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- Tell me about you athletic background as a young woman. Were you always athletic, and what did you gravitate towards activity wise?
Athletic?! Ha! Not at all, but you know what I always wanted to be. Growing up in my teens I was a classically trained dancer in a middle-class dance studio – ballet, jazz, and tap, yet all my friends were highly commendable athletes and even had their own diets to follow. That kind of set the tone for me in terms of work ethic as I pursued dance in college for contemporary post-modern performance and choreography. Simultaneously, I taught and studied hip hop on the side. I weight trained as a hobby and a way to keep my strength; however I was enjoying the way I saw my body change and I was always anxious to see how far I could take it. After achieving my BFA the addiction only grew more, and it’s been ongoing progression ever since.
2. Have you always had a keen sense of your strength, and body?
I have not no. In a way I’ve always had a high tolerance for pain, which can be both a good thing and a bad thing. Growing up, if I were to feel pain I would somehow shut my brain off to it, which can be harmful when it comes down to things such as proper form and recovery. When I become more serious about dance and later on weight training I had no choice, but to train myself to be more in tune with mind/body connection, which in turn lead to strength gains. It’s taken years, but today I am much more aware of what I am capable of and where I need work. It makes goals much more realistic and achievable.
3. What do you consider your strengths?
Physically – my legs and my delts. Emotionally – how to channel my energy. We all experience a wide range of emotions: fear, anxiety, excitement, adrenaline, depression, curiosity, love, hate. It’s not the emotion that drives us but how we channel that energy into our everyday tasks that gives us progression. This has taken a lot of practice over the years, but when used correctly it can give everything you do a purpose. Purpose leads to progression.
4. What do you enjoy most about training?
The ability I have to express myself. I don’t chase the results; I chase the feeling. I train every day differently according to how I feel whether it may be high and intense to steady and meditative. You can try to control the results all you want however at the end of the day your body is a reflection of your state of mind. Be honest and good to yourself first – with a little time and patience your body will thank you later.
5. What are your goals in the bodybuilding/fitness industry? When did you start competing?
In bodybuilding my goals have remained the same as they were when I first started dancing at six years old. I want to express who I am up on stage and bring entertainment to my audience. I want to give people a reason to smile and feel their emotions. I started competing in very small competitions in 2013 while entering the NPC in 2014.
6. Do you do anything else besides weight training to keep in shape?
Of course! I love the stair master and arc trainer for cardio, which I have been doing religiously every morning for six years. Before that I used to go running. Morning cardio has been embedded in me longer than weight training. It clears my heads and keeps me in good spirits for the day. Then of course I have all my handstand, pole, and aerial training however that’s more for purpose rather than a way to keep in shape. I think of those forms of training like icing on the cake!
7. Do you have any mentors or coaches in the industry?
Not really. Over the years I’ve learned to take bits and pieces of information from various sources, but at the end of the day I know what works best for me so I do what I can to collect material and advise while drawing my own conclusions in the end.
8.Who do you admire in the industry and why?
Both Dana Linn (as an athlete) and Rob (as an entrepreneur) Bailey – always have and always will. Dana’s approach to training of having no rules or limits, while focusing on being true to yourself has really helped me formulate who I am. Not to mention, her discipline, dedication, and consistency over the years is unlike anyone I’ve ever seen, which drives me push on the days I don’t really feel like pushing. Rob just as well has taught me a lot on being relentless in terms of individuality, while giving me the encouragement to pursue all the multiple facets of my life even if I don’t have the knowledge right away of every single one. If you don’t know the steps, make them up, and auto-correct as you go along.
9. Do you enjoy exploring the world of female muscle fantasies? What do you get out of it? What do you think of people that think you are a “Goddess”? What does that mean to you?
Of course, I enjoy fantasies! Fantasies give us a chance to explore a different part of our minds we may not tap into enough because, let’s face it, there are a lot of distractions out there. Our fantasies are a reflection of who we are. When we are honest with ourselves is when we find peace in both our hearts and our minds, which in a sense creates healing, serotonin and all that other good stuff. When anyone calls me “Goddess” I feel empowered and a sense of self that I have earned. However, being a Goddess is isn’t a once and done stop, it is something that is ever evolving. It’s topping that level of Goddess is what makes you a true one.
Christopher Meatto