“Will it be easier? No. Is it worth it? Yes.”
These are the words of fitness guru Maeve Madden. These are words I often hear in my head. I feel like I've gotten to know the Newry native pretty well lately, as she's been training with me almost every day for a month now.
Of course, I mean virtually. I have interviewed Maeve many times for work, but we have yet to be in the same room together. But she was on my screen, motivating me through various workouts via the Queens Don't Quit app.
The platform was founded at the beginning of the pandemic when we were all locked down and forced to stay at home instead of going to the gym. What started as Maeve sharing her workouts on Instagram has become a one-stop shop for fitness and nutrition for thousands of members, or “queens,” around the world.
Before joining the platform in November, I had heard a lot about Queens Don't Quit. Many of my friends have been members at some point, but a few have been loyal fans from the beginning. However, I myself had no intention of participating.
I already had a fitness routine. And we didn't think a women's platform with pink branding and tiaras was challenging enough.
I then moved from Cork to San Francisco, where a one-hour gym class costs nearly $40. In contrast, a one-month Queens Don't Quit subscription costs half that amount. The app offers a huge library of 15-45 minute workouts, as well as a schedule planner and nutrition tracker.
Maeve and her trainers run live classes most days, and videos are posted quickly to the library in categories like lower body, upper body, HIIT, dance, and more.
There are also yoga and mobility classes, as well as prenatal and postnatal options. Those who prefer to follow a gym-style plan can choose a 4-6 week guide to follow, with numerous challenges held throughout the year.
Accessible from all over the world

The real benefit is that I can access the videos from all over the world, including from my living room in San Francisco. I'm halfway through the prep week for her 6-week New Year's Challenge and my calves are so sore I can't even go to the kitchen.
When I first started Queens Don't Quit, the workouts weren't challenging enough for me. At that time, all her classes were 30 minutes long, and he had to watch two videos to get a one-hour session.
My fitness level was already pretty good so I opted for other workouts. But over Christmas, I didn't have access to my usual gym for three weeks and went into full queen mode.
I started creating at least two QDQ videos a day while running once or twice a week and walking every day. I noticed a difference after the holidays. The weather was gloomy, my energy was low from a hangover and a huge meal, and I didn't feel very motivated. Maeve and her team have changed that.
The great thing about working out with a QDQ trainer is that it feels like you're working out with a friend. They are very energetic and motivating and I especially relate to Maeve. They're not coming online to yell at you. They are struggling along with you.
I laughed out loud when one of my trainers, Beth, said that after Christmas she felt like she was “part of the Bailey family”. When Maeve came online in early January, he explained that his face was swollen due to allergies, and continued to watch the video without makeup and laughing.
There is no impersonation on this platform. There's a discussion about hormones and bad habits and being lost. When I asked Maeve about Christmas on a recent phone call, she told me about all the fancy food she's been eating. “'It's that time of year,'” she says.
creative workout

Maeve, 38, started out as a professional dancer before turning to personal training. She gained a large following online, published a book on digestive health, and was eventually commissioned by various brands to create bespoke workouts.
“When we went into lockdown, I thought, 'This is such a fun way to train.' People need to exercise and some people might want to join in, so we should do it live.” It was a lot of fun, Everyone was making a little noise,” she says. “Then I felt I needed to add weight and mobility and started putting together a proper plan of action.”
Although she now has a lot more to offer than just pressing records, she says teaching is still her favorite part. She's “almost 24/7. Working out will be about 5% of what I do at Queen's Don't Quit,” Maeve says. “We have a social team and a marketing team and all the technology to deal with. But it's so much fun. I love creating all these workouts and keeping in touch with everyone.”
The community aspect of Queens Don't Quit is especially important to Maeve. Those attending classes live can share their feelings by sending messages through the app, and trainers often read and respond to comments. They are also open to suggestions and have people tell them what areas they need to develop and what areas they need to target.
The app also has a dedicated community section, with forums on various topics.
When I asked Maeve why she thinks the platform has been so successful, she pointed to the community aspect. “People feel like they're part of something,” she says. “There's no pressure either. It's about doing your best and moving towards your goals.
We're not on a 6-week crash diet. The feedback I've gotten is that people feel very comfortable doing Queens Don't Quit. ”
Maeve also hosts live events where people can come together and work out together. There are currently five games scheduled for Ireland next year, and the team is hoping to include London as well.
She enjoys being part of a community of like-minded women. “It’s so great to be able to follow along with other people, and she feels even more motivated at Queen’s,” Maeve says. “I think that's what a lot of people miss when they go to the gym.”
come back from the gym

Maeve said membership numbers have dropped slightly as gyms reopened after the pandemic, but many people have returned to her platform. They enjoy its structure and variety, plus it's also a cost-effective way to work out, especially in urban areas. It also reduces commuting time and makes life easier for people who live far away.
She is working on a new feature that will allow users to download workouts and watch them without WiFi. “When we first started making live videos, we found that people living in other countries or traveling could not do it,” she says. “For me, on-demand is really ideal. It also gives me a chance to rest.”
Maeve lives in Dubai with her husband and manager Andrew Selby and enjoys watching where the queens tune in from. “One day, I saw Hong Kong light up. “It turned out to be five girls with names like Aura and Nuala. Queens spread throughout Europe, North America, South America and Asia. We have a large audience in Australia, but 90% of the time it's Irish.”
Members are of all ages and levels, from beginners to advanced. “We have a family of one girlfriend, four daughters and a mother. They have been members since the beginning,” Maeve said. “I have one daughter in New York, two in London and the other in Ireland. They all train at the same time and support each other.”
Queens Don't Quit is the perfect way to exercise on the go. This app is especially beneficial for beginners who can message the trainer to ask questions and use the modifications provided for every movement. Intermediate athletes who can handle heavy weights can also push themselves considerably and incorporate different cardio routines. As Maeve says, “It's not always easy, but for 22 euros a month, it's definitely worth it.”
After the New Year Challenge is over, I will probably return to face-to-face classes. Mainly because I work remotely and it's a way to get out of the house.
But as a frequent traveler and someone who understands that pink doesn't mean weakness, it's unlikely that I'll hang up the crown forever.
