Payton was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She grew up as a competitive dancer and was always a highly motivated student. In all years of schooling, Payton was an active member of various extracurriculars, school clubs, volunteer service organizations, and a multitude of honor societies. With a natural aptitude for science, Payton always knew she wanted to pursue a STEM degree to expand her knowledge repertoire. Recognizing her potential, she was awarded the prestigious Presidential Scholarship, which enabled her to attend the University of Miami for her undergraduate education.
                 She was raised with physically active parents and siblings and was consistently exposed to a healthy lifestyle. However, Payton's path to health and wellness was not always straightforward. Despite being raised in a health-conscious environment, she found herself gravitating toward the Standard American Diet during her teenage years. This diet, high in refined carbohydrates and lacking essential nutrients, led to Payton becoming overweight by the age of fifteen. Frustrated by the impact this had on her health and self-esteem, Payton decided to take control of her well-being. She committed to making lasting changes by adapting to a nutrient-dense diet and increasing her physical activity.  As a byproduct of her lifestyle change, Payton lost 50 pounds and, in the process, developed a deep passion for exercise and nutrition. It was unknown to her at the time that this lifestyle change would shape her entire education and career path. This personal journey was a turning point, igniting her interest in pursuing a career that would allow her to share the importance of health, fitness, and well-being with others.
                 Initially considering a medical career, Payton soon realized that her newfound love for exercise and nutrition was more than a passing interest. It was a true calling. Driven by her desire to understand the science behind human performance, health, and wellness, she shifted her focus toward Exercise Physiology. At the University of Miami, she immersed herself in her studies. She thoroughly enjoyed each day in the classroom, eagerly expanding her knowledge of the human body and its response to exercise. Alongside her coursework, Payton sought out opportunities to delve deeper into nutrition and health-related topics, including conducting research on food addiction and contributing to the development of a nutrition startup program—SoSimple.
                 With her commitment to excellence, Payton finished her undergraduate career in three years and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology in May 2023, at just 20 years old. However, her academic journey was far from over, as she was accepted into the Master of Nutritional Sciences Program at the University of Georgia. There, she selected a concentration in Sports Nutrition, further aligning with her passion for optimizing athletic performance through nutrition and exercise.
                As a graduate student, Payton maintained a 4.0 GPA while building expertise in Sports Nutrition. She gained hands-on experience through an internship at a private clinical practice and later with the University of Georgia Olympic Sports Nutrition Department, where she supported the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Payton earned her Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Georgia and completed additional coursework in sports nutrition, combining her passions for exercise physiology and nutrition.

                 After graduation, Payton began her career as a Nutritionist at Gold’s Gym, where she guided clients ranging from ages 18 to 71 in losing fat, building muscle, boosting energy, and improving their overall well-being. Seeing the life-changing results of her clients has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her journey, and she is passionate about continuing to empower others to transform their health and reach their full potential.

                 Payton returned to Miami to complete her Dietetic Internship at the University of Miami Health System with Morrison Healthcare, where she furthered her education and professional development.  She completed a specialty rotation in functional medicine, developing skills to assess root causes of health concerns, interpret advanced laboratory data, and create personalized, evidence-based nutrition strategies that support long-term wellness.Her personal transformation fuels a deep-rooted passion for supporting both athletes and non-athletes in reaching their goals and cultivating lasting health and well-being.

                Payton then started her own private practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Align Nutrition, LLC, where she empowers others to transform their lives by integrating nutrition and fitness, aligned for optimal living.