Mia has been an athlete for as long as she can remember. Sports connected her with mentors and friends, gave her a safe space to challenge herself, and taught countless life lessons. But in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, her relationship with food and her body became a source of control and struggle, and she fell into a dark place.

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She vividly remembers a pediatrician appointment where her doctor said, “You look great, skinny as a stick.” Less than a day later, her parents were called and she was rushed to a hospital two hours away. Her body was breaking down with dangerously low weight, unstable vitals, and a critical heart rate. Most of all, her mind had shut down and she no longer felt like herself.

 

The week in the hospital was terrifying. Mia was fed through a tube, hooked to machines that flashed and beeped constantly, and confined to bed except for brief wheelchair rides. Recovery was long and challenging. Five years later, she continues to recover, with the eating disorder voice much quieter but still present on difficult days.

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Through this experience, Mia learned how easily mental health struggles can go unnoticed, especially in sports environments where toughness and discipline are often prioritized over vulnerability. She also saw how little education exists around eating disorders and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). On every team she joined, no coach ever addressed the risks of disordered eating, REDs, or the pressures athletes face.

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Mia founded Project Unlaced to change that. Her mission is to educate and support young women and athletes, raise awareness about diet culture, eating disorders, and REDs, and ensure young people have the knowledge and resources to build healthy relationships with their bodies and food.