Running the New York City Marathon is one of the most challenging and personal things I’ve ever committed to doing and choosing to run for Strong Girls United felt deeply connected to my own story.

A lot of people know me today as Chef Lauren Covas  the chef on television, the business owner, the cookbook author, the loud personality in the kitchen who seems confident and fearless. But the truth is, confidence was something I had to fight hard to build.

Growing up, I struggled in school. I was a girl with a lot of energy, a lot of emotion, and honestly, a lot of insecurities. I struggled with body image, confidence, feeling different, and trying to figure out where I fit in. Sports and movement became one of the healthiest outlets in my life. Being active gave me structure, discipline, confidence, and somewhere to put all of the emotions and energy I didn’t always know how to process.

Food became another part of that journey. Ironically, becoming a chef taught me so much about nourishment, confidence, culture, and connection but it also taught me how complicated our relationship with our bodies can become, especially as women. I’ve battled my own weight struggles, self-image struggles, and confidence struggles throughout different seasons of my life, even while building a career in food and constantly being in front of people and cameras.

That’s why this mission matters to me so much. There are so many young girls growing up today who are struggling silently with confidence, body image, anxiety, pressure, bullying, or simply not feeling “enough.” And the reality is, not every child has access to strong mentorship programs, sports, support systems, or environments that help build confidence from the inside out.

I truly believe we need to teach girls at a young age that being strong is powerful. That having a voice matters. That confidence is built, not born. The world is not always an easy place, especially for young girls trying to navigate who they are while constantly comparing themselves to impossible standards.

Programs like Strong Girls Unite help change that narrative.If I had something like this when I was younger, I honestly believe it would have changed so much for me earlier in life. It would have helped me find my voice sooner. The same voice and confidence that eventually helped me become the woman, mother, chef, entrepreneur, and leader people know today.

So this marathon is bigger than just 26.2 miles for me.

It’s about proving to myself that growth never stops. It’s about showing my boys what strength and vulnerability look like. And it’s about helping young girls feel seen, supported, confident, and powerful long before adulthood tells them who they should be.

I’m asking for your support in helping me raise money for this incredible organization. Every donation big or small helps provide resources, mentorship, opportunities, and confidence-building programs for girls who deserve to know how strong they truly are.