Close your eyes and imagine a 21-year-old McDonald’s manager, and it’s likely you’ll come up with someone who looks entirely different from Lauren Lessnau.
But Lessnau, who’s father was once a McDonald’s Regional Manager who now owns five of the fast-food chains in Colorado, isn’t really your typical 21-year old.
When someone at her gym approached her last December and told her she should think about competing in bikini, she decided to give it a try. One month later, however, those plans changed.
“I started training, and I just started getting bigger,” says Lessnau, who attributes her tendency to put on muscle from playing soccer and running track in high school. “So in January I realized I was going to have to do Women’s Physique.”
The decision worked out well, as Lessnau won her class and the Overall at the Northern Colorado Championships on April 14.
“I love Physique because you can actually show your personality,” says Lessnau, who will compete at the Junior USAs this weekend. “The posing and the routine is really fun.”
AGE: 21
HEIGHT: 5’2
CONTEST WEIGHT: 120
LIVES:
Denver, Colorado
CONTEST HISTORY: 2012: Northern Colorado, 1st Class A and Overall
ATHLETIC BACKGROUND: “I played all kinds of sports, but soccer and track mostly.”
OCCUPATION: Personal Trainer, McDonalds Manager
PHYSIQUE ROLE MODELS/INFLUENCES: Dana Linn Bailey and Marlina Echohawk
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT MY GYM MUST HAVE: Leg Press machine. “My favorite exercise.”
FAVORITE MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: “Thoughts become things.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Junior USAs this weekend
