“So much goodness and beauty can come from some of the most horrible things in life,” Hamilton says

Almost a month after tragic death by her three-year-old nephew, Bethany Hamilton says she’s “grateful” for the opportunity to participate in season 12 of Fox’s The masked singer.

“Every time I go into the public eye is to remind people to overcome the hardships in life,” Hamilton, 34, tells PEOPLE exclusively when she is revealed as Macaron on the Wednesday, Nov. 13 episode of the show.

The surfer – who was 13 when she lost his arm in a shark attack in 2003 — says she had never seen the popular singing competition series before being asked to participate. “When I was first invited, I thought they were going to take me as a judge – I literally had no idea,” says Hamilton.

A mother of fourHamilton admits her singing experience was limited before the show. “I sing to my children every day, but I wouldn’t say it’s my gift and life talent,” she jokes. “Maybe I’ll stick to surfing.”

Family: Surfer Bethany Hamilton’s nephew Andrew dies aged 3, days after drowning: ‘Will miss him dearly’

But Hamilton couldn’t pass up the opportunity to reach millions of viewers through The masked singer.

“We’re all going to face hardship at some point in our lives, and I really just wanted to encourage people to know that they can endure and persevere, and so much good and good can come from some of the most horrible things in life,” says she.

On Saturday, October 19, Hamilton announced the tragic death of her three-year-old nephew, Andrew, who was taken to hospital on October 11 after drowning.

“The Lord has received my dear nephew Andrew into his beautiful care,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. “While my family and I will miss him dearly, we trust that his joy is full with Jesus.”

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On which she ends her chapter The Masked Singer, Hamilton says she “loved the challenge” and calls her experience “such a joy”.

“I feel like I’m living a double life,” Hamilton says. “But I think my biggest purpose right now is, obviously, to raise my kids to be confident and confident that they’re overcoming themselves.”

Family: Bethany Hamilton on making ‘motherhood’ work with one arm: ‘Just gotta keep moving forward’

Hamilton shares four children with husband Adam Dirks: Micah, 3, Wesley, 6, Tobias, 9, and Alaya, who was born in January 2023.

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She says Tobias has recently “started to really start surfing” – a “dream come true” for Hamilton and her husband. “We’ve done a few family surf sessions, so I’ll have my three-year-old on my board with me and then my husband has our one-and-a-half-year-old on his board, and my two older boys are catching waves on their own.”

Hamilton, a motivational speaker and author, says she is currently focused on launching the Bethany Hamilton Network soon. “It will be a family network that inspires people to overcome, to stay connected, to live a life of faith,” she shares. “I just love everything I do, so it feels very purposeful.”