Paige VanZant is ringing in 32 the only way she knows how, soaking up the sun and casually breaking the internet in a bikini. The former MMA star shared a poolside snap to celebrate her birthday, rocking a tiny, patterned bikini while perched on an inflatable board in the middle of a crystal-clear pool. Flashing a peace sign and a big smile, VanZant kept it simple with the caption, “This is 32.” But while the birthday vibes were strong, the comments were even stronger.
Paige VanZant Turns 32 In Bikini, And Fans Are Already Asking ‘Birthday Spanking?’
It didn’t take long for followers to fill the comment section with love, dropping everything from “Happy birthday!” to “HBD” and heartfelt well wishes. But one comment in particular had people doing a double-take. “Birthday spanking?” they flirtatiously asked.
See the birthday bikini snap here.
VanZant Once Opened Up About Trauma And Finding Strength Through MMA
Long before her latest bikini-clad birthday post, VanZant showed a very different side of herself in a powerful interview from over seven years ago. The UFC fighter spoke candidly about how mixed martial arts helped her cope with deep personal trauma, including being sexually assaulted as a teenager and enduring years of bullying.
“I’m definitely not a quitter,” she said at the time, pointing to a 2018 fight where she continued competing despite breaking her arm in the first round, pushing through 10 grueling minutes before ultimately losing by decision.
That resilience, she explained, was rooted in everything she had already survived.
Paige VanZant Says #MeToo Helped Her Feel Less Alone
VanZant has been open about the challenges she faced growing up, including a harrowing assault at 14 and being targeted by bullies. Despite that, she used her platform to speak out and support others facing similar experiences, later reflecting on how the rise of the #MeToo movement played a major role in her healing journey as she prepared to share her story publicly.
“It was amazing it started right before my book came out. So I felt huge support and that I wasn’t doing this by myself,” she said. “It felt liberating to get the story out but the pain doesn’t just go away.”
VanZant Gets Real About Letting Go Of Guilt
The fighter emphasized that one of the hardest parts of her experience was learning to let go of misplaced guilt. “It’s also a hard lesson to learn, it’s not your fault in these circumstances. I want to change that stigma. I want women to feel confident to speak up,” she added.
Looking back, she admitted she wishes she had found her voice sooner. “If I had found my voice before that night then none of this would have happened,” she said.
Paige VanZant Says MMA Helped Her Find Her Voice
VanZant revealed that stepping into the world of MMA didn’t just shape her career, but it helped her rediscover herself. “I am different from other girls in the UFC,” she said. “It was never my ambition to make it to the UFC. I just started training to lift myself,” she explained. “I was a hidden, shy, timid person, and I fell into it. I felt like I was adopted into this family at my first gym.”
That sense of belonging quickly turned into something much deeper. “I then had my first fight and when I won I discovered I mattered. Before then I was stuck in that victim mindset,” she said. “In fighting, I found a purpose and that my presence on earth matters.”