Women deserve safe spaces to work out without dealing with harassment, stares, or unwanted attention. The Girls Spot, a women-only gym founded by fitness influencer Natalee Barnett, stands as a testament to that need. Despite the demand for these spaces, Barnett has faced an uphill battle, from funding struggles to relentless online backlash. Her journey exposes the hostility women face when they dare to claim a space of their own.

The Inspiration Behind The Girls Spot

Barnett built her career as a fitness influencer with millions of followers across TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. She heard the same complaints from women across the world. Many felt uncomfortable in traditional gyms, where they often dealt with harassment, intimidation, and judgment. She set out to create a solution. The Girls Spot would be a gym where women could train in peace, free from the distractions and discomfort of male-dominated fitness spaces.

She invested in privacy features, including vinyls and frosting on windows, to ensure members could exercise without fear of being watched or recorded. The concept wasn’t new. Women-only gyms have gained popularity worldwide, with spaces like Girl Gym in San Antonio and EmpowHER in Chennai proving successful. Barnett saw the need in the UK and took action.

The Struggles of Funding a Women’s-Only Gym

Starting a gym is expensive, and Barnett quickly realized how hard it is for women, especially Black women, to secure funding. She launched a GoFundMe campaign, raising £22,000, with £20,000 coming from a Gymshark sponsorship. But instead of receiving support, she became the target of accusations. Online critics claimed she used the money to buy a house and car, despite her repeatedly proving the funds remained untouched in a business account.

When investors refused to back her, she turned to her followers and her own business acumen. She created affordable workout guides, selling them for as little as £3 to £5, and brought in £45,000 in revenue. She documented every step, ensuring transparency as she built The Girls Spot from the ground up. Even after giving birth, she reinvested £50,000 of her own money into the project. Hard work and determination kept her vision alive when the business world refused to give her a chance.

The Backlash Against Women-Only Gyms

Barnett’s success should have been celebrated, but instead, men on social media worked overtime to tear her down. Some claimed women-only gyms wouldn’t work, insisting women only go to the gym for male attention. Others called the business model exclusionary, ignoring the fact that men dominate nearly every fitness space. Some even pointed to legal battles, like the 2022 Connecticut Supreme Court ruling that declared women-only gym areas violated gender discrimination laws.

The hate went beyond skepticism. Some critics mocked her for hiring male workers to install gym equipment, suggesting she was contradicting herself. As if hiring professionals to do their job somehow invalidated the need for women to have a safe place to work out. The hostility proved exactly why spaces like The Girls Spot are necessary. Women shouldn’t have to justify wanting to exercise without harassment.

The Rise of Women-Only Fitness Spaces

Despite the backlash, more women are choosing female-focused fitness environments. Studies show middle-aged women are now exercising more frequently than younger women, proving that safe and welcoming spaces matter. Women are not asking for permission to exist in the fitness world on their own terms. They are demanding it.

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Social media has played a major role in pushing this movement forward. Influencers like Barnett are using their platforms to build businesses that cater to the real needs of women. They are proving that safe spaces are not a luxury but a necessity. The success of gyms like The Girls Spot shows that when women support women, they can build something powerful, even in the face of relentless opposition.

The Future of The Girls Spot and Women-Only Gyms

Barnett’s journey has been anything but easy, but she remains committed to her vision. The Girls Spot has secured a location in South West London, proving that persistence pays off. The fight for women’s-only gyms is far from over. Legal challenges, social stigma, and financial barriers still exist. But as more women choose these spaces and more entrepreneurs step up to create them, the fitness industry will have to evolve.

Women should not have to defend their right to work out in a comfortable environment. The success of The Girls Spot is proof that when women invest in each other, they can create the spaces they deserve. Natalee Barnett has built more than a gym. She has built a movement.

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