STEVI SHARI
“When I was in the military you were not allowed to be gay,” says Stevi Shari of her time in the U.S. Navy. “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was the policy. During my tour I experienced trauma and also had to hide my sexuality, so it affected me.” She’s now a social media influencer and athlete currently competing in her third season of American Ninja Warrior. “One of my nieces watched the show and called me and said, ‘I want you to do this.’” Shari has also launched the non-profit Veterans for the People, an organization of veterans who direct others to community resources including housing, food, and medical and mental health services. She’s also an advocate, peer supporter, and motivational coach for military veterans. “My vision for myself is to do something that hasn’t been done before, like to be the first woman to win American Ninja Warrior,” says Shari, who aspires to become an actor as well. “Overall, I just want to keep being an athlete and motivator for women and youth to stay healthy, active and shoot for their dreams.” Despite her successful career on camera, “I am actually shy and a hopeless romantic,” Shari says. “I like to live in the moment so I would prefer not to have to record all the time.”
