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Cara Castronuova is an American actress, reality TV star, host and boxer. She studied Acting at the Stella Adler Studio in Los Angeles and is known for her work as a celebrity fitness trainer on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" as well as doing her own stunt work while acting and choreographing fight scenes.
She is known for founding the non-for-profit organization "Knockout Obesity Foundation", where she acts as spokesperson and current Executive Director. The charity aims to help young children lose weight by sending them to summer camps and year long programs.
A two-time Golden Gloves winner and certified trainer, who was once ranked nationally by USA Boxing, Cara Castronuova is a consummate athlete whose passion for boxing and being fit began very early in her childhood. She was born and raised in Elmont, New York, with three younger brothers, and began boxing at the age of five in the family garage with her father, a former Marine. She wrestled in high school and in college, and graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications.
Castronuova first entered the boxing arena as a youth boxing trainer, and shortly after, began competing locally as a boxer, winning her first fight in 2002 at the NY Empire State Games in Syracuse. She also did volunteer work for a government-funded program for troubled youth to teach them the virtues of boxing and keep them off the streets.
Later, while working as a personal fitness and boxing trainer at popular sports clubs in the NY area, like Chelsea Piers and Gleason's Boxing Gym, she used fighting and boxing to encourage clients to "find their warrior within." While continuing to train clients, Castronuova kept boxing competitively, winning a pair of "Silver Gloves" in 2004, the second-place prize in the Golden Gloves competition. Determined to redeem herself, Castronuova came back one year later and won her first New York Golden Gloves championship at Madison Square Garden in 2005 in front of a televised, capacity crowd.
Following her first Golden Gloves win, she started competing nationally and was ranked #2 in the nation by USA Boxing. She went on to place in national tournaments and win numerous titles, such as the NYABC title, the Metros, and the Empire State Games, and won her second Golden Gloves title in 2006 at Madison Square Garden. Certified as a boxing coach by the New York State Athletic Commission, she is also a personal trainer certified by ISSA (International Sports Science Association).
Castronuova has been a fighter her whole life. She has had to face much adversity, competitively and personally. Her father, who was obese, died when she was just a teenager. Her mother also died in a car accident four years ago. These unfortunate events fueled her ambition and motivated her to become a role model and a strong foundation for her family, especially for her three younger brothers and her elderly aunt who lives with her and is disabled.
She has also trained extensively in martial arts and other fighting techniques, which led to acting opportunities as well, primarily as a stunt woman and stunt coordinator. In addition, she has worked as a reporter and fitness writer for NY and boxing press outlets, and as an announcer and sports commentator for various boxing venues in NYC like Madison Square Garden.
Castronuova founded the charity "Knockout Obesity Foundation", where she is the current spokes person. She creates and operates extensive summer camps for young children to lose unhealthy weight. Castronuova trains both male and female champion boxers, operates Women's Empowerment Bootcamps and appears as a fitness contributor/writer on various programs and media outlets.
Castronuova has learned first-hand that in boxing and in life, "a comeback is important," and that fighting spirit and drive has served her well, professionally and personally. After her success as a trainer on "The Biggest Loser," where she helped propel the show to its highest ratings ever, she became a brand ambassador for Everlast and Puma. She is working on her own, unique weight-loss/health show with some twists that are specific to her unique abilities and creativity. She looks forward to continuing to help people of all stripes find "their fighter within" and make their own comebacks on the road to good health.
