Though Kamie van Hoven doesn’t position herself as a fitness influencer, she understands that in her own way, she does have influence. And instead of promoting herself like it’s going out of style, she trusts that her day-to-day actions speak for themselves.
“Where I think that I make an impact is inspiring average women to have a balanced and healthy life, showing them that lifting weights and doing cardio can be a great and helpful part of their everyday life,” she explains. This impact is felt most acutely in her children, who have seen Kamie embark on her own fitness and health journey, learning through her example the importance of physical activity.
“I poured everything into my kids as they were growing up,” she says, “and now with them being adults, I want to pass a love for fitness and the health benefits that come with it down to them.” The belief that growing older means settling for less is another falsehood that she wants to dismantle, replacing it with the knowledge that by maintaining a fit lifestyle (or, as she calls it, “putting in the work”) you’ll look and feel your best, long after society has considered you “young.”
For Kamie, following this path looks a little different every day. Whether she’s cycling outdoors or hitting a groundstroke in pickleball, she admits that cardio is her go-to form of activity, both for its adrenaline-pumping results and for its ability to take her mind off stressors.
“Cardio has always been a big part of my exercise program, and biking has just naturally fit into that role,” she says. “I walked for so many years when my children were young, whether it was pushing the stroller or walking the soccer fields while they practiced, that it was time for something different.” Of course, she hasn’t shirked her leisurely walks altogether, but the community aspect of group cycling has pushed it to the top of her must-do list of exercises.
Aside from the laughs she shares with friends on the open road and the court, fitness has provided Kamie with a place to turn when the going gets tough. “I couldn’t possibly list all the times that fitness and exercise have helped me deal with the stress of life. Exercise has always been my way to unwind, and is even my way to set my mind correctly at the start of the day.” This is why she checks it off her list first thing in the morning, lest the busyness of the day pull her away from her goals.
And speaking of goals, Kamie has several, from hiking in as many National Parks as she can to trekking the Camino, a historic series of walking paths in Europe. One that she can say she has achieved? “Doing a fitness shoot,” she shares. (You can find her demonstrating a killer arm workout in our November/December 2025 issue.) “And maybe even being on a magazine cover.” Keep your eyes peeled—perhaps that last dream is closer than even Kamie might hope.
Written by Rachel Debling, Editor-in-Chief
Photography by Paul Buceta
Are You a Woman to Watch?
You could be featured in an issue of STRONG Fitness Magazine!
