened up about their disordered or ‘odd’ eating habits because of comments made by teachers or being in an industry that has broken their self esteem and body confidence.

The priority is to create triple threat or just employable graduates, but in order for them to succeed in this cut throat industry, they need to be mental healthy and strong, as well as physically.

I am passionate to ensure no one has to go through what I did since I graduated in 2020. My goal is to raise awareness, create workshops or a lecture on a regular basis especially for those training professionally to become a performer. This way there is more knowledge on the negative effects of ED habits, and the positive effects on living a balanced life.