From Omaha, NE, Kendra Stauffer is a 39 year old, single mother of 3 boy. A Sales and Marketing Director for a Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center by day, Kendra recently stepped on stage to compete in Figure for the very first time.
Kendra has never been one to easily accept anyone telling her that she is not capable of something.
“There is a spark that ignites within me when I hear the odds are against me. I was always a very determined lil lady, and for the most part that trait has served me well through the years.”
At the age of 15, Kendra became pregnant with her first son.
“I was a Freshman in High School, a cheerleader, honor student, track athlete, and had plans to attend the University of Michigan post graduation to study accounting. That’s when the “can’ts”starting hitting me left and right. Being so young and vulnerable, I accepted every blow and allowed others to decide my fate at that time.”
She hung up the cheerleading outfit for maternity clothes. On January 4, 1992 Kendra gave birth to a tiny blue eyed boy who changed her life forever.
With the support of an amazing family and the handful of friends she had left, Kendra graduated with her class. She didn’t attend the college of choice, rather a local community college. She walked through the motions like a robot, attending nursing classes, working her ass off full time as awaitress, and living paycheck to paycheck, just like everyone told her she would.
“I was depressed. I settled in every capacity of my life…relationships, jobs, living arrangements, etc. I started to drink more and more. Drinking filled my void, eventually nightly, until I was so far into my alcoholism I had no idea how to find my way out. I was what many would label a “functioning alcoholic”.”
Kendra married, had her 2nd son, divorced, gave birth to a 3rd son and bought a home with her long-time significant other. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree during that time as well.
“From a distance, people assumed I had it together. Up close and personal, I was falling apart and so was my relationship of 12 years.”
“September 20, 2009, I hit my “bottom”.”
Miserably hungover from the night before, hands shaking so terribly from detoxing Kendra couldn’t hold a pen to sign forms for her son’s homework.
“I knew things had to change. I was sick and tired of being sick. I have been sober since that day. I left my hometown and moved to a larger city about 90 miles east. I had to start a new story, leaving behind the voices I allowed to stay in my head for so many years.”
Kendra’s fitness journey began as part of her coping or recovery process. She started running.
“I wasn’t very good at it and I couldn’t run many miles but it felt good to push myself a little further each time. I knew my body could tolerate more, it was my mind I had to convince. So I ran everyday. Alone on a bike trail in a new city, I sorted a lot out in my head, pounding pavement and dripping sweat.”
Fast forward to 2013! Kendra moved a bit further away from home and landed a great career. No longer living paycheck to paycheck, she started spending most of her free time in the gym.
“I considered myself in fairly good shape, at least compared to the many years prior. I tried out for a women’s indoor football team and was signed, only to traumatically break my ankle during practice just 2 weeks shy of our opening game.”
With 12 screws and a metal plate, Kendra limped backed into the gym 3 1/2 weeks post surgery. With fire in her eyes, she was determined to fight her way back to the best physical shape she possibly could.
September 26, 2015 Kendra took the stage to compete in her first natural figure competition, the St Louis Gateway Naturals.
“At the competitor meeting the evening before, the couple hosting the show informed us only 2% of the entire population would ever do what we were about to do. From the food prep process, posing classes, intense training, and what seemed like endless cardio, I certainly found the woman I was made of. It was always there; that strength, determination, and willpower. I just had to find my way back to myself. I love it when someone tells me I can’t or won’t be able to do something these days. I simply smile and say, “watch me”.”
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