Beyond the summit: Bonita Norris on fear, focus and finding strength in the climb

As one of the UK’s most accomplished female inspirational speakers, Bonita Norris is no stranger to overcoming fear, adversity, and extreme conditions. 

At just 22 years old, she became the youngest British woman to summit Mount Everest, despite having never climbed a mountain just two years earlier.

Bonita has since gone on to scale some of the world’s highest peaks, including Mt. Lhotse - the fourth-highest mountain on Earth. 

Her remarkable journey, from a university lecture theatre to standing at the summit of the world, has inspired audiences across the globe.

Beyond her record-breaking climbs, Bonita is a passionate advocate for mental health, having spoken candidly about her struggles as a teenager. 

Her story proves that resilience, belief, and small daily actions can lead to extraordinary achievements.

In this exclusive interview with The Champions Speakers Agency, Bonita reflects on risk, purpose, and how the mountains taught her lessons that go far beyond the summit.

Q: As one of the youngest British women to summit Mount Everest, what initially sparked your passion for extreme adventure and high-altitude climbing?

Bonita Norris: “So, I was at university at the time. I'd never climbed a mountain, and I went to a lecture about Everest and listened to this incredible speech. 

“When I heard the two climbers that were giving the speech say that when they reached the top of Everest, they looked down and they could see the curvature of the Earth beneath them, I just knew in that moment that I had to see that with my own eyes. And that was where it started.”

Q: Mountaineering inherently involves significant risks. Can you share one of your most dangerous experiences on an expedition?

Bonita Norris: “Yes, I can. Which one do you want?

“So, when you're a climber, there's this inherent risk. I wish I did a sport sometimes where I could turn up and give my all, and I wouldn't be having that question in the back of my mind: is this going to be the last climb? Is this going to be the one that kills me? So, climbing is unique in that way.

“Sometimes it's rock climbing, and you know that if you slip off a cliff, you might break your legs. And in those moments, I tend to say to myself, well, if you break your legs, it will be a good story. 

“Which I know is a really stupid thing to say, but the truth is that I know that I'm unlikely to actually fall and break my legs, so I've just got to go for it. It's a way of calming myself down and accepting that whatever happens, I'm going to commit to it.

“And then in the mountains, probably the most dangerous things in the mountains are the avalanches.

“We've been really up close to some of them, where you've been in a tent, and actually, I remember launching myself to the other side of the tent because I heard this boom behind me, and an avalanche was coming down. But it did pass us.

“But in terms of real danger, I did fall down a crevasse once, and I was completely on my own. This was on Lhotse, and I managed to climb out by myself. It's definitely the closest I've ever come to falling to my death. 

“But by the time I got to camp and told my teammates, ‘Guys, I nearly died today,' they were like, 'Oh really? Sorry, we're playing Monopoly, so tell us later.’ You know, it just wasn't a big deal. It put it in perspective.”

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Q: When facing setbacks or moments of failure in such mentally and physically demanding conditions, what internal strategies do you rely on to stay motivated?

Bonita Norris: “There are hundreds of different ways that I motivate myself, but I think the most important thing I try and remember is: do I need a big-picture motivation right now, or do I need a small motivation?

“Because sometimes the big picture - the dream, you know, what the future might hold if I commit to this - that's so exciting that it just gets you through. But sometimes that big picture can be so overwhelming, you just think - I can't do this anymore. 

“I've been working so hard, there's still so much to do. And in those moments, just being able to focus on something really small and forget about the big picture is really important. 

“So often I just ask myself that question: what do I need to focus on right now?

“But then there are other things. As human beings, we are incredibly driven by our emotions. And one of the things that inspires me the most is just getting on the right song.

“That can instantly connect you to a feeling, and it's often feelings that motivate us more than anything else. So it's really working out what triggers motivation in you, and then having that bank of different things to go back to.”

Q: You've spoken openly about your battles with mental health in your teenage years. How did overcoming that personal hardship shape your resilience in the mountains and beyond?

Bonita Norris: “I've been very lucky in my life. I would say I haven't faced any hardship compared to some people, but when I was a teenager, I did suffer greatly with my mental health, and I had a quite terrible eating disorder.

“It actually really taught me an important lesson that eventually got me to the top of the world, because at the time, I was really at rock bottom. 

“I didn't see how I could make it through each day. I was that consumed with this disease in my mind, and what got me out of that hole was saying to myself, right, I'm just going to go for a run.

“And I went for this run, and I managed to go for about 42 seconds. It was the most empowering thing I'd ever done because it was like taking back control when I thought there was no control to have left.

“From there, it made me understand the power of small actions and small steps. The next day I ran for a minute, and then it was five minutes, and then it was 5K, 10K, a half-marathon, a marathon, and then it was Everest.

“So, you know, it's just about knowing that the small things that we do can have these great rippling effects through our lives. 

“Learning that lesson when I was 17 out of my lowest moments - and hardship, as you say - has actually probably been the most important thing that's ever happened to me.”

This exclusive interview with Bonita Norris was conducted by Megan Lupton of The Motivational Speakers Agency.

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