Meet Rebecca Shandley. The inspirational fundraiser, and Miss Grand Australia finalist, shares her views on exercise, nutrition and busting wellness myths.
STATUS UPDATE:
FULL NAME: Rebecca Shandley
HOMETOWN: Sydney
BORN: 26 Otober 1996
INSTAGRAM: @rebeccashandley
Do you have a morning routine that you swear by?
Absolutely. I always start my morning with warm water and lemon, then I have a glass of water with a pinch of Baja sea salt to help replenish essential minerals and support proper hydration. After that, I have my homemade green juice which is celery, cucumber, lemon, kale, and spinach — it’s my little morning ritual of nourishment. While sipping all of this, I take time a moment to myself to write in my gratitude and manifesting journal, followed by planning out my to-do list for the day. As a busy business owner, setting the tone early with intention and discipline is so important, it keeps me grounded, focused, and in alignment for the rest of the day.
Was health and fitness important to you growing up, and how has your fitness philosophy changed over the years?
Yes, health and fitness have always played a big role in my life. I’ve always placed strong importance on wellbeing because I truly believe our health is the foundation for living a good, fulfilling life. Growing up, I was a gymnast and dancer, so movement was naturally part of my routine from an early age. Over the years, my fitness philosophy has shifted from focusing purely on performance and intensity to being more about balance, longevity, and how I feel in my body. Right now, I’m fully in my Pilates princess era. I do hot mat Pilates at CorePlus, reformer Pilates, and mix that with regular weight training, sauna sessions and daily walks. I’ve learned that the best fitness routine is the one that supports both your body and your lifestyle, and that will look different for everyone.
How do you stay motivated on days when you don’t feel like working out?
Good question! Honestly, this is something I get asked a lot. My biggest piece of advice is to listen to your body and ask yourself, “Am I genuinely tired, or am I just being lazy?” If you’re tired, rest, recovery is important. But if you’re just lacking motivation, then get up, put on some music or if you’re like me, a motivational speaker and move your body! Even if it’s just a short walk around the block. You’ll never regret showing up for yourself.
Earlier this year, I completed the 75 Hard Challenge — a mental toughness program that requires you to stick to a strict set of rules for 75 days straight with zero days off and no substitutes. One of the rules is doing two 45-minute workouts every day, and one of them must be outdoors. During the challenge, I got sick and we had torrential rain all day. At 10pm that night, I still hadn’t completed my outdoor workout for the day. It was pouring, I felt awful, but I laced up my shoes and went for a 45-minute run in the storm because I refused to fail.
While I wouldn’t recommend working out when you’re unwell and I do think this challenge can be a bit extreme, it taught me an invaluable lesson about mental discipline. Pushing through when it’s uncomfortable builds a mindset I carry with me every day, especially on the days when motivation is low.
What’s a fitness myth that you wish would go away, and why?
That doing a lot of cardio automatically means you’ll lose weight. It’s such a common misconception. While cardio can definitely help burn calories, weight loss is primarily driven by being in a calorie deficit and that’s influenced just as much (if not more) by nutrition and overall lifestyle. In fact, too much cardio can sometimes lead to muscle loss or increased hunger, which can make long-term progress harder to sustain. A balanced approach that includes strength training, daily movement, and nourishing food is far more effective.
What is your approach to nutrition? How do you maintain balance and still enjoy your favourite foods?
As someone who in the past struggled with diet culture for many years from a young age, I have seriously tried every fad diet. Personally, I do not like following a restrictive diet, I eat intuitively, when I want, what I want (within reason). I just consciously choose the healthier option. I focus on eating whole foods, avoid heavily processed products, and keep refined sugar to an absolute minimum.
If I crave chocolate, that’s totally fine, I usually opt for sugar-free versions. I’m also lucky to be in a position where I cook a lot of my meals at home, so I know exactly what goes into my food. This means no nasty seed oils or hidden sugars, and I eat really clean at home, not out of obligation, but because it genuinely makes me feel my best and makes me stay focused.
That said, balance is key! When I go out, you’ll never catch me ordering a salad for dinner, I’d much rather enjoy a delicious pasta or a good steak and if we order dessert for the table, I’ll definitely try a bite!
What’s your go-to treat?
I recently tried Russian honey cake for the first time and I’m obsessed. I love how every bite you can taste the effort put into this dessert with the layering.
Who inspires you?
Here I feel like I’m meant to say a famous figure, but actually, the ones who inspire me most are the small circle of people I have around me. Whether it’s motivation to work harder, give back more, or be more resilient, I find my greatest inspirations close to home. It’s the everyday strength and kindness in those around me that truly drives me.
You’re working out in the gym – what are you listening to?
I usually listen to either a motivational speaker or a self-development audiobook. It gives me that extra boost to push harder and become a just a little bit better version of myself than the day before.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Be kind to everyone, you never know what someone is going through.
What’s next for you?
So many exciting things, honestly! Some I can’t share just yet, but they’ll all unfold in the coming months. But I’m currently a National Finalist for Miss Grand Australia, competing for the chance to represent our country on the international stage, so hopefully (fingers and toes crossed!) that will be my next big adventure.
At the same time, I’m passionately involved right now with three different charities, working on fundraising events. The next big highlight is a gala event at the end of August. We’ve been working hard on this project and I can’t wait to see it come to life.
Women’s Wellness Event for Charity
We hosted a powerful Women’s Wellness Event in support of Destiny Rescue — a global organisation dedicated to rescuing children and women from sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Attendees experienced an energising hot mat Pilates session with CorePlus Darlinghurst, guided breathwork with Holly Dixon of We Are Holistics, and an insightful nutrition workshop led by clinical nutritionist Georgia Betts. Each guest was generously gifted premium activewear from Nook The Label, along with a curated wellness goodie bag and a refreshing Bytropic protein smoothie to finish off the event.
With 100% of ticket proceeds donated to Destiny Rescue, the event not only empowered women to prioritise their wellbeing, but also contributed directly to changing the lives of vulnerable children and women around the world.
To enquire about hosting your own wellness event, contact Miss B at info@missbsydney.com.au.
Photographer: Chadi Sabsabi
Hair And Make-Up: Macy Mae And Monica Gonzalez
For the full article grab the August/September 2025 issue of Women’s Fitness Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
