Filed on 6/19/03

Career Highlights

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Why did you become interested in fitness?
I’ve been athletic most of my life, but as a result of a couple of years of sedentary lifestyle, I can testify to a steady but determined physical change in the makeup of the body. Like most women, I was a scrawny teenager who, due to a decrease in my physical activities, I began to develop hips and a little extra weight gain in my early 20s.

I began working out at the encouragement of my husband; he got me interested in weight lifting, which I immediately enjoyed and was happy to see quick gains with my physique. My husband has always been a subscriber to just about every major bodybuilding and fitness magazine on the market, and curiosity getting the better of me, I began flipping through them to see what all the fuss was about. Back in 1994-1996 these magazines were only just beginning to showcase the fitness-type models that you see filling the pages today. I took an interest in wanting to look a little like them. So, while at first I began working out for vanity reasons, it soon became evident (especially now that I just turned 33) that the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle are real and last a lifetime.

Eventually, I began competing in obstacle-course styled competitions after seeing the ads for the Ms. Galaxy competition. For my first fitness competition I displayed a remarkable ineptness, but since that time I’ve come a long, long way. That particular competition is now has been revamped and changed hands and is called NOVA FITNESS FEDERATION. I still enjoy competing with this organization.

This coming July, I may attempt an NPC figure competition at the BODYROCK NPC FIGURE event to be held in Fairfax, Virginia on July 12, 2003.

When did you first start working out?
I started working daily with weights at around age 24. I’d never used weights before this time, but I soon found that I took to it well. I’d always participated in aerobic and team sports, tap and modern dance, but never weights.

What other physical activities do you enjoy to stay fit?
I enjoy most classes offered by my Gym – Gold's Gym, VanNess, D.C. -- particularly Cardio Kickboxing classes. I like to run indoors/outdoors. Because I’m a night owl, morning workouts can be a little harrowing for me. To help me out I always need my morning bucket of coffee or my favorite buzz drink, sugar-free Red Bull to get me rolling.

What are your goals within the fitness industry?
My long term goal is to be a reputable freelance health and fitness writer and editor, and perhaps to write my own book. I’d like to continue promoting new and current competitors under a similar role of a publicity agent. Of course, I’d still like to win a couple of major titles along the way and be known as a good industry role-model for others.

Additional Notes
I enjoy coaching competitors at the NOVA FITNESS FEDERATION training camps, as well as preparing promotional materials for the Federation and its competitors. I seem to get a big kick out of helping others out with little bits of info that might help them with their fitness-related careers.

I’d really be excited to compete in an obstacle course-styled competition while my family is visiting from England, so they can see what I’m up to.

A thrilling moment I experienced not related to fitness and health, was gaining my U.S. citizenship in May 2001, and then being allowed to vote in the last election.