Turia Pitt's message for women: 'Self-belief has nothing at all to do with how you look.'

by Kahla Preston June 5, 2015

Right now, Turia Pitt is on a mission — and she needs your help.

The author and inspirational speaker has been flat-out hosting gala events and preparing to trek the Inca Trail with 30 other people in July, all in an effort to raise money for Interplast — a non-for-profit providing free surgical procedures in developing Asia Pacific countries. But she’s got some tough fundraising competition.

“One of the [Inca Trail] participants has done really well … I think she’s raised like $10,000 now. She’s raised even more than me, so I’m a bit embarrassed about that!” Turia laughs.

Turia and her fellow Inca Trail trekkers are getting prepared.

The former mining engineer dedicates a lot of her time to helping other people, which is remarkable considering she's been through so much in her own life.

You might be familiar with Turia's story: in September 2011, she was participating in an ultra-marathon in Western Australia’s Kimberley region when she and three other runners became trapped by a huge grassfire.

Turia sustained horrific injuries — she suffered burns to 65 per cent of her body, requiring her to wear a full-body compression suit with a mask for two years, and had four of her fingers and a thumb amputated. In the nearly four years since her accident, Turia has endured more than 200 surgeries, with more to come in the future.

Despite her ordeal, Turia doesn't believe her life has changed dramatically. "You know, I still feel like Turia. It sounds ridiculous — like, obviously I’m Turia," she says. (Post continues after gallery.)

Turia Pitt's life on Instagram

"There’s nothing that jumps out at me that’s really different in my life. I'm still very active, I still have phenomenal relationships with my family, and my partner and my friends. I guess I live in a different area now and my career is totally different."

The Glow spoke to Turia this week about her ongoing work with Interplast, her impressive fitness regimen, and all the other pursuits she has on the go. Seriously, this woman is unstoppable.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by how much you're loved and admired?

"Not overwhelmed — appreciative. I think it’s actually really lovely when people stop and tell me that I'm amazing. For example, once a lady wrote to me and she said that because of my story, she stopped smoking cigarettes. Isn't that cool? That’s a really small thing, but I think that’s also a pretty powerful thing that I’m able to impact on people’s lives in such a positive way."

In March you ran your first half-marathon since your accident. How did it feel to revisit that kind of event?

Turia cycling the Great Ocean Road last year.

"At that point it was the furthest I'd run since my accident, so I was a bit nervous. Then I guess the last running race I’d done, I’d been catastrophically injured. So I was really anxious and just filled with trepidation. But it’s weird — as soon as I took that first step, all I could think about was the run. I was actually really loving it."

What would you like women to understand about body image?

"Having self belief and confidence and self love, it’s actually got nothing at all to do with how you look. And for some reason we always think it does. We always think if we were a bit prettier, or a bit skinnier or whatever, we’d feel better about ourselves ... that’s all bullshit. I don’t know why we think like that. I’m not bagging exercise at all, I exercise every day and I love it, and I eat really good food too. But that’s just more to keep me happy and healthy. It actually starts with your mind and your mental state. But then again it's weird, isn’t it — like when you get a new haircut, you feel better about yourself. So I don't know!"

How did you get involved with Interplast?

Turia with her partner Michael at the last Interplast Gala

"My plastic surgeon volunteers for them every single year, so instead of taking his holidays on a nice relaxing beach like the rest of us would, he spends all of his time in countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos and Cambodia, performing surgeries on people who really need it. I guess that’s what precipitated my involvement with them. The idea is each year I do a trek or an adventure, so last year we did the Great Wall of China, in July this year we’re doing the Inca Trail, next year we’re doing Kokoda. As part of that I also organise these Gala events."

What has been the most amazing example their work you've witnessed first-hand?

"I went on a mission with them last year and I met this little baby called Seng, and he’d manged to pour boiling water on his head. Seng was actually really lucky, because the Interplast team were there when he had his accident so they were able to perform surgery on him straight away. If Interplast hadn’t been there, he would have gone blind."

You're always so active. How are you keeping fit at the moment?

Turia swimming with whale sharks last month.

"I’m training for an ironman, so that’s taking most of my time. It’s pretty boring, actually — not boring for me but boring when I describe it, because all it is is bike riding, swimming and running. I do three runs a week... a two hour run, an hour run and, like, a 40 minute run. And i do swimming sessions, which is about two and a half kilometres each, and then two cycle sessions."

Do you have a workout jam that keeps you going?

"At the moment I’m actually liking that song Fergalicious. I know — it’s a little bit lame, isn’t it? I probably end up changing my playlist like every week, or else I get really bored. When I go for runs, I like listening to pretty heavy techno."

You've been a runner for so long - what do you love most about it?

"I'm not actually sure, 'cause when I’m on the run a lot of the time I’m hating it! I guess I just like the challenge. The other thing I like is that you can do it anywhere