Megan Thee Stallion Says She ‘Releases Emotions’ When She Hits the Gym (Exclusive)

Dunkin’ is kicking off 2026 with protein in the spotlight — and Megan Thee Stallion is front and center, flexing both muscle and mindset.

The three-time Grammy winner, 30, has teamed up with the brand for the launch of Dunkin’s new Protein Milk and Protein Refreshers, a lineup designed to seamlessly add protein to everyday drink orders without reinventing anyone’s routine. For Megan, the partnership is personal. As she puts it, protein became a nonnegotiable once she committed to a more intentional health and fitness journey.

“When I started my health and fitness journey, I just dove in,” Megan tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I didn’t really know too much about the nutrition side of it. But once I started figuring out, ‘Okay girl, if you really want to see some results, you need to be eating and drinking some protein,’ everything clicked.”

That realization made teaming up with Dunkin’ feel like, in her words, “an easy layup.” Protein Milk can be added to coffees, lattes, matcha and Refreshers, delivering a creamy texture without the chalky aftertaste that often turns people off.

The launch also includes Dunkin’ Protein Refreshers, fruit-forward sips made with Protein Milk — including Megan’s Mango Protein Refresher, which she helped create. “Whether you’re drinking it to boost your fitness routine or just to power through a busy day, it’s the perfect drink for any occasion,” she says.

The drinks anchor Dunkin’s high-energy “Dunk N’ Pump” campaign, which introduces Megan as “Pro-Tina,” a playful spin on her iconic alter ego. In the spot, she leads a jazzercise-inspired workout fueled by Protein Refreshers, set to an original track she created exclusively for the campaign. If the choreography looked intense, that’s because it was. “The video was a workout,” Megan laughs. “I’m really in the gym!”

For Megan, fitness has never been about chasing aesthetics or outside validation. She’s candid that her journey began as a way to protect her mental health. “My journey started because I wanted to release emotions,” she explains. “When I started going to the gym, it was definitely a mental thing for me.”

That mindset shapes the advice she offers fans looking to “get their bodies — and minds — right” for 2026. “I don’t think you should be doing it for anybody else,” she says. “If your reason is because you’re having a bad day and you need to release that energy, that’s valid. I hope you’re doing it for you and not for anybody else to give you approval.”

She adds that motivation rooted in personal purpose is what creates consistency. “Once you really have a reason to want to be in there, that’s when it changes,” she notes. “That’s when you start seeing results, because you’re passionate about it.”

Dunkin’ is leaning fully into that wellness-meets-real-life energy with limited-edition “Dunk N’ Pump” workout merch, a collaboration with Bala Bangles, and early-morning [solidcore] classes fueled by Protein Milk drinks. Dunkin’ Rewards members can also score protein-focused perks throughout January and February.

As for the “Hiss” rapper, her discipline extends beyond the gym. During the interview, she teases what fans have been waiting for: new music. “I’m definitely in the studio,” she reveals. “I’m kind of hiding from everybody right now because I really just want to work.”

Of course, the Hot Girl Coach promises it’s worth the wait. “I’m completing act three and the music is dropping this year,” she adds. “The hotties just need to give me a little time. I’ll be in the gym and the studio — the gym and the studio.”

If there’s one word she uses to define her energy for 2026, it’s simple and powerful: “Disciplined.”