Confessions of a Bikini Pro

In today's episode, I sit down with IFBB Bikini Pro Maria Giesey, a Coach with Pro Physique and Account Coordinator for a healthcare recruiting company. Maria started competing in 2019 and after 15 shows, she earned her Pro card at the 2023 NPC Universe. She recently married her partner of 10 years, and together they share their home with their fluffy cat, Kibby. We dive into the challenges of mis...

In today's episode, I welcome back IFBB Bikini Pro Shayla Hubbard, a Certified Nutritionist, mom of two (soon to be three in March 2025), and former competitor who first appeared on the podcast in 2020. Since stepping away from bodybuilding, Shayla has shifted her focus to promoting fitness and nutrition for kids through her family's YouTube channel, making health fun and accessible for the next g...

In today's episode, I sit down with 2025 Olympia-qualified IFBB Pro Kerry Sexton—an online fitness and posing coach from the UK, co-host of Beyond the Stage , and an athlete with over 40 competitions under her belt since earning her Pro card in 2019!   We dive deep into posing during the improvement season, the mindset needed to stay in love with the sport, navigating PMDD, and how bodybuilding ca...

In today's episode, I sit down with IFBB Pro Bailey Harrison, whose journey from growing up on a cattle ranch to becoming a professional bikini competitor is nothing short of inspiring. Bailey entered the fitness industry in 2015 as a personal trainer before expanding into nutrition coaching and opening her own gym, BA Nutrition & Fitness in Lewiston, ID. At her first shows back in 2016, she compe...

Today I speak with IFBB Pro Karla Grijalva. She is the co-owner of the Macro Lab in El Paso, Texas, and holds a BA in Public Relations & Marketing. She started competing in 2013, where she won the overall at her first show. She made her debut to the national stage in 2016, and earned her Pro card in 2024 where she earned the title of Miss Universe.     TOPICS COVERED -finding balance with macros -...

Today I speak with IFBB Pro and posing coach Hope Harper. She competed in her first show on her 18th birthday in 2016 and earned her Pro card in 2019 at her 6th national show. In 2020, she joined Body by O for her Pro career and has competed in 18 pro shows, placing in the top 6 at every show in her 2024 season. Hope shares her journey of how she has continued to grow as a person as well as a comp...

Today I speak with IFBB Pro Abigail (Abi) Medina, a 19-year-old from Laredo, Texas. A soon-to-be college graduate, she will be earning her bachelor's in science with a concentration in Physical/ Occupational Therapy. She competed in her first show at the Republic of Texas in July 2024 and placed 2nd in true novice, 2nd in Novice, and 2nd in Open. After only one more NPC show, where she won the ove...

Today I speak with IFBB Pro Scarlett Wilson, a 23-year-old posing coach who started competing in 2021. After only three season, she earned her Pro card at the 2024 NPC Europeans as a self-coached athlete! Outside of competing she's a passionate posing a physique coach. After enduring bullying,   abuse, mental health struggles, and near-death from an eating disorder, this athlete has made her mark...

Today I speak with IFBB Pro Brittany Ramsey, an animal welfare advocate who is married to her bestie with a house full of kids and animals. She started competing in 2022 she she had an undefeated season and earned her Pro card at the 2024 Ben Weider, winning the overall. She calls herself extremely goofy, loves a good cup of coffee, lifting weights, and petting ALL the dogs!   TOPICS COVERED -bala...

Today I speak with Coach Adam Atkinson, owner of See You Later Leaner, and my coach since 2022! Adam helps athletes build prep into their life instead of building their life around prep.   Adam has been on the podcast before talking about inner health. But today's episode is an update about the current climate of bodybuilding and my 2025 season.   TOPICS COVERED -natural NPC shows -Fit Model divis...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Emily Reber from Memphis, Tennessee. Emily started competing in 2019 and earned her Pro card at 2024 Junior Nationals. She graduated with her MBA in 2021 & moved to Pensacola, FL where she currently works as a medical sales rep & online coach! She grew up in a fitness-forward family and knew she wanted to be a professional bodybuilder since she was 5. Emily is pa...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Kaley Houdyshell. After moving to California in 2015 with little to no experience in bodybuilding, she fell in love after her first show and went on to earn my pro card at Universe in 2019 placing first. She is a bikini, wellness, an posing coach and is building her team. She wants to empower other ladies to find their inner confidence and be that beam a light! K...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Liliana Sakhanova, born in Kazakhstan, who moved to Sweden from Russia by at the age of 9. Before bodybuilding, she was a ballet dancer and figure skater. She is a full time online coach and posing coach who helps competitors and lifestyle clients to achieve their goals. She stated her bodybuilding journey in the IFBB Elite   and won Swedish Nationals in 2019, ea...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Ashley Kaltwasser. With 50 IFBB Pro wins, she is the most winning Pro of all time and has won the title of Ms. Bikini Olympia three times, which is also a record. She also placed second at the 2024 Olympia, 10 years after winning her first title as a rookie Olympian! Ashley is also a coach for Team Elite Physique and it the co-host of Bikini and the Brain podcast...

On today's episode, I'd like to take a minute to reflect on this year in podcasting and talk about what's in the future for 2025. There have been so many changes over the past year for me, both personally and professionally, I'm excited for what is in store in the new year!   TOPICS COVERED -spotlighting women in bodybuilding   -upcoming changes -setting achievable goals -expanding my reach -speak...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Bree Burton, a mother, wife, & business owner. She is a licensed massage therapist, NASM certified personal trainer & NASM physique & bodybuilding coach, who also offers posing. She first started competing in 2021 and earned her Pro card at her 9th show and first national show at 2023 USAs. After taking a long improvement season, she is looking ahead to her Pro d...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Stephanie Ortiz a 38-year-old mom and dog mom. She's a health & fitness coach passionate about inspiring and empowering women through health, fitness, and self-love. She started competing in 2023 where she won her class at her first show, qualifying for her first national show. She then earned her Pro card at 2024 NPC Universe in Masters 35+. She and her husband...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Carrie Gallic, a coach, gym owner, posing coach and mom of 6! Fitness has been an integral part of her life since childhood. After nurturing that passion for decades, she turned my focus toward competing after her 5th child. In 2021, I reached her ultimate goal by winning her Pro Card with a Masters' victory in Pittsburgh! She is a woman of faith, fitness, fashio...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Arisdelsy Cuevas, an online fitness coach who predominantly helps women live a healthy lifestyle so they look and feel their best. She has been competing for 6 years and won her Pro card at NPC Nationals in 2023. She lives in Las Vegas and is currently prepping for her pro debut!   TOPICS COVERED -how she became a Pro -beginnings in bodybuilding -longevity and bi...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Jasmine Gonzalez, a United States Marine who served 6 year active duty. In 2017, she earned her Pro card in last year of service transitioning from military to bikini pro. She qualified for her first Olympia in 2019, placing 9th. Between 2022 and 2023, she took a year a way from the stage to focus on her mental health. She qualified for the 2024 Olympia after win...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Maria Acosta, who just placed 7th at the 2024 Ms. Bikini Olympia at her debut! She is from Venezuela, where she started her bodybuilding journey 12 years ago, before coming to the USA to follow her dreams. She earned her Pro card at 2021 North Americans and now with 29 shows under her belt, she has accomplished so much as an athlete and a coach!   TOPICS COVERED...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Carly Lamberts who has been competing since 2019 and has competed in 210 shows. She earned her Pro card in 2024 at NPC Universe. Outside of competing, she is a wife to another bodybuilder and dog mom to two corgis. She works full time in sales for Red Bull Distribution and as a posing coach. She shares how bodybuilding impacted the trajectory of her life, from tr...

For today's episode, I wanted to do something a little different! In honor of the 2024 Olympia that took place last weekend, I am sharing my interview with our new Ms. Bikini Olympia, Lauralie Chapados. This interview took place after her second place win at the 2018 Olympia, after she crushed her 2018 season. When this episode was recorded she was prepping for the Arnold Classic and next heads to...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro AJ Myles, a 25-year-old full Canadian Pro who has been a full time online coach since 2021. She began competing in 2018, and has competed in 6 shows and earned her Pro card at the 2024 Toronto Pro Qualifier. AJ is an advocate of defining your own balance in bodybuilding in order to stoke your passion and foster longevity in the sport.   TOPICS COVERED -overcoming...

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Selina Stansbury, a nurse practitioner who found fitness over 6 years ago. She competed in her first show in November of 2019 and earned her Pro card at her 6th national show at 2024 Universe. Since then, she has done two Pro shows in 2024. She runs her own business as a health and fitness coach, supporting lifestyle and competition transformations.     TOPICS CO...