TOP: 1998, it's me in high school.
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BELOW: 2024, me at the gym at 4am.
ABOUT
My name is Jessie Desmond. I am currently starting to compete in natural bodybuilding competitions. My athletic background includes training in weightlifting, strength training, fencing, taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, crossfit, and a few other things here and there. My goth background extends back to my youth where I preferred darker things (books, art, comics, film, music). Not only was 'Beetlejuice' a kickass film, we also had a Saturday morning cartoon series. It wasn't too long before I was listening to goth music and dressing in black. Unfortunately, I grew up and still live in Alaska. It's either too cold for mesh or warm enough that mesh allows access for mosquitoes. Meh. I just wear black clothes in general with the occasional horror film t-shirt thrown in.
I want to make it clear that I am NOT a doctor/medical practitioner. What I do have is experience. Does this mean I cannot help you? It means that when I state something, I'm going to provide my reasoning or a reliable source.
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Education Background
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3-Year Degree in 2D Animation, Joe Kubert School
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BA History, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Masters of Space Operations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
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Certificates
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ASFA Personal Trainer
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NFHS/CDC Concussion in Sports
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NSM How To Coach Kids
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SafeSport Trained
Credit Where It's Due
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What is "Health Goth"?
The Health Goth aesthetic started around 2013 when Portland-based artists Mike Grabarek, Jeremy Scott, and Chris Cantino created a Health Goth Facebook group. It started as an exploration into athletic wear as a potential goth aesthetic. They started by simply collecting adverts and clothing photos that had a dark, moody feel. The Portland artists wanted to push a dark physical aesthetic towards the future with high-tech fabrics, biotechnology, anti-aging research, and pursuing perfection.
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By 2014, Johnny “Deathface” Love, a Los Angeles personal trainer, added on the fitness aspect of Health Goth. The sudden awareness of goths at the gym gradually took off and a healthy gothic lifestyle soon formed with high emphasis placed on action. This was also the same year that Adidas started to promote it's own Goth category (link).
Health Goth is still emerging and forming into whatever it will become. It is influenced by dark, moody athletic clothing, often with minimalistic or dystopian influences. It does emphasize going to the gym on a regular basis. It does emphasize a healthy lifestyle. It is not simply “goth athleisure”. It’s not typically worn to clubs.