Kidnapping survivor and activist Elizabeth Smart recently enjoyed a family trip to Palm Springs, California, sharing snippets of the getaway on social media. Smart, now 36, last month celebrated the 21st anniversary of her rescue after being kidnapped at 14 years old from her Salt Lake City home in 2002. She spent nine months in captivity at the hands of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, enduring drugging, starvation, and rape.
During the trip, Smart shared photos of herself poolside, playing board games with her kids, and having family dinners. She also posted pictures of herself in various swimsuits, including a black cover-up, oversized sunglasses, and a sexy black bikini. The trip was a well-deserved break for Smart, who works as an activist, film producer, author, and television commentator. She also founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011 and created Smart Defense, a program to teach women self-defense skills.
Smart’s social media posts showcased moments of relaxation and joy as she spent time with her family in Palm Springs. She also posed with her musician husband, Matthew Gilmour, and shared updates on their activities during the trip. In one post, Smart mentioned the importance of pool time and shared a picture of herself floating in the water in a turquoise suit. The trip included Smart’s father and his husband, making it a special family vacation for all involved.
Despite the horrific ordeal she endured as a teenager, Smart has found moments of happiness and gratitude in her life today. In a Facebook post on the anniversary of her rescue, she reflected on the dreams she thought were stolen from her during her kidnapping. Smart expressed gratitude for the life she has now, which includes finishing school, going to college, falling in love, getting married, and having a family. She sees the anniversary as a celebration of the happy moments in her life and a reminder to never give up.
In addition to her advocacy work for kidnapped children and sexual assault victims, Smart is working on producing a Lifetime film about Tanya Kach, who was kidnapped in 1995 and held captive for a decade by her middle school security guard. She also recently celebrated the passage of a bill on child sexual abuse prevention in Utah that she helped advocate for. Despite the trauma she experienced, Smart remains committed to making a positive impact through her work and using her voice to empower others.
