I am a women’s physique national level competitor winning the overall title in my province and I am the Canadian National Female Raw overall Champion for the WPC Federation as well the all time record holder for the 148lb raw division; I am the strongest 148lb female on the planet. In November of 2014 I went to the WPC World Championships in West Palm Beach, Florida and took the world champion title for my weight class, 67.5kg with the highest total for all raw females across all weight categories at 515kgs. I broke 3 world records, in squat, deadlift and overall total. I squatted 182.5kg without knee wraps or sleeves, I deadlifted 222.5kgs, and benched 110kgs. This puts my wilks score at 528, and I was currently 20kg of the ALL TIME TOTAL for my weight class. This past November, I stepped on the platform again, and managed to set this 540kg or 1190lb total and take that title.
I am 34 years old and currently a certified Personal Trainer and certified specialist in Fitness Nutrition. I also have a BA in Psychology and a diploma in Jewellery Design and Repair. I lifted off and on throughout University and after, but it was in May, 2012, that I started to consistently train every day. I had to change jobs and relationships and needed a stress relief. The gym seemed to fit that bill well. I started working towards my first physique show in November, 2012 and took the stage in April 2013. I came second to last but was determined, and decided not to give up. I refocused my training and worked extremely hard over the next few months and in November, 2013, I competed at the New Brunswick Provincial Bodybuilding Championships taking the Overall title in the Women’s Physique category. It was at this time, Greg Doucette, took notice of what he referred to as my “freakish” strength. Impressed with the weight I could move, Greg encouraged me to start incorporating a power lifting regiment into my training and to seriously consider competing. On April 5, 2014, I dominated the Atlantic Canadian powerlifting world when I broke every national record in my weight class. With such a triumphant result, I set my focus on the Canadian Powerlifting Nationals the following June. It was at Nationals that I not only broke all of my previous national records, but also broke the world record for Female Raw Squat and was awarded Best Overall Female Lifter moving 1032 lbs total, which set my WILKS score at 485. This total amount ranked me as fourth best in history for my weight class. This fueled my fire to train even harder for the World Championships which I dominated, and relentless in my pursuit to dominate the powerlifting scene, I managed to take the all time total in history in November of this year.
My goals are clear and straightforward. I am hardcore, approach everything with passion and intensity; when I put my mind to something and say that I am going to do something, I practice follow through and what I preach. I want to be the strongest woman in the world and each time that I step on stage I want to bring a better package than I did the last time. I am currently training for the 2016 US OPEN where I intend on not only breaking the all time total record and my previous records, but setting the new standard for the 67.5kg weight class. I project to squat 210kg which would also break the all time squat record, bench 135kg, and deadlift 250kg which would make me the all time record holder in this lift as well. Since I compete both powerlifting and bodybuilding, I also will reveal a new physique and take the stage at the CBBF Physique Nationals in 2016. I would like to win my division of Women’s Physique.
I believe in being an example and a role model, especially for young women, helping them realize there are no limitations. There is no greater reward than to experience triumph in obtaining goals that you set. Potential is in everyone. I also find inspiration in recognizing and building the potential in those around me. In turn, I am able to build strong relationships with clients, friends and family, who support and revel in my accomplishments. I have even developed a following that celebrate my dreams and even accompany me to meets. I am a work horse with tremendous drive. I don’t set my goals just on the concept of breaking someone else numbers but making my own mark; I want to be the one that other female lifters inspire to be.
As I live and work in a small community, I am very limited in resources and training partners. I have no special equipment to train with, and with powerlifting clubs or centres. Recently I invested in a power rack, bench press and made my own Olympic specification deadlift platform so I could train in the basement of my home to try and create a distraction free zone to train with the intensity that is required to reach my goals. It can be a lonely journey, but just as everything else has its place, it has taught me that the greatest strength I can know is the strength that comes from within. It’s a beautiful journey and it’s the one and only love of my life.
Dubbed by my friends as the “IRON GODDESS”, I pride myself on being intelligent, powerful and exhibit poise on and off the platform. I really want to be a spokeswoman for female empowerment in being an example of what is possible for women. Femininity and strength have not been synonymous in the past. It is often the opinion that you must sacrifice one for the other; be feminine or strong, but not both. I want to help break this stigma, defying stereotypical limitations as well as keeping true to my feminine image. I embrace my curves, and take great pride in my feminine features. I choose to partner my femininity with my strength to show you can have both. I don’t want to compromise my femininity for a trophy. I like to look good. To me, my strength is part of my beauty.
Achieving so much in such a short time, has not left me without some hard lessons. Each leg of this journey has offered insight and connections to people and places that have forever changed me and shaped a full and rounded perspective in practicing self discipline with food and consistency with training; learning to connect my mind to my body. Aristotle said it best ‘You are what you repeatedly do; therefore excellence isn’t learned, but a habit.’