Three years’ ago, Preet had never hiked on ice let alone completed one of the most extreme expeditions possible. Yet, as she constantly reminds us, “you have to start somewhere.”

 

Preet wasn’t born to a family of explorers or a community that thrived in pushing through stereotypes. She joined the army reserves at age 19 and avoided sharing this news with her family, preferring to delay hearing the ‘naysayers’ until she was already enrolled.

 

When she first googled “polar explorers”, she was met with photos of men with beards. Noone looked like her - a woman of colour. She decided to commit to changing the status quo and inspire other people who don’t fit the ‘norm’ to keep striving for their dreams.

 

This interview took place a few months before she left for the Antarctic, where she would hike solo and unaided to the South Pole (so she needs to drag all her supplies, from a tent to food, with her).

 

The target was 45-50 days (she packed enough food for 55, just in case of bad weather), and she completed it in 40 days!

 

She is now the first woman of colour to complete a solo expedition in Antarctica!

 

Yet, this is only Phase One. Preet will return next year and attempt a solo & unassisted expedition across the whole of Antarctica: Never before completed by a woman.

 

“Nothing is impossible, I’ve always had this idea that I can achieve something great, something that allows me to be a role model. I want my 9 year old niece to grow up without boundaries, knowing the possibilities of what you can achieve in life are endless."