La Rhea Burke
Originally from Ohio, Rhea attended Ohio University before her journey to the beaches of North Carolina.
She’s the owner of Picnic Haven in Surf City, a certified personal trainer with Beyond Fitness with LaLa, a cardio Kickboxing instructor, an author, and a women’s bodybuilding champion. She also founded Loves Active, which began as an activewear retail store and has since evolved into a T-shirt brand that embodies her belief that “love is active.”
Rhea leads with compassion and believes in the power of personal growth, often inspired by her role as a mother to a child with autism. She values unity, especially among women, and finds strength in Topsail’s welcoming community. She attributes her resilience to her mother’s support and the Topsail community, who welcomed her with open arms. Rhea believes deeply in giving back, especially to women facing adversity, feeling a strong sense of purpose in sharing her experiences and supporting others along their paths.