Meet the Founding Members of DGWL
Marybeth, Founder (she/her)
Native to the Philippines and an immigrant to California (on Ohlone Land), Marybeth embraces her identity as a queer, disabled womxn of color, a sexual assault survivor, first-generation college graduate, powerlifter, and avid member of the limb-difference community. At 27 years old, Marybeth left the wine industry to pursue arts and entertainment at Cal Performances, where she managed performance venues across the UC Berkeley campus and provided better access to people with disabilities.
Marybeth has been competing in powerlifting for 5 years. She placed 1st in her weight class at 2015 USPA Nationals, 2017 USAPL CA State Championships, as well as several other local meets and hopes to break current barriers that athletes with disabilities face in national sports federations.
She is a strong advocate of teaching self-love, strength, courage, and empowerment to young bodies, including her Papillon-CKC Spaniel pup, Maple.
Chloe, Partner (she/her)
Chloe was born in 1991 in Dubuque, Iowa (on Iowa, Sauk, & Sioux lands) with macrodactyly. The condition affects her right arm and hand and required her right index and middle digits to be amputated. Shriners Hospital in Chicago, IL performed surgeries to improve function and dexterity from infancy to teenage years.
Throughout elementary school and college, Chloe was an avid equestrian. Chloe now channels her love for horses into her business as an equine bodyworker, specializing in hands-on restorative therapies for horses.
In 2013, Chloe began training as a powerlifter and has been eating her way through weight classes since. Chloe is currently ranked in the top-10 all-time in the 148lb class. When she isn’t in a barn or under a barbell, she is doting on her English Bulldogs or looking for her next international adventure
Marcia, Partner (she/they)
Marcia is a Haitian-American, physical therapist, Black creative, spoonie, and powerlifting strongwoman living in South Florida (on Seminole Land). Marcia was always an athletic person, but didn’t begin lifting journey until 2010. After her first powerlifting competition in 2011, Marcia competed 3-4 times a year national level meets and held state records. By 2016, Marcia found herself with a body that no longer listened or performed as expected.
After two years of inconsistent performances, Marcia shifted her focus to an equally demanding but more flexible sport of Strongman. In her first year of competing, Marcia qualified for 2019 nationals in two different federations. Nursing an undiagnosed condition takes a great amount of soul searching and mental fortitude to stay focused and adapt accordingly in a world built for the able-bodied.
Careerwise, Marcia is the owner of ‘Move with Marcia’, an online resource + Youtube channel for physical therapy and yoga.