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8 months ago
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Kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart soaked up the sun in a chic black bikini as she lounged around in Palm Springs with her family - just one month after she marked the 21st anniversary of her sensational rescue.
The 36-year-old took to social media to flaunt her toned physique as she posed up against a palm tree while she and her family - including her father and his new husband who he wed in June 2021 - enjoyed some much-needed 'pool time.'
Elizabeth - who was just 14 years old when she was abducted at knifepoint from her bed at the family's home in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 5, 2002 - has been sharing her healing journey following the horrific ordeal that culminated in her rescue in 2003.
Despite previously thinking that every dream she had for herself had been 'stolen,' the now-mom-of-three proved that she still believes in happy endings by taking in the stunning weather California has to offer while spending quality time with her family.
Kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart soaked up the sun in a chic black bikini as she lounged around in Palm Springs with her family
The 36-year-old took to social media to flaunt her toned physique as she leaned up against a palm tree while she and her family enjoyed some 'pool time'
She has been taking in the stunning weather California has to offer while spending some quality time with her spouse, her children, her father and his husband
The 36-year-old showcased her fun-filled trip in a series of snaps posted on her Instagram story.
Elizabeth smiled from ear-to-ear as she leaned up against a palm tree while sporting a flattering black bikini.
She let her blonde locks fall straight down her back and donned a pair of black shades to match her swimsuit, which she said she had been 'loving.'
In other images, the doting mom went for a swim with her daughters in a heart-warming snap captioned: 'Pool time equals best time.'
Elizabeth went even further in showing off her love for the water as she also captured herself floating in the water in a blue one-piece bikini.
Elsewhere, the family filled their time playing board games, completing puzzles and eating Elizabeth's 'favorite' cuisine - Mexican food.
In one photo, Elizabeth snuggled up to husband Matthew Gilmour whom she married in 2012.
Her father Ed, who tied the knot with his partner in 2021, was also on the vacation.
The 36-year-old boasted her fun-filled trip in a series of snaps posted on her Instagram story
Elizabeth also boasted all the fun she and her family were having while on the getaway - with her sharing flicks of them playing board games
In other images, the doting mom went for a swim with her daughters in a heart-warming snap captioned: 'Pool time equals best time'
In one photo, Elizabeth snuggled up to her husband Matthew Gilmour whom she married in 2012. In another, she showed off the relaxing puzzle she created
The 68-year-old announced in August 2019 that he was gay and leaving the Mormon Church.
He also revealed that he would be divorcing wife Lois after 34 years of marriage - which was finalized at the end of that year.
Ed first made headlines in 2002 when he and Lois made desperate pleas for help in finding their kidnapped then 14-year-old daughter Elizabeth, who was found after nine months of harrowing captivity.
And although he appears to be content in his dating life, his relationship with his ex-wife is strained. He said he hasn't spoken with Lois since coming out, according to reports.
He admitted one of the hardest parts of this new chapter of his life was divorcing Lois, who he thought was 'the one.'
Back in 2002, Brian David Mitchell, a self-proclaimed prophet, kidnapped Elizabeth with Wanda Barzee's help and took her into the woods, where he performed a mock-wedding ceremony before raping her for the first time.
To keep her from escaping, she was tied up with steel cables in a dugout filled with mice and spiders.
Elizabeth also spent the Easter break with her father and his husband, with the mom-of-three sharing a happy family photo on her Instagram account at the time
Elizabeth's father Ed tied the knot with his husband in 2021 in a ceremony that saw the two grooms horseback riding together
She was forced to take drugs and drink alcohol, she testified in 2009, and was raped daily — as often as four times a day.
Back in 2002, Brian, a self-proclaimed prophet, kidnapped Elizabeth with Wanda's help. Elizabeth was rescued in 2003
Back in 2002, Brian (left), a self-proclaimed prophet, kidnapped Elizabeth with Wanda's (right) help and took her into the woods, where he performed a mock-wedding ceremony before raping her for the first time
Their trials were dragged out for years due to delays and mental evaluations - it took nearly eight years for Brian's case to finally come to court
The mom-of-three - who has since gone on to become a public speaker, author and advocate - founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011
They later moved her to Lakeside, California, where they plotted to kidnap other girls. But, after their last failed kidnapping attempt, she convinced them to return to Utah.
She was rescued at age 15 after she and her abductors were recognized by witnesses in Sandy, a city in Salt Lake County.
Their trials were dragged out for years due to delays and mental evaluations. It took nearly eight years for Brian's case to finally come to court.
Brian was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, but Wanda was given just 15 years. In a plea deal, she was given credit for the seven years she had already served.
Wanda was released from prison in September 2018 and lived to the same town as Smart, despite the survivor's pleas to the parole board not to set her free.
The mom-of-three - who has since gone on to become a public speaker, author and advocate - founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011 and has spent over a decade combatting the victimization and exploitation of sexual assault.
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