Stigma: A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.

 

The stigma and opinions formulated around how women train, the level of hard work we put in, the severity of commitment to this sport, and the bikini division in particular, has been skewed since I started my journey- and even had me believing it for some time until I became a part of it myself.

 

This sport is not one to continue to be undermined and brushed off.

This sport isn’t just about having a beach body and throwing on some heels to get on stage.

This sport isn’t for the cardio bunnies.

This sport isn’t manly or gross.

This sport isn’t about going through the motions in the gym.

 

I represent the qualities of any other bodybuilder:

I train hard.

I train with intensity.

I am relentless.

I am unshakeable in my pursuit of the goal.

I live to break my barriers, push beyond my perceived ceiling of potential, and strive to become better every single day.

 

Beauty is so many things

Beauty is power.

Beauty is strength.

Beauty is grit.

Beauty is taking charge of your life, on your own terms, for your own self.

 

I want to #BreakTheStigma to ideally open people’s eyes to how beautiful this sport really is in all its forms, the beliefs I stand behind, and the athlete I represent… and to build a culture of individuals who share those similar beliefs and values!