Contest History/Highlights 2011: USA Championships 15th Figure Class C; 2010: Las Vegas Classic 1st Figure Class B and Overall; 2009: Excalibur 2nd Figure Class C; 2008: Western Regional 8th Figure Class B
MUSCLE ON THE MIND “I was always fascinated with muscle, ever since I was about eight years old when my first crush was Arnold Schwarzenegger. All of my female idols were strong, superhero women like She-Ra and Wonder Woman. I was the skinny girl always thinking to myself “I wish I could look like her”. I didn’t have any clue that I had the potential to put on muscle so I never really tried until later in life. I always thought either you have it or you don’t. Now I know YOU EARN IT!! I always appreciated a beautiful swimsuit physique and was okay with trying to obtain that, until I got it, then I wanted more. My first realization that I really wanted a fit, muscular body was when I saw one in real life. I was intrigued by the beauty and strength that this figure competitor radiated. It was only by chance that I met her trainer and he offered to help me achieve my fitness goal. That’s where it all really began.”
WORTH THE WAIT “After training and eating on a regular schedule for five years, basically living a completely different lifestyle, I finally felt like I had put on enough muscle to go on stage and compete. I wanted to after two years but some really great friends were honest enough with me to tell me I wasn’t ready yet – I needed to put on a little more size. It was hard to swallow at first but in hindsight, I might have been discouraged had I gone on stage too early and felt like I didn’t “fit in” to this sport.”
THROWING WEIGHT AROUND “The Women’s Physique division is a good fit for me because my favorite part of this whole thing is the training. I love throwing weight around and I don’t want to feel like I should hold back, in fear of gaining too much muscle. I also like the idea, although it was intimidating at first, of having a whole minute on the stage to actually showcase my accomplishments.”
WHAT I LIKE “What I like most about competing is the journey, how proud it makes my daughter to shout “That’s my mom!”; the comfortable sense of belonging felt when you are in an auditorium full of people that eat the same food as you do out of the same Tupperware (or like containers) without looking at you in question; the friendships made backstage when asking strangers to help glue down your bikini bottoms; and most of all, a sense of identity. A job is what you do, bodybuilding becomes part of who you are.”
INSPIRATION “I know this is going to sound corny but it’s true – my role model is my daughter. She has shown me that if there is something you are interested in trying, just do it, you might like it and actually be good at it, and who cares about what anyone else thinks. Other people who inspired me… the trainers in my gym that routed me on along the way, and knew before I did that Women’s Physique was the perfect fit for me. Also, that very first Figure competitor that I saw when I was 24 years old, and of course, She-Ra and Wonder Woman.”
