新澳门开奖结果

Elizabeth Smart. Photo by KOMUnews on

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Elizabeth Smart

Elizabeth Ann Gilmour commonly known as n茅e Smart is an American child safety activist and commentator for ABC News. She was born on 3rd November 1987 in Salt Lake, Utah to Edward and Lois Smart. Elizabeth Smart has four brothers and one sister whereby she is the second-oldest child in her family.

Her family was part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She attended Bryant Middle School and East High School in Salt Lake City and later enrolled at Brigham Young University. Elizabeth Smart graduated with a Bachelor of Music in harp performance.

Elizabeth Smart became known nationally and internationally after she was abducted at her home at the age of 14 in Salt Lake City by Brian David Mitchell. She was held captive by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee for nine months until police rescued her in Sandy, Utah.

Below are the Top 10 Interesting Facts about Elizabeth Smart:

1. Elizabeth Studied in Top School & Graduated with a Bachelor of Music

Elizabeth was born and raised in Salt Lake, Utah to Edward and Lois Smart. Her family was part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which she also follows.

Elizabeth was given the best education before and after her abduction as she attended Bryant Middle School and East High School. Later on, she enrolled at Brigham Young University where she earned her Bachelor of Music in harp performance.

2. She was Abducted for Nine Months at the Age of 14

Elizabeth Smart speaks in Jesse Auditorium at the University of Missouri about her experience. Photo by Mark Schierbecker on

On 5th June 2002, the worst thing happened in the life of Elizabeth Smart when she was 14 years old. She was abducted at knifepoint from her bedroom in their family house in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Elizabeth Smart went missing under her abductors’ hands for the next nine months which was a nightmare for her. She was raped daily, tied up and threatened with death if she tried to escape from her captivity.

Luckily, police officers managed to rescue her on 12th March 2003 on a public street in Sandy, Utah (this is 29 km away from her home). Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee were recognised as the abductors of Elizabeth by two witnesses from an America鈥檚 Most Wanted episode.

3. She Helped Present A Book Which Contained Her Entries at Washington D.C

After getting freed from captivity and graduating with a Bachelor of Music, Elizabeth Smart began her impactful activism role. In May 2008, Elizabeth Smart travelled to Washington D.C where she presented a book entitled 鈥榊ou鈥檙e Not Alone.

This book was published by the United States Department of Justice. It contained entries from her and from four other recovered young adults who had previously been abducted. Later in 2009, Elizabeth gave her comments on the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee where she stressed that dwelling on the past is unproductive.

4. Elizabeth Founded a Foundation that Helps Victims of Abduction

Elizabeth Smart. Photo by KOMUnews on

Her humanitarian work towards victims of abduction like herself started showing up later after she gained national attention. In 2011, she founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation.

The aim of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation has always been to bring hope and end the victimisation and exploitation of sexual assaults through prevention, recovery and advocacy. Later in March 2011, Elizabeth got selected alongside four other women who were given the Diane von Furstenberg Award.

5. Smart Gave Hope & Delivered a Strong Message at a Human Trafficking Conference

Elizabeth Smart continued her humanitarian and activism over the years. On 1st May 2013, she was invited to Johns Hopkins University for a human trafficking conference where she gave hope and delivered a strong message.

Elizabeth Smart spoke about the urge to emphasize individual self-worth in fighting human trafficking. She also talked about the importance of dispelling cultural myths surrounding girls’ loss of value after engaging in sexual activities. This was from the experience of being raped by her abductor.

鈥淢any of them teach that a sexually active girl is akin to a chewed piece of gum. 鈥業 thought, OH, my gosh, I鈥檓 a chewed up piece of gum, nobody re-chews a piece of gum, you throw it away. And that鈥檚 how easy it is to feel like you no longer have worth, you no longer have value.鈥� In part of the speech Elizabeth stated.

鈥淲hy would it even be worth screaming out? Why would it even make a difference if you are rescued? Your life still has no value.鈥� She concluded.

6. Elizabeth Testified in Favour of HB 286 Bill

Elizabeth Smart speaking at BYU to promote her book. Photo by Ben P L on

Elizabeth has always been an advocate of sexual abuse prevention programs which has been so helpful. In February 2014, she appeared before the Utah State House of Representatives where she testified in favour of the HB 286 Bill.

This bill would create the option of curriculum for use in Utah schools to provide training on child sexual abuse prevention. The following year, Elizabeth explained how her religion helped her sustain her ordeal of captivity and help her heal.

7. She Narrated Her Abduction Story on a Film

Several people wanted to listen to the story of Elizabeth Smart鈥檚 nine months abduction which she aired out. On 5th June 2017 during the 15th anniversary of her abduction, a film titled I Am Elizabeth Smart was aired on TV.

In this film, Elizabeth Smart narrated the story of her kidnapping from her perspective. This film starred Alana Boden as Elizabeth Smart, Skeet Ulrich as Brian David Mitchell, Deirdre Lovejoy as Wanda Barzee, George Newbern as Ed Smart and Ann Openshaw as Lois Smart.

8. Elizabeth Served as a Missionary in Paris

Elizabeth Smart. Photo by KOMUnews on

On 11th November 2009, Elizabeth Smart went on a religious mission in Paris. She left Salt Lake City to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

However, she had to return from her mission on November 2010 temporarily to become the chief witness in the federal trial of Brian David Mitchell. She later returned to complete her mission after testifying.

9. Smart Married Her Husband Who She While Serving as Missionaries

While in Paris on her missionary mission, Elizabeth Smart met Matthew Gilmour who is of Scottish descent. After one year of courtship, Elizabeth got engaged to Matthew in January 2012.

The couple got married on 18th February 2012 in a private ceremony that took place in Laie Hawaii Temple. They have three children: Chloe who was born in February 2015, James born in April 2017 and Olivia born in November 2018.

10. Elizabeth Began a Self Defence Program after an Airplane Incident

Elizabeth Smart. Photo by MSC Wiley on

Other than being an activist, Elizabeth Smart has been spearheading other programs in support of women and girls through experience. While travelling home to Utah aboard a Delta Airlines Flight in 2019, Elizabeth woke up to a bad incident.

The passenger next to her was rubbing her inner thigh which shocked her. She immediately reported the incident and also began a self-defence program for women and girls which she called Smart Defence.