I've
been active all my life, having started dance at the age of three and
a half. I continued on for nine years focusing mostly on jazz, tap,
and modern theatre. At age eleven, I discovered the thrill of gymnastics
and not long after had my dance mates asking me to flex for them.
I was thinking, "Flex what?" Little did I know I had already
acquired a set of "pipes" at the tender age of eleven! I soon had to
give up my dance lessons in order to pursue my passion for gymnastics.
I carried on for eight years, until a back injury forced
me to retire. At this time I was enrolled in a program at college which
required me to work out at the local gym. This was my first introduction
to weightlifting, though I must admit I was the typical cardio junkie,
thinking that an hour of cardio a day would make me skinny, and lifted
"mickey mouse" weights (I had no idea what I was doing!).
When my course ended I decided to continue with my membership,
as I no longer had gymnastics to keep me active. Then suddenly, within
a few months, I received a wave of comments regarding my physique and
that I was well-suited for bodybuilding or fitness. I initially ignored
all of it (I certainly did not want to be one of those gross-out muscle-bound
monkey women! - oh the ignorance!) However, after receiving many more
comments, I decided to look into it (turns out lifting weights doesn't
make women gross-out muscle-bound monkeys afterall!)and I hired a personal
trainer who taught me to cut the cardio, and start lifting some "real"
weights.
I've now been training for almost three years, and I love
every minute of it (well . . . maybe not all the pre-contest cardio!).
I have mostly competed in bodybuilding, though I have compteted in figure
and fitness. I find myself being the most passionate about bodybuilding,
though I do enjoy the more feminine look that figure and fitness offer.
I'll admit that the beauty of the fitness girls is what made me initially
want to try fitness. I longed to be one of the adored and sought-after
fitness girls.
To get a taste of what it might be like and to see if
I could hold my own amongst them, I entered the figure division at the
last minute when I went to compete in bodybuilding at the Emerald Cup
in April 2003. Surprisingly I found I fit in well, and placed in the
middle of the pack at 8th out of 15 girls. Not bad for entering one
hour before the start of the show! From there I decided to pursue fitness,
and made my debut at the Fitness Canada Pageant the following July.
Though I had a good time, the judges didn't like me for
some reason. My dense muscularity I think is what set me apart from
the other girls, and so disappointingly,I didn't make the finals. But
I think my heart is in bodybuilding, as friends have told me that when
I get onstage for a bodybuilding contest, they see me truly shine. I
think they're right.
Education/Certification:
