From The Hood To Hollywood: Meet The Trainer Behind Michael B. Jordan’s Famous Physique
Fast. Big. Strong.
All words you or anybody else for that matter could use to describe celebrity trainer and body transformation specialist Corey Calliet.
But for this New Orleans native, the aforementioned words are all accurate descriptions for the whirlwind of a year he's had that finally seems to be coming to an end.
And if we're being completely honest, it's not hard to see why.
After moving to LA in 2014, Corey was catapulted into the spotlight after CREED, when actor Michael B. Jordan became physical evidence to his fitness training prowess. And this year alone, thanks to two record-breaking box office hits, namely Black Panther and CREED II, the young 30-something has been highly sought after by celebrities and professional athletes (John Boyega, A$AP Rocky to name a few) alike and is arguably more visible and busier than ever. Which is something that becomes evident during our brief conversation via phone during a small window on his jam packed schedule.
"I wasn't expecting everything to blow up so quick," he says. "You know I had a little buzz going, but because I've been able to capitalize on those moments, I see myself being able to finish out the year strong."
And it's that confidence, coupled with determination derived from humble beginnings that makes Corey stand out amongst the saturated market of fitness gurus and exercise experts. It's not lost on him that your environment can have an effect on you before you can affect it, which is why it was pertinent for him to fully believe in his dreams and his skill set and forge a new path in a new city in order to create a new life. Citing what he calls the journey from "the hood to Hollywood" as the fuel that pushes him to be more successful than he ever thought possible, he lets me know that it's not just personal success he's after.
"Coming from where I come from and going through all I've gone through have all prepared me. So I use my journey to inspire people to be greater than they ever thought they could be. I don't do this for me, I do this for everyone else."
So it's no wonder why fans and followers are always tagging him in their gym selfies, weight loss progress pics, or interacting with him under his motivational posts on IG. Corey has been able to masterfully finesse putting the "personal" back in personal training. He knows and understands that it's the people who are of utter importance at the end of the day. It's the lives he touches by helping them shift both internal paradigms and external pounds that serve as the major motivation that helps him to push forward. And it's the ability to relate to others and inspire them despite the spotlight that makes training all worthwhile.
"I don't care how big or famous I get, I want to always be able to talk to the people," he shares. "The people are the ones that make you, they're the ones who go with you on your journey."
But don't let the Nike sweats fool you. There's a lot more to Corey than just deadlifts and dumbbells.
Up next for Calliet is a territory that seeks to work a muscle you can't define or discover in the weight room: acting.
Catching a mere glimpse into this particular skill set during his cameos in CREED II this past November, Corey will be flexing his muscles on screen more in the upcoming year he tells me, as he makes mention of the first official movie script he's just received. The focus, he says in the new year, is to show people just how they too, are able to pivot into a different industry and still be able to flourish. It's to show them that it's okay to go full speed in the direction of their dreams in order to lay hold of a future you once thought was unattainable.
And while previous seasons have served as the primer for the ones to come, they also serve as the launching pad for his next. And through his success, it will hopefully propel the lives of others through their occasional rainy season and into their prosperous season much like Corey himself. And while people may experience a myriad of gains and losses, his hope is through his own tough moments, people will find the inspiration needed to push onward and upward into their future.
"Everything I've gone through was to help somebody else get to where they're going. And if I had to go through the roughest of times to get to the better times, that's just proof that my life was a full transformation. My whole life is proof of that."
Transformation.
Defined as a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.
But for Corey Calliet, this 14-letter word is more than just another entry in the dictionary.
It's a way of living and it's something he plans on continuing to carry out in the lives of others, one fitness challenge, one bicep curl, one encouraging word at a time.
To keep up with Corey, follow him on Instagram.
Featured image by Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com
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Writer. Empath. Escapist. Young, gifted, and Black. Shanelle Genai is a proud Southern girl in a serious relationship with celebrity interviews, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and long walks down Sephora aisles. Keep up with her on IG @shanellegenai.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Exclusive: Koryn Hawthorne On Her Miraculous Love Story: ‘I Was Never A Girlfriend’
Gospel singer Koryn Hawthorne has used her voice to let the world know about what God can do, and now the Season 8 finalist of NBC’s The Voice is sharing a miraculous act that led to her engagement.
The Praise This actress shared in an interview with xoNecole that prior to becoming engaged to her partner, Hunter Register, she passed over one particular title on her way to becoming a fiancée.
“I was never a girlfriend,” Hawthorn, 26, tells xoNecole.
“We've known each other since we were kids, so we just kind of always had this distant friendship. We would hit each other up on social media, and [I] slide up under things that he was posting,” she says. “We ended up hanging out together, and when we hung out, it was an instant immediate connection from all fronts. I think we just knew from the first day that I don't want to spend a day apart from you.”
Koryn Hawthorne On Her Miraculous Love Story, New Album, & More
She continued, "And yeah, we probably were boyfriend or girlfriend after — am I delusional? Then we were engaged a few months later.”
The Grammy-nominated singer, who became engaged in November of 2023, went on to share what her experience has been preparing to become a wife, exploring the personal growth, challenges, and emotions experienced throughout the process.
“It's a journey, I'm not gonna lie,” she says. “Relationships, in general, are hard, and whenever you think about marriage, is just different from being boyfriend and girlfriend because if you piss me off, I could just go,” she shared. “But marriage is an actual commitment. It's a partnership. It's a ministry.”
Hawthorne, 26, and Register, 27, were childhood friends growing up in Louisiana and sealed their love during a weekend getaway in New Orleans last fall.
For the gospel star, marriage involves more than lovely-dovey aspects, emphasizing how her relationship has allowed her to grow, mature, and learn valuable lessons through love.
“We were supposed to get married in May, but like for us to be mature enough to be like, ‘You know what? No, let's take the necessary time to make sure that we're fully prepared for this commitment such a beautiful thing,” Hawthorne reflected.
“It's a learning curve for sure, but our preparation for marriage would have been the only thing that brought this out of me. It's hard and it's scary at times, but it's God's purpose and His plan for our lives.”
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Featured image by Dia DipasupilGetty Images