Confessions of a Bikini Pro

​Today, I speak with IFBB Pro and fellow Team Edge teammate Carlie Lane, who has a passion for fitness and decided to compete as a bucket list item back in 2016 and 2017. She won her pro card this year at Masters Nationals, her first national show, after taking nearly four years off from the sport. Carlie shares how she found herself inspired to try competing after a break up, although being the c...

This 200th Episode Special features YOUR insights! I asked the community about their best advice for new competitors, competitors on their road to pro, and what lessons they have learned from mistakes in their journey. We get to hear from amateurs and pros who submitted their response through my Instagram story and I am blown away by the amount of responses and amazing insights shared! I will be p...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Rachael Saeler, registered nurse who lives in Colorado. She began competing in 2015 as a bucket list item but got hooked after her first show. She won her Pro card at USAs in July of 2021. With each show she grows more confident and experiences less nerves before stepping on the stage. She looks forward to competing on the Pro stage to experience the backstage vibes an...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Allex Granger, a family nurse practitioner who lives in North Carolina. She began competing in 2019 and won her Pro Card at NPC Universe in 2021. Allex shares her early struggles about gaining weight and then how her classmates treated her when she actually did gain weight. When she learned about tracking macros, it helped her understand that one day or one meal of ove...

Today's special episode commemorates all the women who have been on the podcast that are stepping on the Olympia stage today! I asked them to submit an audio answering 1 of 3 questions...You will be hearing those questions and some of the athlete's answers in this episode. Be sure to go back and listen to their individual episodes too! I am so happy for all these women living their dreams and insp...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Kathy Seitz, a lifetime athlete who is now a physician assistant where she works in surgery. She earned her pro car ant NPC Universe and works as an online lifestyle and posing coach. Kathy played Division III softball during college which always put exercise and competition in her forefront. Her sophomore year of college, she began to struggle with disorder eating and...

In this episode, Celeste speaks with Jodie Sweeney, an IFBB Bikini Pro who set her sights on earning her pro card during the quarantine after years of dedicating her life to CrossFit. Jodie starts off the episode discussing her background in CrossFit and admits that although she wasn't ever "good" at the sport, she found herself drawn to the family feel and community aspect it brought. While she l...

In this episode, Celeste speaks with Carolina Araujo, an IFBB Bikini Pro who has been competing since 2015, obtained her degree in psychology, and helps women love their bodies through weights and balanced nutrition. Carolina is also the cohost of the podcast The Center Stage. Celeste starts off by asking Carolina her pre stage ritual then transitions into asking Carolina about her background in p...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Kimberly Gier, a registered nurse, trainer, and baker! She fell in love with competing after her husband convinced her to give it a try and turned pro after 14 shows! At her first Pro show, she had to compete on a severely sprained ankle. Despite her injury she made the decision to push through and worked with her doctor to make a plan to still train and compete. Kimbe...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Ariel Barley, who earned her Pro Card less than a year after she started competing. She just made her Pro debut and placed 3rd. Then she won her second Pro show and qualified for the Olympia! Ariel talks about the team environment backstage at Pro shows and how she tried to focus on being in a good mood and making connections with other competitors. She likes to go int...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Daniela Burrola Reyes, who works as a registered nurse, She competed first NPC show in 2018. She earned earned her Pro Card after taking a break in 2020 and started her own resistance band company called Strong Pompis. She seeks to inspire people through her competitive journey as a shorter competitor (she's only 4'11"!) She finds discipline and strength through bodybu...

In this episode Celeste speaks with Jennifer Aresco, an IFBB Pro who starting competing in 2015, winning her pro card at USA Championships in 2020 after 11 regional and 7 national shows. Celeste and Jennifer talk about Jenn's journey throughout her 18 shows leading up to her pro card win, discussing what changes were made during both preps and off seasons that led to Jenn's success. Jenn talks abo...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Kiki McClellan, coach for Team Boss Bodies. She earned her Pro card at NPC Nationals in 2020 after a long pandemic prep! Prior to bodybuilding, she was a competitive cheerleader and dancer. She credits this past experience with her comfort on stage. Kiki talks about how she utilizes her education in her coaching career to help women bring their best to the stage. Her f...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Natasha Peay, who turned pro at NPC Universe in November of 2020. Her passion for fitness has sparked her and her husband to give back to the fitness community. She grew up in Hawaii and struggled with emotional eating. Once moving to California for college, she was able to overcome her poor relationship with food once she had easy access to a gym. When she discovered...

Today, I speak with IFBB Pro Amberlyn Morgan, who's an ICU nurse and also offers online coaching. She started competing in 2015 and turned pro in 2020 at her 4th National show. We talk about how Amberlyn's journey to turning Pro and how a decision to stop playing college soccer lead her to the bodybuilding. When she learned about counting macros, it totally changed her relationship to prep and she...

In this episode Celeste speaks with Melanie Cyr, an IFBB Bikini Pro from Canada with a degree in family medicine, who has been practicing since 2017. Melanie found competing while looking for a challenge and her "one and done" mentality led her to finding a love for the sport and a desire to become a professional athlete.  Celeste and Melanie dive into Melanie's career as a physician and how she d...

For the final part of the series, Celeste interviews founder of OMG Bikinis and figure competitor, Anna Golovyrina. Anna talks about how, as a competitor herself, she can relate to the ups and downs other competitors have experienced during the pandemic and having shows cancelled. As her business has grown, she has found less and less time for herself to prep. She wants her customers to get great...

For part 3 of the series, Celeste interviews a return guest, Ingrid Romero. She is the face behind Ingrid Romero Bikinis and Pose Like a Pro posing coaching. Ingrid talks about the bonus of being able to rent suits and make last minute changes if a suit doesn't work for a competitor. With the amount of time competitors put into prep, Ingrid wants to help them realize the importance of getting a po...

For part two of this series, Celeste interviews Karah Jones, CEO of Angel Competition Bikinis. They create custom fitness competition suits that make women feel confident on stage. ACB values ethical sourcing and labor, female empowerment, and making women feel confident. Karah has helped grow Angel Competition Bikinis into one of the largest providers of competition suits in the world. Karah talk...

NEW OLYMPIANS DISCUSSED JUST WENT LIVE TODAY! USE DISCOUNT CODE 'CELESTE' AT CHECKOUT ON SHOEFAIRYOFFICIAL.COM In part one of our series, Celeste interviews Alexa Stimp, founder of The Shoe Fairy. She founded her company after her first show after she realized how hard it was to find a quality pair of show shoes. Alexa talks about how important community and quality are to her brand and how it set...

On today's episode, Celeste speaks with Kristy Imsande, a lifelong athlete who has a background in cheerleading, her bachelors degree in nutrition, and who is also a coach and athlete for FitBody Fusion. Kristy turned pro in 2020 and went on to get first call outs in only her second pro show. Kristy shares what helps put her in the zone before stepping on stage and explains what "being herself" on...

​ Today Celeste speaks with Joy Sheppard, a mother and nurse practitioner who started competed in 2014. She turned pro in 2018 at North Americans when she won the Overall. Joy talks about the feelings she has before stepping on stage and how gratitude plays into her whole prep. In speaking about her journey as a competitor, going through life struggles has really forced her to look at herself and...

In this episode, Celeste speaks with Stephanie Fournier, an IFBB Bikini Pro who started competing in 2017, turning pro at her 12th show. Stephanie is also a mother, trainer, and posing and prep coach.  Celeste starts off the episode by asking Stephanie about her pre stage ritual, to which Stephanie shares how affirmations are her favorite go to practice. Next, Celeste asks Stephanie how she first...

Today Celeste interviews Helen Fritsch, a 63 year old dynamo who does it all and doesn't let her age dictate her drive! Helen hosts a podcast called Age is Irrelevant  where she talks with other athletes about their accomplishments at any age! As a former collegiate track and field athlete, Helen is a life-long competitor. She describes her unpredictable schedule working as a flight attendant and...

In this episode Celeste speaks with Sierra Swann, an IFBB Bikini Pro who works as a senior clinical research associate in clinical trials and as posing coach. Sierra talks about her experience being self-coached and her reasons for eventually deciding to hire a coach. Sierra is open about her challenges with an eating disorder and how that led her to take time to grow mentally as she was entering...