From Mental Health Struggles To Marathon Goals: How Tiara Alicia Built Her Identity Through Fitness And Vintage Watches

At just 25, Singaporean personal trainer and fitness content creator Tiara Alicia is redefining what it means to live with discipline and grace. Known for her uplifting approach to strength training and her growing presence in Singapore’s wellness scene, Tiara’s story is one of resilience, grounded in movement, mindfulness, and a deep appreciation for the art of time.

Personal trainer Tiara Alicia’s journey from struggle to strength

“I used to struggle with my mental health,” Tiara shares. “Fitness became my anchor. Today, movement is not just my career, it’s my form of therapy and self-expression.”

Starting out as a sailing enthusiast, running wasn’t always her passion. In fact, she once found it boring and intimidating. But in 2024, she decided to challenge herself – not physically, but mentally, as a New Year’s resolution.

“It began as a personal promise to step out of my comfort zone and set new personal goals through long-distance running. Over time, running became my quiet space – a time I could process emotions, build discipline, and prove to myself that I’m capable of more than I think.”

While most of us slot exercise into our schedules, Tiara found her new identity when she started planning her week around her runs instead.

How Tiara Alicia juggles coaching and competing

As both a personal trainer and marathon trainee, Tiara lives by structure and intention.
“My early mornings and middays are usually for clients, while my own runs and strength sessions are slotted in midday or late afternoon,” she explains. “Balance for me means respecting my energy – knowing when to push and when to rest.”

She’s currently training for her first full marathon, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2025, which is happening from 6 to 7 December. Hoping to finish strong both physically and mentally, she claims, “I’d love to come in under five hours, but my deeper goal is to run every kilometre with gratitude.”

It is also through such challenges that she’s able to stay consistent. Training for the marathon reminds her that walking the talk makes her a better coach: “My personal progress inspires my clients, and their progress fuels me in return.”

Tiara Alicia focuses on discipline over motivation

Tiara’s training week is built around four runs (two speed, one recovery, and one long run) paired with strength sessions. But she admits not every day is easy: “Motivation isn’t a feeling – it’s a commitment. I focus on the ‘why’ behind every run: because I get to, not because I have to.”

Her pre-run rituals include journaling, music, and a good coffee. These are the small moments that help her tune in mentally before a session.

Recovery, she emphasises, is non-negotiable. Cold plunges, sauna sessions, sports therapy, proper sleep, and quality nutrition are all part of the process, especially after long runs. Rest, like scheduling “reset” days with lighter movement like walks or stretching, used to make her feel guilty, but she learned that it’s just as important as the training itself.

What fitness means to Tiara Alicia

When asked about the misconception people often have about running or fitness that she wishes to correct, Tiara says it is “that you need to run fast or look a certain way to call yourself a runner or to be ‘fit enough’ to start.”

To Tiara, fitness is more about how you feel and what your body allows you to do. “Running doesn’t discriminate – there’s space for everyone, every pace, and every body type. … The most important part is showing up and enjoying the process,” she clarifies. “Over time, the benefits – endurance, mental resilience, confidence, and overall health – come naturally, regardless of speed or appearance.”

A timeless obsession: How Tiara Alicia fell in love with watches

Beyond fitness, Tiara has a totally different passion: vintage watches. Her fascination began at home, inspired by her father’s hobby of fixing and trading timepieces. “I grew up watching him fix, polish, and ‘flip’ watches,” she recalls. “That planted the seed for me early on – the idea that watches could carry both sentimental and investment value.”

Her first watch was a two-tone stainless-steel Seiko, a birthday gift at 19. But the one that holds her heart is a Rolex Datejust (26mm, two-tone), which she bought in 2022 as a reward for completing her first year as a personal trainer despite people doubting she could build a fitness career.

Serving as a reminder to trust her own path, the classic timepiece marked a turning point in Tiara’s life, and is a proof that her passion can become a sustainable career. “It wasn’t about luxury,” she says. “It was about celebrating resilience, independence, and faith in my own decisions.”

Tiara Alicia on balancing function and elegance

Though she’s drawn to vintage luxury pieces, leaning more towards elegant, classic, and sentimental designs, Tiara keeps her training life practical. “I wear my Garmin watch daily to track runs, sleep, and recovery. … On some days, I double-strap with my Rolex!” she laughs. “It’s become part of my personal style even in sporty settings.”

For her, watches represent more than aesthetics as they bridge her dual worlds of performance and poise. “Watches aren’t just accessories,” she says. “They’re a reflection of my lifestyle, bridging the gap between functionality, performance, and personal expression.”

Tiara Alicia’s watch collection tips

When it comes to collecting, Tiara is methodical. “I don’t impulse buy,” she admits. She’d save, wait for the right piece, and buy smart. “Every watch I own carries either sentimental or long-term value.”

For those looking at getting your first watch, she advises, “Don’t buy what’s trendy, buy what resonates with you. You’ll wear it with more meaning.” On top of doing your due diligence and being patient, she suggests, “Go for something versatile – a design you can see yourself wearing through different chapters of your life.”

Every rep counts, every second matters

And perhaps her philosophy on watches sums up Tiara’s entire outlook on life: “Both fitness and watches teach me the same lesson: discipline, patience, and respect for time. Fitness keeps me grounded in the present; watches remind me how far I’ve come. At the end of the day, both are investments – one in your body, the other in your story.”

Whether she’s clocking kilometres or collecting timepieces, Tiara proves that true success comes from consistency, balance, and self-belief.