DD Hunt Palacios, daughter of former Northern Marianas College instructor Joaquin Palacios, ranked first in the Miss Health and Fitness contest as of May 1, but she still needs the support of the Marianas to win this prestigious competition.
The 40-year-old single mother believes that health is wealth. “To win in the body,” she said, “you must first win in the mind. Keep your mind fit by having a healthy perspective, and it will translate to your overall well-being. Take care of yourself, so that you can give more of yourself to others. Surround yourself with fitness-minded people. It’s a life-long marathon, not a sprint! Enjoy the journey, and just get moving.”
This year’s Miss Health and Fitness winner will take home $20,000 cash and will be on the cover of Muscle and Fitness HERS which is read by more than 500,000 fitness enthusiasts and professional athletes.
Over the last six years, moreover, the contest has donated “an incredible amount” to Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, a cause founded by former Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen. They provide financial assistance and support to injured U.S. military veterans by building and remodeling handicap-accessible homes to suit their individual needs, “one wounded warrior at a time.”
Sports and life
Palacios believes her choice of sports influences her life choices.
“Boxing is my preferred choice of fitness because of the many life lessons one can learn. I trained, competed, and even won my first boxing match after having a set of twins. I’ve learned many lessons about perseverance, focus, and overcoming hardships then and now. Now as a single mother of two sets of twins, and a singleton, I’ve used those same lessons to face the daunting task of raising my family. It motivates me to keep fighting to win the day,” she said.
If she wins, she said she will use the money to make a difference in her children’s lives.
“I train my kids in boxing basics in hopes they will learn life lessons to overcome hardships. I would use the funds to inspire/encourage a healthy lifestyle for kids. Winning this competition would help me obtain the resources I need to share my passion for fitness with the rising generation,” she said.
To support Palacios, visit: https://mshealthandfitness.com/2023/dd-hunt-pa
DD Hunt Palacios
