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EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — An Eagle Mountain teen is breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes one challenge at a time—all while championing the cause of families battling cancer.
It all began when Alexandra Gates was just a kindergartener. With a father in law enforcement who also taught judo jujitsu, Alexandra was captivated by the sport. She would watch her dad at the gym until she finally convinced him she was ready to compete. Fast forward ten years, and now at 16, Alexandra isn’t just dominating on the mat—she’s commanding the stage too.
“She’s not your typical girl,” said Andy Gates, beaming with pride as he describes his daughter.
By nature, Alexandra is fiercely competitive — a trait she clearly inherited from both Andy and her mom, Erin.
The Gates household is brimming with medals, but they only tell part of Alexandra’s story.
“She’s been on the mats in combat sports since she was five,” Andy recalls. “She started doing competitions in judo and jujitsu when she was six.”
For Alexandra, martial arts became more than a sport—it became a community.
“I found my people,” she said with a smile. “I found the people who were most like me.”
When she entered high school, Alexandra took her skills to the wrestling team.
“She comes in day one and she’s throwing everybody,” Andy remembers.
But Alexandra’s story is more than her prowess in combat sports. Beneath her fierce exterior lies a compassionate heart.
“She’s super competitive with sports but also really loving and caring with others,” said Erin.
That love for people, coupled with a personal connection to cancer, led Alexandra to a new arena: the pageant circuit.
Determined to make a difference, Alexandra chose childhood cancer awareness as her platform.
“Her cousin was diagnosed with leukemia at just two and a half,” Erin explains.
Alexandra was only eight at the time, but the fight against cancer became even more personal last year.
“My dad was diagnosed with cancer last March,” Alexandra said softly.
Her father — her rock and the man who taught her about resilience — was suddenly facing his toughest battle yet.
“It was actually a really hard time for my family because I had to watch my dad go from perfectly normal, perfectly healthy to not being able to stand or walk on his own,” Alexandra shares.
True to her determined spirit, Alexandra channeled her pain into purpose.
She created Fight with Gates to help ease the stress and anxiety faced by families of children fighting cancer.
“Fight with Gates was created so I could help alleviate some of the stress, some of the anxiety put on cancer families when their child is going through cancer,” said Alexandra.
Her initiative quickly gained momentum. She organized fundraisers and charity events, all while balancing sports, school and pageantry.
In November, her hard work and advocacy earned her the title of Miss Oquirrh Mountains Teen — her second crown after winning Miss Eagle Mountain a few years prior.
From combat sports champion to pageant queen to devoted daughter, Alexandra Gates is proving she is anything but ordinary.
And she doesn’t stop there. Alexandra is also the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chairwoman on the livestock team, advising and organizing events for her chapter.
As for Andy, he is in remission and looking to make a full recovery.
