Bliss was inspired to enter bodybuilding not by her first life threatening episode, but by a second in college, when Bliss’ time as a cheerleader led to her falling back into bad habits. In an interview with BBC from 2018, Bliss revealed she returned home and, during a conversation with her best friend, realized she was not only sending a bad message to herself, but to her friend, who Bliss said was starting to pick up some of the tendencies she developed in trying to lose weight. At that point, Bliss committed to setting a better example, and started bodybuilding as a result. After seeing it lead to positive results regarding her body weight and health, Bliss decided to keep pursuing it, ultimately leading to her developing what she described as a “healthier lifestyle.”

It also led to Bliss finding success within the sport, earning her IFBB card at the North American Championships in 2011. The moment was only the latest in strong showings for the then 20 year old Bliss, who revealed in an interview following the competition, where she also placed first in her class, that she had previously won in teen and collegiate competitions as well. It’s unclear how many more competitions Bliss competed in after earning her card, though Muscle & Fitness reveals she participated in at least two; the 2012 Pittsburgh Pro, where she placed 6th in her class, and the 2013 Arnold Classic in Ohio, where she placed 13th. The latter competition may have been her last, as Bliss signed her WWE developmental contract only a couple of months later.