Filed on 11/2/01

Career Highlights
I have competed in quite a few shows. I don't want to bore anyone, so I wont list them all. 1997 was a banner year for me, so I'll just list the shows within that year that I earned pro status.

I've done photoshoots for Flex, Muscle & Fitness, Musclemag, Oxygen, NPC News, Women's Physique World, and Ironman, to name a few.

I have modeled for Budweiser & Coors, Gloria's swimwear, and have also been an official Spokesperson for 2Xtreme Sports Supplements and Akahi Sports Nutrition.

Why did you become interested in fitness?
I became interested in fitness after a friend of mine from the gym told me I should look into competing, that I "fit the mold".  So with the idea planted in my head, and I started to think about competing someday.... the more I thought about it, the more of a goal it became.  I had always been athletic throughout my high school years, and really missed sports and being active. 

I remember seeing the fitness gals in all the magazines and having so much admiration for their hard work and dedication, because they looked so darn fantastic!  I can remember thinking, "if I had Marla Duncan's glutes, I'd run around naked" (of course I'm not serious). But I really liked the look of the toned, somewhat muscular, well-balanced physiques.

When did you first start working out?
I had stayed active in the gym through high school, but actual weight training (with a purpose) began in '95. My physique was just plain "scrawny" when I started weight training, since for the past 5 years I had been a cross-country runner so I had to really work to hold onto any muscle.  (what a great excuse to stop running :)

But my physique transformed rather quickly, to my surprise, and I really liked the new look. So weight training became my passion, and I've been lifting ever since.

What other physical activities do you enjoy to stay fit?
I always love hiking and mountain biking, those are two of my favorite activities to stay in shape. There's nothing better than taking off for a day-hike, or Mt. biking on some great trails in the woods. I'm an outdoors kind of girl, so anything to do with fresh air and open sky, I'm game!

On a down note, living in "the rainy city" of Seattle, I do most of my staying fit in the gym on the Precor or Treadmill.

What are your goals within the fitness industry?
To be a role model for others that may be thinking about competing, or just want to be fit and healthy.

Way back when, I had a goal to do a fitness show. I managed to tackle that goal, and even managed to turn Pro, which was something I never imagined! So that in itself was a major goal achieved for me. I think goals are very important for everyone, goals are what give us the needed drive to do our best. By setting goals we will never settle, as long as you have a goal you want to achieve you will always be striving and bettering yourself. So go set some right now! :)

Now that I am no longer competing I have found a renewed love for training!  No pressure, it's great!  I am also doing some fitness/ nutrition consulting, helping out competitors with contest prep, managing my website, as well as photo shoots, etc... and basically just having fun with it all. I love the fitness and bodybuilding industry, it's changing so fast, and I just love staying involved with it and watching it grow. There's never a dull moment. I'm amazed at how far fitness has come, and the level the girls have taken these competitions to, it's unreal, the girls all work so hard, and are so very talented and have unlimited potential.
 
Okay, back to the question.... I didn't mean to ramble on back there. One goal does comes to mind.... I would love to grace a magazine cover someday.... what girl wouldn't ? (Just get out the airbrush...)

 Additional Notes
I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Conor at FitSights, for putting together such a great website for the hardworking fitness girls in the industry to get their names and faces out there. Way to go!