Heather Hardy — The Bare Magazine

Heather “The Heat” Hardy is a world champion boxer and mixed martial artist living and working in our favorite place Brooklyn NY. A badass, beautiful, powerful force that took the female boxing world by storm in August of 2016 the night she captured the WBC Featherweight Title, Hardy/Vincent was aired on NBC Sports, and was the first female bout to be televised in over 20 years. We caught up with her at her home away from home the legendary Gleason’s Gym in Dumbo BK where she had her first fight and currently hangs and trains. Scroll on down for our photo diary and chat about being a mom to a very talented artist daughter, upping her skincare routine at 40, training/diet tips, future fight plans, all her current bare essentials. Thanks THE HEAT you are an inspiring flame.

The Bare Magazine: can you share what you've been up to during these last bits of summer?

Heather Hardy: Well, i boxed August 5 in Dallas and lost the biggest fight of my career, so this past month has been rehabbing, visiting family, traveling and letting my body heal a bit. And eating all the good foods i missed for the last 3 months.

Bare: we really loved shooting and hanging at gleason's gym. can you tell us how it has became such a big part of your life?

HH: I had my first fight at Gleasons, it’s truly become a second home to me. When i stared boxing I was 28 years old, transitioning into single parenthood, starting a new career, i was homeless living out of my office at the gym for a beat. Bruce and the trainers and all the guys became like family to me, i spent more time with them training and working to earn money then I got to at home with Annie.

Bare: at what point did you decide to get serious about boxing and why? describe the support system that helped push you forward?

HH: When I started boxing I was working about 6 jobs just to feed my kid. I knew there was potential in it for me. I could fight and I have a smart business mind so I went all in. I moved my daughter to DUMBO, gave her a much better life than I ever had growing up and put my whole life into boxing.

Bare: what qualities about your personality do you think make you a champ? do you feel your extreme. no grey area kinda personality contribute to falling into intense fight mode?

HH: I definitely think to champion at anything you have to be obsessed. I threw my whole life into boxing because I believed in what I could do and I’m definitely like that in all aspects of my life. Everything I ever let go of has claw marks in it because I’m either obsessed or uninterested.

Bare: Do you think you will fight again in 2023?

HH: I hope i will fight again in 2023. I list to one of the best female fighters to ever lace up, and I lost in a way that fans loved me. I have opportunities. And if i can last 10 with Amanda, nobody can hurt me.

Bare: you mention makeup/hair and styling are not your strong points. do you enjoy getting dolled up? would you say you enjoy a good brow? your lashes are insane what your fav mascara?

HH: I love to feel pretty but it doesn’t happen very often. I live in the gym, i sweat like crazy. I wear tights and hoodies and running shoes. I work with my hands so manicures are out of the question. My hair lives in a rats nest pony tail on top of my head and is usually unwashed because I can’t be bothered or have it in my way. If i do mascara it’s probably one somebody gave me and told me to use. I never really feel pretty, even in makeup and nice clothes so it always felt kind of useless to try too hard. I’ll be outside thinking people are looking at me thinking….wow all that work, and she still just looks like that. Or people will look at my boyfriend wondering why he’s with me, it’s easier just to not even try that hard.

Bare: describe your personal style? do you basically have a uniform? have you ever been into super feminine clothing? will you wear heels occasionally?

HH: I definitely have no sense of style! I guess if you asked someone how i dress normally they would say, tights and hoodies, baggy crop tops, glasses to hide my face and gym shorts! I love high heels but I don’t walk in them well, so i usually travel with sneakers in my bag on the rare occasion I’m dolled up. My dress up uniform is either a fitted mini dress with sneakers, OR a pencil skirt, crop and heels.

Bare: when you're training what does your diet consist of? when you're NOT training what are your favorite foods?

HH: When I’m fight training my diet has to be super strict, i stay under 1000 calories a day, and it’s all from lean protein and vegetables. I train 2-3 hours a day, and incorporate a 3-6 mile jog op top of that. When I’m not fight training, i love tacos and pizza and margaritas. And sleeping late. And definitely ice cream and wine :)

Bare: your skin is luminous! you mentioned you're trying to take better care of it. what does your skincare routine consist of (products, facials etc. )

HH: Thank you! I do the 10 step Kbeauty routine (at least 6 steps daily), passed on to me from a Korean girl at my gym who was so kind as to share. It starts with two types of soaps to wash your face- oil based and water based by “Then I met you”. After that is Toner and Essence, the “Missha” brand is good but I’m currently using “then I met you”. Those steps I do twice a day.

After that you can exfoliate, use face masks and serums a few times a week. Not a daily routine but i love to sit in a hot bath with a sheet mask on my face. The Crème Shop masks are my favorite, I use those about 3x per week.

I moisturize with “good skin day” yellow moisturizer and last but not least Sunscreen. I was gifted “Beauty of Joseon-Rice and Probiotics” which is ace.

I turned 40 and realized if I do one thing for myself it has to be skincare.

Bare: your daughter is an amazing artist! we were blown away when you showed us her recent work. can you share some of the most important points you've learned about parenting?

HH: Being a parent = 1 out of 5 stars. Would not recommend. It’s literally the most thankless hardest job in the world. You basically live for them to just look you dead in the face and say “i didn’t ask you to”.

So yeah. Have fun with kids. They are the worst, even the best ones.

Bare: please share your top 5 bare essentials ...they can be anything.

Right now I’m living for these 5 things:

-an Aperol Spritz

-Crème Shop face masks

-Ray Ban Aviators

-Revel (scooter rides) with my boyfriend

-Sprinkles