To millions, stuntwoman Jessie Graff is the high-flying powerhouse in her signature Wonder Woman athletic apparel, conquering obstacles on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior (ANW). Her ANW resume includes participating in 11 seasons of competition, a 7x national finalist, six career buzzers in main competition, and the distinction of being the first woman to finish Stage 1. But talk with this Redondo Beach resident for just five minutes and it’s clear that what gives her the strength of a superhero is more than her physicality—it’s her mindset.
“I identify as a master of resilience in recovery,” 41-year old Graff said. “I break a lot, but I recover amazingly.” Her secret weapon? Focus. “I always try to keep my focus on how I am getting better,” she explained. “So even if I put everything into it and before competition, I say, all right, this is everything you’ve been working for. You cannot fail. If you fail, you die. The pressure actually helps me. It pushes me to my limits.
“The second I fall, I have to be ready to reframe that and say, okay, did you get stronger? Yes. Did you get faster? Yes. Did you get healthier? Did you build really cool friendships while training? Did you get more coordinated? Oh, my gosh. Look at all those wins.” For Jessie, the outcome isn’t the goal—it’s the process that matters.
This mindset didn’t develop in isolation. Jessie credits her mother, Ginny MacColl, as a major influence. “My mom is the most fiercely determined person I’ve ever met,” expressed Jessie. After retiring around age 61, her mom started secretly training. It took three years to do a strict form pull-up. “She just never gave up,” Jessie said.
Now 73, Ginny holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest competitive female ninja athlete, and has appeared in four seasons of ANW.
Watching her mother pursue strength and skill later in life inspires Jessie. “Every year, she's learning more technique and getting stronger, healthier, and more coordinated, and I want to have that.” Visualizing the future keeps Jessie motivated, and she encourages others to do the same. As for her future self, “It looks a lot like my mom. I picture this little old lady with the old lady sweater who's getting out of the back seat of a car and the nice young man comes over and offers a hand. And she cartwheels out and jumps up to a railing and starts doing pull-ups and everyone's like, what? That’s my new image of who I want to be.”
Her message to others—especially women embracing strength at any age—is to rethink what success looks like. Jessie’s Strength-Style Strategies:
- Create two workout plans. Design a high-bar version (your full ideal workout) and a low-bar version (a 10-minute, “no matter what” routine).
- Redefine success. Instead of chasing maximum strength today, think long-term. What do you want for your future self?
- Make it playful. Graff teaches adult classes at a local Ninja gym with students as old as 61. She incorporates safe “falling drills” and strength training.
- Celebrate little wins. Progress builds confidence. Be willing to start somewhere and work to beat it next week.
When she’s not stunt-doubling, training, or teaching, Jessie soaks up the South Bay lifestyle. Her favorite activities include rollerblading, paddleboarding, cycling, climbing trees, and even digging in the sand for cardio. And in true Ninja fashion, she’s brought the course home—transforming her house with more than 30 grips, holds, and upper-body obstacles, most of which she built herself.
One of Jessie’s favorite phrases is: “Be Your Own Hero.” And part of that, she says, is defining who your hero is. What qualities does that person have? Craft that vision—and let it guide you to your own fierce style.