Posing in front of the Gold’s Gym mirror, showing off his sculpted muscles and lean body, life wasn’t always like this for Joseph Baena. When it comes to bullies, even the sons of the strongest men are not immune to them.  Former Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s son, Baena, was bullied as a child. He became an unfortunate target for bullying in elementary school when kids would corner him for his weight.

Being a bodybuilder himself, Joseph Baena had a tough fitness journey. While he has come a long way since then, he spoke about his harrowing experience in an interview.

Before Baena followed Arnold Schwarzenegger, life was different

Childhood bullying had such an impression on Baena, that he soon felt like an outsider in high school. He ultimately worked on his body and got fitter by the day. However, the fact that there was no stranger involved, was what stung Baena the most.

Some of his dearest friends would tease him about his weight. “It was my closest friends that were the ones that bullied me the most and made fun of me for being overweight” exclaimed Baena.

Read More: “Felt Like an Outsider”: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son Joseph Baena Recalled Traumatizing Bullying Incident When He Was Let Down by His Closest Friends

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Although Baena eventually got through it and moved on, some memories haunt him even today.

Baena under Arnold’s shadow

Just like his father, Joseph Baena has also traversed different areas of interest throughout his career. From real estate to acting, and even dancing, Baena has aced them all. After featuring in the reality show Dancing With The Stars, he reflected upon the pressures of being the son of a high-achieving parent like Arnold.

While it is difficult to live up to his father’s name, Baena says that he manages by being himself. With all the bullying and taunting that the star went through, he’s setting self-care goals for himself. He aims to keep growing healthy and keeping his mind happy. His key to happiness is setting expectations for himself and living up to them.

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