Fitness has always been my passion, beginning with Muay Thai kickboxing as a teenager. I loved Muay Thai because it made me feel confident, safe, and empowered. One day when I was twenty, my brother convinced me to go to a bodybuilding show in Bellevue, Washington. I’d seen photos of bodybuilders in magazines and always wanted to look like that one day. But on that day in Bellevue, I saw bodybuilders in real life, and it would change my life forever. It was there that I met with two incredible trainers that I would work with for over five years, including my mentor IFBB Pro David Paterik. Working with these trainers taught me so much–not only about weightlifting, but also about myself.

About the importance of consistency and support when it comes to achieving any goal–especially physical fitness. David encouraged me to try competitive bodybuilding, and he offered to be my coach if I did. He could see my passion for the sport. So I embraced the challenge. In 2015 I started my competitive journey in the NPC Women’s Figure/Physique Division. The next year, I faced a setback in the National and North American competitions when I didn’t place how I wanted. I was crushed–but I decided to change course and keep going. The following year, I changed divisions from Women’s Figure to Physique. Even more importantly, I also had to change my mindset. I’d been comparing myself to other athletes instead of embracing what made me unique–and I’d been hard on myself for not being in the same place as women who’d trained for 10+ years. I had to learn to see the process of training as its own reward–no more stressing out over performance or attachment to a specific outcome.

This change in my mental attitude, plus the perseverance to keep going, turned out to be the winning ticket. In 2017 I earned my IFBB Pro Card at the USA Nationals. I’d achieved my dream of being a professional bodybuilder. But I quickly realized that there was something more I was meant to do. I wanted to share what I had learned with other people. I could help them reach their goals, because I’d done it myself. So I started a personal training business and it gained momentum faster than I ever could have anticipated. I needed a place of my own to train clients, one I could optimize with specialized equipment. My brother, who had been training for years and was a former power lifter and coach joined me in founding a bodybuilding and powerlifting gym in Tacoma, Washington. This tight-knit, community-oriented gym, The Base Fitness, is where I train my clients. It’s where the magic happens.