Crush It Every Damn Day!
Those five encouraging words greet women entering either of the two locations of Girl Crush Fitness, a boutique fitness club that focuses not on getting thin but getting strong.
Designed to pack a punch in a short period of time, classes run either 35 or 45 minutes and consist of bodyweight and weight-lifting circuits that change every day.
“We program our workouts together and we focus on exercises that produce the results women are looking for,” noted Maddie Donelon, who founded Girl Crush Fitness in 2017 with co-owner Casey Maenza. “We try to keep our formats fresh and fun, so our members never get bored. We pride ourselves on efficient and effective workouts because women are busy.”
Classes are offered from 5:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. by Girl Crush’s 11 trained coaches at both the club’s Metairie locations — on Monticello Street (near Longue Vue Gardens) and Trenton Street (off the I-10 Service Road behind Target).
According to an April 2025 blog by SHC (Smart Health Clubs) on LinkedIn, “The U.S. average gym membership costs $50/month, with premium gyms charging $200+.” Girl Crush falls more on the higher end of pricing for a membership but includes unlimited access to all classes at both locations. The club charges $20 for a single class or $149 per month with an auto renewing membership. There are no contracts, and those looking to see if the experience is right for them can also opt to pay $165 for 10 classes, with a first trial class offered for free.
Looking to spread the Girl Crush spirit to young women, the club also offers a new Crush Athletic Performance class which provides workouts for girls ages 9-16 with $20 to $150 options.
Classes are booked through the popular MindBody app through which members are also encouraged to share their own personal fitness journeys.
In addition to a fun, female-centered fitness experience that focuses on working out smarter, not longer, Girl Crush also offers women a sense of community — a feature that’s good for business. According to Smart Health Clubs, “Members who feel part of a community are three times more likely to stay long-term.”
“Our members love the gym, our workouts, our coaches, and most of all, the Girl Crush community!” said Maenza. “They have made lifelong friends here. They brunch together and keep each other accountable, and that is so fun to see. We strive to have a no-drama-zone gym, and our members really appreciate that.”
The success of Girl Crush Fitness is unsurprising when you look at national trend data, which reports that 64.2 million Americans now hold a gym membership, a 6% increase from 2023, and for the first time in 2025 the majority (52%) of all gym-goers are female.
According to SHC, “Female gym memberships have grown by 18% since 2019, fueled by women-only fitness spaces and strength training trends. More women than ever are embracing weightlifting — 44% of female gym members now engage in resistance training, up from 29% in 2018.”
“To be able to grind out a hard workout with someone and then high five them because you just crushed it really bonds you and makes you want to come back.”
– Maddie Donelon, co-owner of Girl Crush Fitness
For Donelon, seeing the movement she has helped create come to life has been the ultimate reward.
“I feel like the members have really loved the space and environment that has been created,” she said. “It’s so fun to watch them cheer each other on inside and outside of the gym…To be able to grind out a hard workout with someone and then high five them because you just crushed it really bonds you and makes you want to come back. We never want to be complacent, and we never want to take what we have built for granted.”
Both Maenza and Donelon are experienced entrepreneurs. Maenza received an MBA from the University of New Orleans and has owned a variety of small businesses, and Donelon is an LSU graduate and owner of Madd Body Fitness.
“Prior to Girl Crush, I started a doggie daycare business and a T-shirt business where I learned many valuable lessons through trial and error,” explained Maenza. “I was personal training for experience but had my heart set on opening my own gym. As a new mother at the time, I wanted a partner that I could split the responsibilities with. Maddie already owned a small group training gym and had young daughter as well, so it was the perfect fit. We decided to join forces and put our ideas together.”
For Maenza and Donelon, the hardest work may be outside of the gym.
“Social media has been pivotal in the success of Girl Crush,” said Maenza. “We work really hard to keep it fun, fresh and relative to keep our audience engaged. We are far from influencers, but we’ve been known to make a good Tik Tok.
Donelon agreed, noting the usefulness of social media engagement in growing membership as trends come and go.
“Luckily, Casey and I are still young enough to be able to keep up with the trends and adapt to the ever-changing social media world!” she said, “However, it’s definitely time consuming and never-ending.”
Girl Crush Fitness continues to attract new members who are drawn to a concept created by and for women like them.
“There was a need for a place for women to go to and just have fun while getting fit,” explained Donelon. “A place where they can just be themselves, wear what they want, lift heavy, get sweaty and just leave their stress behind for 35-45 minutes.”
Girl Crush Fitness
3400 Monticello St. // Metairie
4432 Trenton St. // Metairie // 504-494-4991
Girlcrushfitness.com // IG: @girlcrushfitness_nola // FB:@girlcrushfitness_nola
