SINGAPORE – Mothers are thought of as selfless and sacrificing when they put their families ahead of their passions.

After all, they are the nurturers everyone relies on to keep households running smoothly.

But three mothers who have followed their dreams say their journeys have made them better parents.

Ms Mayda Jutahkiti role-modelled resilience and self-belief when she entered a bodybuilding competition at age 50.

Ms Martini Abdul Talib’s discipline and commitment as an ultramarathoner has influenced her three children, who are all active in sports.

And Madam Yap Joo Eng surprised her daughter, Ms Yap Jinyen, when she came out of retirement to co-found a heritage rice wine company during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Their inspiring stories are a Mother’s Day reminder that mums who show up for themselves are not selfish, but are practising self-love and self-care.

When they let their light shine, they illuminate the path for their children to become the stars of their own lives too.

Who says mum can’t… join a bodybuilding contest at 50 and be a role model for her kids?

On April 26, 2025, Ms Mayda Jutahkiti stood backstage at Kreta Ayer People’s Theatre, in a sequinned red bikini on five-inch heels, her well-honed muscles gleaming under spray-tanned skin.

She had practised her bodybuilding poses to perfection over the last four months with her coach. But performing under the bright stage lights and in front of an audience was quite another thing.

“When they called my name and I first stepped on the stage, my legs turned to jelly,” she says, recalling how she walked onstage mincingly to avoid falling.

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Who says mum can’t… raise 3 kids and run 100km ultramarathons?