Page 48 - FHM - USA (January 2020)

Cover Feature | Aleen Johnson

Al en

Meetthismonth’scoverstar,AleenJohnson.She’smorethanjustabeautifulface
havingstrivedandsurvivedthroughhardshipstocomeoutasathrivingand

successfulyoungwoman.Here,Aleensharesmoreaboutwhosheis,whatshe’sabout

andhowshe’sturnedeverythingaroundtocomeoutontop!

Photographer: Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist:
Arthur St. John | @arthurstjohn Taylor Jazz | @taylor_jazz

It’s really awesome to have you Aleen, could you tell our readers a little moved to a different school district and that was my chance at redemption.
bit more about your background and how it’s come to inspire others? 2012 was the year I stopped going by the name of Aleen. I was now Aly
My name is Aleen N. Johnson (Aly) and I am THEFITPIZZAGIRL. and all I wanted was to be completely invisible. My mission was to graduate
Now that my days are over in the U.S. Air Force, I have never been more and make a life for myself somewhere else. During this time, I decided that I
hungry and determined for my future fitness and modeling career to launch. was going to serve my country. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had no
My main purpose is using fitness and health to promote mental health idea what branch I wanted to join. All I knew was that if I was going to live in
awareness and body positivity empowerment. Due to certain circumstances this country, I was going to serve it! Within a few months of graduation, I
and childhood trauma... my future decisions, actions and attitude could have signed a contract to the U.S Air Force and shipped out on the 19th of August
led me to a lifetime of endless misery and self-harm but throughout the years 2013 from Pittsburgh, PA. I told myself that once I joined, my past wouldn’t
I have tried my hardest to push through by not only sharing my experiences follow me, but you can’t hide from your own darkness. The shadow follows
with others but by promoting a healthy lifestyle mentally, emotionally, you and no matter how hard you want to get help, it doesn’t take away the
physically and spiritually. stigma behind mental illnesses. 20 to 22 veterans commit suicide every single
Growing up, I was sexually assaulted multiple times and as the notorious day and yet we still feel ‘uncomfortable’ or make people feel uncomfortable
‘new girl’ I was bullied by several students throughout middle school and when they talk about their problems. So many of us suffer from battle
high school. Due to the multiple sexual assaults at the age of 6, I became very wounds called PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc. and yet changes aren’t made
promiscuous and was continuously judged and ridiculed by my family and because of the unfortunate invisibility of these wounds.
others; leaving me feeling out of place, confused and unworthy. Due to my As service members we hide our pain behind temporary satisfactions
depression and anxiety, I started self-harming and isolating at the age of 13. At because taking care of our mental health could not only target us as incapable

the age of 15, I attempted my first suicide due to years of continuous bullying, and unreliable in our work environment but it could affect future TDYs, PCS
verbal abuse and harassment from other students. Instead of seeking help, I locations and deployments. As service members, a lot of us feel helpless
kept it all inside because I did not feel like anyone would actively take the because we aren’t given the chance to ‘prove’ our stability. Instead, we are
proper routes of helping me on a personal level. I did not feel like I had a given codes and holds on our careers for a certain timeline and it is all based
purpose. I did not feel worthy. At that time in my life, I felt like there was on another service member’s personal judgment about our heart-wrenching
nothing left for me here. Before my senior year of high school, my family had and unique situations. We are treated like a checklist and the only way to get

JANUARY 2020