We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mije Von Merta-Sustarich a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Mije , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
(I am uploading my personal statement for PhD applications) As Tim Ingold writes in Being Alive (2011), “we can understand the nature of things only by attending to their relations—or, in other words, by telling their stories.” This is mine. My name is Michelle Jessica Von Merta-Sustarich, but call me Mije—a nickname given to me by my grandmother, whose influence shaped the course of my life and the purpose behind this statement.
My story begins with adversity. My parents struggled with alcoholism. My mother could never hold a steady job and I grew up moving between homeless shelters. At age thirteen, I was struck by a car as a pedestrian, leaving me physically disabled. I learned early on that strength is not the absence of pain—it’s the decision to move forward in spite of it.Success is about pursuing a life of happiness by following the path you have gotten to choose for yourself. It’s about doing what you want to do-ultimately turning every obstacle into experience preparing you for your future. That drive has shaped every milestone I have reached.
As one of the few female instructors in the world certified by the Thai Ministry of Education, earning the title of Kru in Muay Thai with full accreditation from the Thai government—I learned to lead with discipline and humility. As a multi-certified personal trainer, I’ve worked with leading professors and CEOs whose trust taught me that genuine impact arises not from status, but from meeting each person where they are and helping them reach their full potential. Modeling on billboards in Times Square New York taught me that visibility carries responsibility—the opportunity to inspire others through discipline and determination. As the youngest board member of the Slovenian Progressive Home of San Francisco—the largest Slovenian cultural center on the West Coast—I’ve sought to connect people across all cultures and ages. Each achievement, though diverse, reflects the same resilience that carried me through my upbringing. I hope to carry this same spirit forward, mentoring women and other aspiring scientists to break barriers, redefine expectations, and lead with authenticity in my PhD.
Cancer affects one in four people globally, but in my family, the statistic is four for four. My mother battled melanoma, my grandmother fought soft tissue sarcoma, my maternal aunt faced lung cancer, and my paternal aunt has been fighting her own ovarian cancer for years. Facing that uncertainty firsthand didn’t deter me—it only reinforced that cancer research is my life’s path.
My greatest aspiration has always been rooted in science. When my grandmother—my favorite person in the world—died of cancer when I was eleven, my final words to her were, “I’m going to do something about cancer.” From that day on, I knew I wanted to become a doctor studying oncology.
When I was at the University of California Berkeley, the physical consequences of my car accident caught up to me, requiring three major surgeries. I was forced to step back from my academic track, not because I lacked passion, but because physically I could not dedicate the time required to excel.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I took time off to travel the world solo and focus on my health—to Thailand, Italy, and Japan. In Slovenia I immersed myself in scientific and cultural exchange through the American Slovenian Educational Foundation Fellowship, where I studied glioblastomas at the University of Ljubljana. That experience solidified my love for cancer biology. It made me remember my promise I made to my grandmother- during undergrad my disability forced me to give up on keeping that promise. I truly felt as if I had failed her by not contributing more to cancer research. I failed myself by not becoming a doctor.
That’s why after returning from Slovenia, I pursued my Master’s in Biochemistry at San Francisco State University. I study argininosuccinate synthetase I, an enzyme implicated in cancer metabolism. The implications of my work is building the foundation for better targeted cancer therapies and elucidates how structure informs function in multiple cancer types.
I view my openness to different areas of cancer research as a reflection of adaptability and curiosity. The next generation of cancer breakthroughs will emerge from new methodologies and technologies.
Now physically capable and scientifically prepared to continue the work I once could only dream of doing, I have done everything I can to pursue cancer research. This is where I belong: in the lab, at the bench, and at the intersection of relentless persistence and discovery. When experiments fail, when variables defy expectation, or when data inevitably refuses to cooperate—you will want someone in the lab who refuses to give up. That’s who I am.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
What excites me most about my work is how all the different parts of my life feed into each other – modeling, acting, community building, fitness, and cancer research. I’m deeply honored to have been selected as Miss San Francisco Regency, and I’ll be competing for the title of Miss California Regency at the California Regency Pageant in early March 2026. Pageantry gives me a platform to represent both my Slovenian roots and my commitment to science, wellness, and women’s empowerment. Beyond the stage, I’m currently organizing the largest Slovenian–American festival on the West Coast, taking place on February 28, 2025 at the Slovenian Progressive Home of San Francisco (slovenianhall.org). Bringing people together through culture, music, and food is one of my favorite ways to build community.
I’m also accepting new clients for personal training at www.TrainwithMije.com, where I focus on helping people feel strong, confident, and truly at home in their bodies. At the same time, I’m applying to PhD programs so I can continue my cancer research and ultimately bridge the worlds of science, wellness, and public outreach. My “brand,” if I had to define it, is all about using every stage I’m given—whether it’s a lab, a gym, a runway, or a festival—to uplift others and create something meaningful.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three qualities that have had the biggest impact on my journey are relentless grit, persistence, and staying true to myself. Relentless grit has carried me through the moments when things felt impossible—whether that was juggling research, pageants, training clients, or navigating rejection in modeling and acting. Grit is what keeps you moving when motivation disappears.
Advice: put yourself in situations where you’re allowed to struggle and still keep going—auditions, competitions, hard classes, new skills. Don’t run from discomfort; use it as training for your grit muscle.
Persistence is what turns “I wish” into “I did.” So much of my journey hasn’t been about big breakthroughs, but about showing up again and again: applying, re-applying, emailing, rehearsing, studying, and refining.
Advice: pick a few specific goals and commit to consistent, boring action toward them. Track your small wins. When something doesn’t work out, treat it as data, not a verdict on your worth.
Staying true to myself has probably been the most grounding. I exist in spaces that can be very image-focused and competitive, so knowing who I am and what I value keeps me from getting lost. I choose projects, roles, and collaborations that align with my values and long-term vision, not just what looks good on paper.
Advice: spend real time figuring out what you care about—outside of other people’s expectations. Journal, talk to mentors, and notice when you feel genuinely energized vs. drained. Say yes to things that feel aligned, and give yourself permission to say no, even if it’s impressive on the outside.
Overall, I think it’s incredibly important to invest in the things you’re actually interested in. When you lead with passion, you’re more likely to do the extra work, bounce back from setbacks, and put your whole heart into what you’re building—and that’s usually where the best results come from.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TrainwithMije.com, www.mijemodel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krumije/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mijevonmertasustarich/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michellejessicavms
