Every now and then, someone you admire quietly does something brave. Not loud. Not flashy. Just brave in that humble, heart-led way that makes you want to stand up and cheer for them.
That’s exactly what happened when I learned that Alyssa Brandeberry, the incredible owner of Alpha Omega Performance, entered the 2026 Ms. Health & Fitness Competition!
And here’s the part that made me smile even more—she didn’t even tell anyone at first.
That’s just Alyssa.
Alpha Omega Performance is incredibly near and dear to me because it was my very first functional fitness home. Walking through those doors years ago (decade-ish, cough cough!) changed the way I looked at strength, discipline, and community. But if you’ve ever spent time there, you know this: AOP is far more than a gym.
It’s family.
The kind of place where people remember your name, ask how your kids are doing, celebrate your victories, and pick you up on the days when you’re struggling. Members truly feel chosen by one another, and that sense of belonging is something special. You feel it the very moment you walk in.
And Alyssa leads that community with the same heart she brings to everything she does!
Alyssa is a nurse, entrepreneur, coach, and community builder. She took ownership of Alpha Omega Performance in 2024, and since then she’s been pouring her energy into making the gym even stronger with renovations, new turf, a second rig, fresh paint, and constant improvements to better serve the members who call it home.
But the reason she entered this competition says everything about who she is.
Her dream is to build a dedicated kids area inside the gym, so parents—especially moms and dads trying to juggle work, family, and health—can still show up for themselves.
Because if you’re a parent, you know that one of the biggest barriers to taking care of yourself is simply finding the time and childcare to do it.
A kids space would change that for so many families, including my own!
Alyssa quietly entered the competition hoping it might help fund that dream. She mentioned it to one of her staff members, and before long the Alpha Omega community did what they do best—they rallied!
Now here we are.
Alyssa has already advanced to the Quarterfinals of the national Ms. Health & Fitness Competition, hosted by Muscle & Fitness Magazine. And watching our Pensacola community get behind her has been one of the most uplifting things.
The competition moves quickly from here:
• Quarterfinals: March 9 – March 19
• Semifinals: March 20 – March 26
• Finals: March 27 – April 2
Votes reset each round, and the winner receives a magazine feature and a cash prize that could help make this kids area a reality!
But to me, this is about something bigger than a competition.
It’s about supporting a woman who has spent years helping others become stronger—physically and mentally. It’s about believing in someone who leads with humility and heart. And it’s about investing in a place that has already given so much to our community.
So if you have a moment, I’d love for you to help us lift Alyssa up the same way she’s lifted so many others!
You can vote here daily!
Sometimes the smallest acts—like a simple vote—can help build something really meaningful for families right here in Pensacola.
And I have a feeling that if anyone deserves a moment in the winner’s circle, it’s Alyssa!
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