Grace Smith - The Woman Redefining Female Fitness in Northern Ireland

When it comes to weight loss and female fitness, there’s no better woman than Grace Smith, the founder of Forge Female Fitness in Ballymoney. 

Grace isn’t just a coach – she’s a walking testament to resilience, transformation, and the life-changing power of fitness. And the awards keep proving it. 

Most recently, Grace was named Service Entrepreneur of the Year, Northern Ireland, at the prestigious 2024 Great British Entrepreneur Awards. In the very same week, her gym also took home Health & Wellbeing Business of the Year at the Local Women Business Awards held at Belfast’s Europa Hotel.

As Grace humbly puts it: “These awards mark eight years of unwavering dedication to improving women’s health and wellness. It’s an honour to be recognised as the best service provider in Northern Ireland and the top Health & Wellbeing Business!”

But behind the accolades lies a deeply personal story. Grace’s journey began not in a gym, but at an office desk – a moment of self-realisation.

“It hit me hard one morning,” she shares. “I went to wheel my chair into my desk and realised I was so big and my stomach was so big I was struggling to reach my keyboard.

"I phoned my mum and said 'throw all the junk out, I have to do something'. It also coincided with me turning 29 so it was all about getting a lot healthier by the time I was hitting my 30s. I had to make a change.”

That pivotal moment set Grace on a path of self-discovery, during which she lost an astonishing 160 pounds in 12 months. 

But the journey wasn’t smooth sailing. Grace openly admits that there were weeks when her motivation faltered.

“I didn’t lose the weight overnight. It took consistency, patience, and accepting setbacks. But I promised myself that small, sustainable changes would get me there – and they did.”

Her personal transformation wasn’t just about shedding pounds. It was about confronting mental health challenges, including depression. Grace found that exercise wasn’t just a tool for physical fitness – it was an outlet, a sanctuary. 

Now, she brings that ethos to Forge Female Fitness, which she founded in 2016 to create a space where women feel truly supported.

The Ballymoney-based studio has quickly become Northern Ireland’s highest-rated female-only gym. What sets it apart? It’s not about crash diets, scales, or a one-size-fits-all approach. 

Grace and her team – who have lost over 320 pounds collectively – focus on holistic, personalised coaching. 

This includes everything from movement, nutrition, and pre/postnatal care to mental health, menopause, and hormone support. “We’re here to help women build their best selves,” Grace says.

Grace believes that Forge’s success lies in its community-driven ethos. 

“It’s so much more than a gym,” she explains. Forge Female Fitness holds monthly social events, fitness workshops, and even community holidays. The team prioritises mindset coaching, with Sarah, their CBT therapist, leading mental health support. 

“Many of our members don’t just need physical transformation – they need a space to de-stress and feel empowered.”

Grace’s work and her personal story resonate with the countless women she coaches. Her background as someone who’s walked the same path sets her apart. 

“I wasn’t a natural athlete or born into fitness,” Grace says. “I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, unsure, and unconfident. That’s why I can connect with women who feel the same. I’ve been there, and I’m here to show them that change is possible.”

As a coach, Grace also emphasises realistic expectations and finding your deeper “why” when pursuing health goals. 

“It’s not about a superficial number on the scales,” she says. “It’s about what drives you. For some women, it’s being healthier for their children. For others, it’s about regaining confidence. Once you identify your ‘why,’ it carries you through the tough days.”

Grace and her team work tirelessly to challenge the outdated, one-dimensional view of fitness. 

At Forge Female Fitness, it’s about transformation inside and out – building strength, confidence, and a life you’re proud of. 

It’s no wonder Grace has been recognised as one of the UK’s top entrepreneurs. 

From losing 156lbs in 12 months, quitting her web design job, overcoming grief, debt and depression, to becoming a coach and opening up her own female only gym, to winning an award from the pinnacle of business awards within the UK, it has been a whirlwind. 

There’s no daunting Grace’s passion for fitness and especially the team and clients at Forge Female Fitness. As she puts it: “This isn’t just about fitness. It’s about creating life-changing results for women, in every sense of the word.”