{{Short description|American activist and kidnap survivor (born 1987)}} {{Other people}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Elizabeth Smart | birth_name = Elizabeth Ann Smart | image = File:COD Presents An Evening with Elizabeth Smart (53280517841) (3x4a) (cropped).jpg | caption = Smart in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|11|3}} | birth_place = Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Matthew Gilmour|2012}} | children = 3 | occupation = {{hlist|Activist|journalist}} | education = Brigham Young University (BM) | known_for = Abduction survivor | website = {{URL|elizabethsmart.com}} }} '''Elizabeth Ann Gilmour''' (née '''Smart'''; born November 3, 1987)<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 13, 2022 |title=Elizabeth Smart Fast Facts |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/04/14/us/elizabeth-smart-fast-facts/index.html |access-date=October 27, 2022}}</ref> is an American child safety activist and commentator for ABC News.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smolowe |first=Jill |date=June 6, 2011 |title=Elizabeth Smart: 'I Forgive Him' |url=https://people.com/archive/elizabeth-smart-i-forgive-him-vol-75-no-22/ |access-date=October 10, 2017 |website=People}}</ref> She was thrust into the national spotlight at age 14 when she was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City by Brian David Mitchell. Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, held Smart captive for nine months and repeatedly raped and assaulted her until she was rescued by police officers on a street in Sandy, Utah.
Smart has since gone on to work as an activist and advocate for missing persons and sex abuse victims.<ref name="NBC News-2013">{{Cite web |date=2013-05-06 |title=Elizabeth Smart: Abstinence-only education can make rape survivors feel 'dirty,' 'filthy' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna51793513 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> Her life and abduction have been the subject of numerous non-fiction books and films.
==Early life== Elizabeth Ann Smart was born on November 3, 1987, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Edward and Lois Smart. Her family was part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<ref>{{cite web|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/01/01/258687244/elizabeth-smart-shares-about-her-faith-and-kidnapping|title=Elizabeth Smart Shares About Her Faith And Kidnapping|series=Tell Me More|date=December 31, 2013|access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> She is the second-oldest child in her family; she has four brothers and one sister. Smart attended Bryant Middle School and East High School in Salt Lake City. She later enrolled in Brigham Young University, where she studied harp performance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/10/21/gone-girl-2 |title=Gone Girl |last=Talbot |first=Margaret |date=October 21, 2013 |website=newyorker.com |publisher=New Yorker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://universe.byu.edu/2012/11/05/elizabeth-smart-honored-for-legacy-of-hope/ |title=Elizabeth Smart honored for 'Legacy of Hope' |last=Hanson |first=Kurt |date=November 5, 2012 |website=universe.byu.edu |access-date=December 29, 2016 |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011073759/http://universe.byu.edu/2012/11/05/elizabeth-smart-honored-for-legacy-of-hope/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Kidnapping== {{Main|Kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart}}
On June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Smart was abducted at knifepoint from her bedroom in her family's house in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the next nine months, she was raped daily, tied up, and threatened with death if she attempted to escape.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://heraldextra.com/news/state-and-regional/article_947aa289-48f1-522f-b434-f37911dbffa1.html|title=Elizabeth Smart says she was raped daily|year=2009|newspaper=The Daily Herald|access-date=October 7, 2009|archive-date=October 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004092620/http://www.heraldextra.com/news/state-and-regional/article_947aa289-48f1-522f-b434-f37911dbffa1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was rescued by police officers on March 12, 2003, on a public street in Sandy, Utah, {{convert|18|mi|km}} from her home. Two witnesses recognized abductors Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee from an ''America's Most Wanted'' episode.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
On November 16, 2009, Barzee pled guilty to assisting in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barzee expected to enter guilty plea in Smart case |url=http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_adaad756-d2ee-11de-8808-001cc4c002e0.html |newspaper=The Daily Herald |year=2009 |access-date=November 16, 2009 |archive-date=November 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118145617/http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_adaad756-d2ee-11de-8808-001cc4c002e0.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On May 19, 2010, federal Judge Dale A. Kimball sentenced Barzee to 15 years in federal prison. As part of a plea deal between the defense and federal prosecutors, he gave Barzee credit for seven years that she had already served.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/08/elizabeth.smart.plea/index.html|title=Elizabeth Smart kidnapper pleads guilty to trying to abduct cousin - CNN.com|website=CNN News|language=en|access-date=August 28, 2019}}</ref> The court found Mitchell competent to stand trial for kidnapping and sexual assault charges. He was found guilty on both counts and sentenced in May 2011 to two life terms in federal prison.<ref>{{cite news |title=Elizabeth Smart Tells Kidnapper She'll Live a Good Life Moments Before He Gets a Life Sentence |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/elizabeth-smart-tells-kidnapper-shell-live-a-good-life-moments-before-he-gets-a-life-sentence/ |publisher=FoxNews.com |access-date=May 26, 2011 |date=May 25, 2011}}</ref>
==Activism and media coverage== [[File:Elizabeth Smart White House.jpg|thumb|Elizabeth Smart (center) and her mother Lois meet with President George W. Bush in the Roosevelt Room at the signing of the PROTECT Act of 2003]] thumb|Smart in 2012
Smart's uncle, Tom Smart, and author Lee Benson wrote a book about the search for Smart, ''In Plain Sight: The Startling Truth Behind the Elizabeth Smart Investigation''. Her father wrote another book about Smart's kidnapping, called ''Bringing Elizabeth Home''. A television movie, ''The Elizabeth Smart Story'', was made in 2003, based on the book by Smart's father.
On March 8, 2006, Smart spoke before the United States Congress to support sexual predator legislation and the Amber alert system. On July 26, 2006, she spoke at an event held following the signing of the Adam Walsh Act. Smart was one of five recovered young adults who contributed entries to the 2008 book ''You're Not Alone'', which was published by the U.S. Department of Justice. She appeared at a May 2008 event promoting the book.<ref>{{cite web|title=''You're Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment''|url=https://www.ojjdp.gov/publications/PubAbstract.asp?pubi=244130|publisher=Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention|access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/05/smart.cnna/index.html |access-date=May 20, 2008 |title= Elizabeth Smart hopes to aid victims |publisher=CNN }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700227525,00.html |access-date=May 20, 2008 |first=Pat |last=Reavy |date=May 20, 2008 |title=Elizabeth Smart: Ready for college and moving on after kidnapping |newspaper=Deseret News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521014443/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700227525,00.html |archive-date=May 21, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2009, Smart commented on the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard. She shared that, in her own experience of recovering from trauma, she had found dwelling on the past to be unproductive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oh |first=Eunice |date=August 28, 2009 |title=Elizabeth Smart's Advice to Jaycee Dugard: Move Forward in Life |url=https://people.com/celebrity/elizabeth-smarts-advice-to-jaycee-dugard-move-forward-in-life/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217191708/https://people.com/celebrity/elizabeth-smarts-advice-to-jaycee-dugard-move-forward-in-life/ |archive-date=December 17, 2021 |access-date=September 12, 2017 |website=People}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Frank |date=August 28, 2009 |title=Kidnap Victim Elizabeth Smart Gives Jaycee Dugard Advice |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2009/08/kidnap_victim_elizabeth_smarts.html |access-date=October 23, 2022 |website=NPR}}</ref>
In October 2009, Smart spoke at the 2009 Women's Conference in California (hosted by Maria Shriver) on the topic of overcoming obstacles in life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.womensconference.org/elizabeth-smart |access-date=March 14, 2010 |title=The Women's Conference hosted by California's First Lady |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122151422/http://www.womensconference.org/elizabeth-smart/ |archive-date=January 22, 2015 }}</ref> In 2011, Smart founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation,<ref name="facts">{{cite web |date=October 31, 2017 |title=Elizabeth Smart Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/04/14/us/elizabeth-smart-fast-facts/index.html |access-date=November 18, 2017 |work=CNN}}</ref> which aims to bring hope and end the victimization and exploitation of sexual assault through prevention, recovery, and advocacy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elizabethsmartfoundation.org/ |title=Home |website=elizabethsmartfoundation.org}}</ref> In March 2011, Smart was one of four women awarded the Diane von Furstenberg Award.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-elizabeth-smart-dvf-award_n_834874 |title=Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Smart Honored By Diane Von Furstenberg |access-date=November 1, 2021 |work=HuffPost |first=Hilary |last=Moss |date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> On July 7, 2011, ABC News announced that she would work as a commentator for them, mainly focusing on missing persons.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dobner|first1=Jennifer|title=Elizabeth Smart to work as ABC commentator|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-elizabeth-smart-to-work-as-abc-commentator-2011jul07-story.html|access-date=September 13, 2017|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|agency=Associated Press|date=July 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Lois M.|title=Elizabeth Smart to join ABC for missing-persons insight|url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/7/7/20202414/elizabeth-smart-to-join-abc-for-missing-persons-insight|access-date=November 1, 2021|work=Deseret News|date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>
In July 2012, Theta Phi Alpha honored Smart with the Siena Medal award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetaphialpha.org/about/award-recipients/siena-medalists|title=Siena Medalists {{!}} Theta Phi Alpha|website=www.thetaphialpha.org|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163402/https://www.thetaphialpha.org/about/award-recipients/siena-medalists|url-status=dead}}</ref> The medal, named after their patroness St. Catherine of Siena, is the highest honor the organization bestows upon a non-member.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetaphialpha.org/awards|title=Awards Recipients {{!}} Theta Phi Alpha|website=www.thetaphialpha.org|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=November 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115193950/https://www.thetaphialpha.org/awards|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On May 1, 2013, in a speech at a human trafficking conference at Johns Hopkins University, Smart discussed the need to emphasize individual self-worth in fighting human trafficking and the importance of dispelling cultural myths surrounding girls' loss of value upon sexual contact. She discussed the unintended psychological harms associated with abstinence-only sexual education programs such as those stressed in her Mormon faith.<ref name="NBC News-2013" /> She said such programs teach that a sexually active girl is akin to a used piece of chewing gum and commented: "I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, I'm that chewed up piece of gum, nobody re-chews a piece of gum, you throw it away.' And that's how easy it is to feel like you no longer have worth”. Smart went on to recommend children be taught about having self-worth, and avoid viewing themselves as victims.<ref>{{cite web |title=Video: Elizabeth Smart speaks at Johns Hopkins University |date=May 7, 2013 |url=http://fox13now.com/2013/05/06/video-elizabeth-smart-speaks-at-johns-hopkins-university/ |access-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2013/5/7/20796372/did-elizabeth-smart-say-it-s-wrong-to-teach-abstinence |first=Jay|last=Evenson|title=Did Elizabeth Smart say it's wrong to teach abstinence? |publisher=Deseret News |date=May 7, 2013 |access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref>
Smart described suicidal thoughts after the first of many rapes by her captor, saying "I felt like I wasn't even human anymore."<ref name="NBC News-2013" />
In October 2013, ''My Story'', a memoir of Smart's experience co-written with Chris Stewart, was published by St. Martin's Press.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Leslie|date=November 20, 2012|title=Elizabeth Smart Memoir of Her Captivity Is Acquired by St. Martin's|work=The New York Times|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/elizabeth-smart-memoir-of-her-captivity-is-acquired-by-st-martins/|access-date=August 9, 2016}}</ref> The book details both Smart's kidnapping and the formation of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which works to promote awareness about abductions.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Associated Press|date=November 23, 2012|title=Congressman-elect writing Elizabeth Smart's memoir|url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/11/23/20510211/congressman-elect-writing-elizabeth-smart-s-memoir|access-date=October 9, 2013|publisher=Deseretnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Foy|first=Paul|date=October 7, 2013|title=Elizabeth Smart details experience in Memoir|url=https://www.deseret.com/2013/10/7/20458182/elizabeth-smart-details-kidnapping-in-new-memoir|access-date=November 1, 2021|publisher=Deseretnews.com}}</ref> Smart has played the harp on national television in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 5, 2013|title=Elizabeth Plays The Harp|work=NBC News|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbc-news/53191726/#53191726|access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>
In February 2014, Smart testified before the Utah State House of Representatives in favor of HB 286. The bill would create an optional curriculum for use in Utah schools to provide training on child sexual abuse prevention.<ref>{{citation |title= Elizabeth Smart backs bill on child sexual abuse prevention training in schools |url= https://www.deseret.com/2014/2/19/20535738/elizabeth-smart-backs-bill-on-child-sexual-abuse-prevention-training-in-schools|newspaper= Deseret News |first= Madeleine |last= Brown |date= February 19, 2014|access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref> In early 2015, Faith Counts featured Smart in a video in which she explains how her religion sustained her through her ordeal and helped her heal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Multi-faith Initiative Viewed by Millions— Faith Counts releases new video featuring Elizabeth Smart|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/multi-faith-initiative-viewed-by-millions|access-date=September 13, 2017|work=Newsroom|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|date=February 6, 2015}}</ref> As of September 2016, Smart is a correspondent for the true-crime show ''Crime Watch Daily''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fox13now.com/2016/09/15/elizabeth-smart-returns-for-season-two-of-crime-watch-daily-with-chris-hansen/|title=Elizabeth Smart returns for season two of 'Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen'|date=September 15, 2016|website=fox13now.com|language=en|access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref> Various state politicians have proposed bills that would require all computers to have a pornography filter, branding it the "Elizabeth Smart Law." However, in March 2018, her spokesman denied her relationship to the proposal. Her lawyer sent a cease and desist letter to the politicians in which they were ordered not to use her name.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/elizabeth-smart-wants-her-name-removed-from-anti-porn-bill/2018/03/26/31a6d1a2-311b-11e8-b6bd-0084a1666987_story.html Elizabeth Smart demands porn bill backer stop using her name] - Michelle R. Smith, The Washington Post / AP, March 26, 2018</ref>
On June 5, 2017, on the 15th anniversary of her abduction, Lifetime aired the made-for-TV film titled ''I Am Elizabeth Smart'', narrated and produced by Smart, which tells the story of her kidnapping from her perspective. The film starred Alana Boden as Elizabeth Smart, Skeet Ulrich as Brian David Mitchell, Deirdre Lovejoy as Wanda Ileen Barzee, George Newbern as Ed Smart, and Anne Openshaw as Lois Smart.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Saraiya|first=Sonia|date=November 17, 2017|title=Lifetime's 'I Am Elizabeth Smart'|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/reviews/i-am-elizabeth-smart-review-lifetime-1202617906/|url-status=live|department=TV Reviews|magazine=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043334/https://variety.com/2017/tv/reviews/i-am-elizabeth-smart-review-lifetime-1202617906/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|access-date=November 26, 2017}}</ref> She has subsequently produced other Lifetime features, including ''Stolen By Their Father'' (about Lizbeth Meredith's plans to reclaim her daughters after being kept in Greece by Meredith's ex-husband Greg),<ref>{{cite news |title=Lizbeth Meredith Now: "Stolen by Their Father" Subject Shares Story |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/lizbeth-meredith-now}}</ref> ''The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story'' (which detailed the abduction of Kara Robinson at the hands of Richard Evonitz),<ref>{{cite web |last=Rice |first=Lynnette |date=January 4, 2023 |title=Lifetime Partners Again with Elizabeth Smart on "The Kara Robinson Story" |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/lifetime-elizabeth-smart-the-kara-robinson-story-1235210908/ |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=Deadline}}</ref> ''Abducted By My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story'' (which detailed the kidnapping of Elizabeth Thomas),<ref>{{cite news |last=Melendez |first=Miguel A. |date=August 11, 2023 |title=Elizabeth Thomas Reflects on Being Abducted by Her Teacher, Getting Closure |url=https://www.etonline.com/interview-elizabeth-thomas-reflects-on-being-abducted-by-her-teacher-getting-closure-exclusive-209634 |access-date=August 12, 2023 |work=ET Online}}</ref> and ''The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story'' (which detailed the kidnapping of Tanya Nicole Kach).<ref>{{cite web |last=Baker |first=KC |date=April 12, 2024 |title=Lifetime Teams Up with Elizabeth Smart for New Movie on Tanya Kach, Who Was Held Captive by School Security Guard |url=https://people.com/lifetime-elizabeth-smart-new-movie-tanya-kach-held-captive-by-school-security-guard-8629831 |access-date=June 8, 2024 |website=People}}</ref>
In 2018, Smart published ''Where There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up'' with St. Martin's Press.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Smart|first1=Elizabeth A.|title=Where There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up|date=March 27, 2018|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1250115522|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Smart|first1=Elizabeth A.|date=March 27, 2018|title=Where There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up|url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-theres-hope-elizabeth-a-smart/1126613159?type=eBook|access-date=July 8, 2018|website=Barnes & Noble|language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, Smart, and numerous other high-profile female kidnapping survivors, participated in the Lifetime documentary ''Smart Justice: The Jayme Closs Case'', which touches on the 2018 kidnapping of Wisconsin teenager Jayme Closs, and the murders of her parents. Smart and the other women offer their perspectives on how Jayme can heal and recover.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarner |first=Lauren |date=April 26, 2019 |title=Elizabeth Smart: I didn't want my Jayme Closs Lifetime special to be 'exploitative' |url=https://nypost.com/2019/04/26/elizabeth-smart-i-didnt-want-my-jayme-closs-lifetime-special-to-be-exploitative/ |access-date=July 8, 2025 |work=New York Post}}</ref>
In 2021, Smart competed on ''The Masked Dancer'' as "Moth". She was eliminated during the third episode of the series, placing eighth overall in the competition.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Rachel Yang|date=January 13, 2021|title=''The Masked Dancer'' recap: Moth flies away, revealed as famed activist|url=https://ew.com/tv/recaps/masked-dancer-season-1-episode-3/|access-date=January 14, 2021|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>
==Personal life== On November 11, 2009, Smart began to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paris.<ref>{{cite news |author=Reavy, Pat |title=Elizabeth Smart could testify before leaving for LDS mission |date=September 17, 2009 |work=Deseret News |url=https://www.deseret.com/2009/9/18/20341070/elizabeth-smart-could-testify-before-leaving-for-lds-mission |access-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922213842/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705330748/Smart-may-testify-before-mission.html |archive-date=September 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=McEntee, Peg |title=For Dorotha Smart, it is time to move on |date=November 19, 2009 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/ci_13819040 |access-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126103115/http://www.sltrib.com/ci_13819040 |archive-date=November 26, 2009 }}</ref> Smart temporarily returned from her mission in November 2010 to serve as the chief witness in the federal trial of Brian Mitchell. After the trial, she resumed the mission until 2011.<ref>{{cite web |author=Pat Reavy |url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/5/19/20372592/elizabeth-smart-wants-to-use-her-trials-to-inspire-others|title=Elizabeth Smart wants to use her trials to inspire others|publisher=Deseret News |date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref>
While in Paris, Smart met Scotsman Matthew Gilmour who was also serving an LDS mission. In January 2012 they became engaged after a one-year courtship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10201087-former-utah-kidnapping-victim-elizabeth-smart-gets-engaged |title=Former Utah kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart gets engaged |date=January 20, 2012 |publisher=MSNBC |access-date=January 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122223458/http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10201087-former-utah-kidnapping-victim-elizabeth-smart-gets-engaged |archive-date=January 22, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/celebrity/elizabeth-smart-weds-matthew-gilmour/|title=Elizabeth Smart Gets Married |date=February 18, 2013|magazine=People |access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Elizabeth Smart marries boyfriend in private, spur of the moment Hawaiian ceremony |url= https://www.foxnews.com/us/elizabeth-smart-marries-boyfriend-in-private-spur-of-the-moment-hawaiian-ceremony/ |access-date=February 19, 2012 |publisher=NewsCore |date=February 19, 2012}}</ref> They married on February 18, 2012, in a private ceremony in the Laie Hawaii Temple.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/2/19/20498802/elizabeth-smart-marries-in-hawaiian-mormon-temple|title=Elizabeth Smart marries in Hawaiian Mormon temple |last=Lee |first=Jasen |date=February 18, 2012 |newspaper=Deseret News |access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=James |title=Former kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart marries in Hawaii |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-elizabethsmart-wedding-idUSTRE81I01K20120219 |access-date=February 19, 2012 |newspaper=Reuters |date=February 19, 2012}}</ref> The couple has three children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eastidahonews.com/2015/05/ed-smarts-big-screen-mission-to-stop-child-sex-trafficking/ |last=Eaton |first=Nate |title=ED SMART'S BIG SCREEN MISSION TO STOP CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING |date=May 18, 2015 |access-date=August 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://people.com/babies/elizabeth-smart-second-child-birth-boy/ |title=Kidnap Survivor Elizabeth Smart Shares First Photo of Her New Baby Boy on Easter Sunday |date=April 16, 2017 |website=people.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/2017/4/17/20610453/elizabeth-smart-shares-first-photo-of-adorable-baby-boy-on-easter |title=Elizabeth Smart shares first photo of adorable baby boy on Easter |date=April 17, 2017 |website=Deseret News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.etonline.com/elizabeth-smart-is-pregnant-with-her-third-child-105025|last=Calvario |first=Liz |title=Elizabeth Smart Is Pregnant With Her Third Child |date=June 26, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.srnnews.com/elizabeth-smart-gives-birth-to-third-child-a-baby-girl/|title=Elizabeth Smart gives birth to third child, a baby girl|date=November 19, 2018|website=SRN News}}</ref> As of 2023, the family lives in Utah.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Free |first=Cathy |date=2023-03-11 |title=Elizabeth Smart, rescued 20 years ago, now teaches others to fight back |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/03/10/elizabeth-smart-kidnap-rescue-anniversary/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
In 2019, Smart's father Ed came out as gay and left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, leading to the divorce of her parents. Smart stated she was on good terms with her parents and intended to support both through the changes in their lives.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gajanan |first=Mahita |date=2019-12-10 |title=Elizabeth Smart's Father on Coming Out as Gay, Leaving Mormon Church |url=https://time.com/5747294/elizabeth-smart-father-gay/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-09 |title=Elizabeth Smart's father says coming out as gay was his 2nd 'miracle' |url=https://www.today.com/news/elizabeth-smart-s-father-says-coming-out-gay-was-his-t169471 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}</ref>
Also in 2019, while traveling home to Utah aboard a Delta Air Lines flight, Smart alleged a male passenger seated next to her groped her inner thigh. She reported the incident and began a self-defense program for women and girls called Smart Defense.<ref name="delta">{{cite news |title=Elizabeth Smart says she was sexually assaulted on an airplane last year |author1=Doha Madani|author2=Joe Fryer |author3= Elisha Fieldstadt |work=NBC News |date=February 7, 2020 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/elizabeth-smart-says-she-was-sexually-assaulted-airplane-last-year-n1131856/ |access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>
== Bodybuilding == In late 2024, Smart began competitive bodybuilding to find a new physical challenge, manage knee pain, and increase her energy levels. Smart stated that the sport provides a sense of personal empowerment. To draw less attention to herself, Smart performed her first three fitness competitions using her married name before sharing her journey in April 2026. She made the announcement following a first-place win in the beginner group and a third-place finish in the 35-and-older group at a Salt Lake City event. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Gamerman |first=Ellen |date=2026-05-22 |title=How Bodybuilding Helped a Kidnapping Survivor Leave Her Comfort Zone |url=https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/elizabeth-smart-bodybuilding-88eef74c |access-date=2026-05-22 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonavita |first=Julia |date=2026-04-24 |title=Elizabeth Smart flexes new chapter, racks up bodybuilding honors in stunning transformation |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/elizabeth-smart-flexes-new-chapter-racks-bodybuilding-honors-stunning-transformation |access-date=2026-05-22 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=David |title=Elizabeth Smart on 'terrifying' bodybuilding debut, is 'proud' of journey |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/05/04/elizabeth-smart-bodybuilding/89930273007/ |access-date=2026-05-22 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shultz |first=Cara Lynn |last2=read |first2=Lindsay Kimble·3 min |date=2026-04-22 |title=Elizabeth Smart Wins First Place in Her Category at Bodybuilding Competition After Revealing Her Passion for the Sport |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/elizabeth-smart-wins-first-place-202506057.html |access-date=2026-05-22 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== * Alicia Kozakiewicz
==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}
===Sources=== {{Refbegin}} * {{cite book |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |last2=MacIntosh |first2=Jeane. |title=Held Captive: The Kidnapping and Rescue of Elizabeth Smart |date=2003 |publisher=Avon |isbn=0-06-058020-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/heldcaptivekidna00habe |url-access=registration}} * {{cite book |last1=Smart |first1=Ed |last2=Smart |first2=Lois |title=Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope |date=2003 |publisher=Doubleday |isbn=0-385-51214-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/bringingelizabet00smar}} * {{cite book |last1=Smart |first1=Tom |last2=Benson |first2=Lee |author-link2=Lee Benson |title=In Plain Sight: The Startling Truth Behind the Elizabeth Smart Investigation |date=2005 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=1-55652-579-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/inplainsightstar00smar}} {{Refend}}
==External links== {{commons category|Elizabeth Smart}} * {{official website|http://elizabethsmart.com/}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4acqH73pus Elizabeth Smart inspirational documentary: "Your Past Does Not Dictate Your Future"] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091004004400/http://www.amw.com/missing_children/brief.cfm?id=25470 Elizabeth Smart Missing Child Profile] at ''America's Most Wanted'' * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0C2LPXaEW4 Elizabeth Smart's TEDx Talk]
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