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Born: 1975
From: Ontario
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 120 lbs
Bicep Curls: 25 lb dumbbells, 8 reps
Tricep Pushdowns: 100 lbs, 8 reps
Lat Pulldowns: 100 lbs, 8 reps
Shoulder Press: 35 lb dumbbells, 8-10 reps
Bench Press: 45 lb dumbbells, 8 reps
Incline press: 35 lb dumbbells, 8 reps
Dumbbell Rows: 35 lb dumbbells, 6 reps
Chest flies: 20 lb dumbbells, 10 reps
Deadlift: 115 lbs, 8 reps
Squats: 120 lbs, 10 reps
Leg press: 250 lbs, 8 reps
Biceps: 12"
Calves: 14"
Education/Job Background and Current: "I took Criminology and Psychology in university and Corrections in college. I currently work in Corrections."
Hobbies/ Interests: "I love roller blading, cross-country skiing, biking and running, reading and writing, cooking, travelling, camping and fishing."
Athletic/Lifting Background: "I played volleyball in elementary school, but never played sports in high school. I played baseball in my neighborhood with the boys and was always in the woods biking trails, climbing trees, making shelters and swimming.
"I must have been muscular as a child because when I was nine or ten, I remember the neighborhood kids used to tease me and say my arms looked like and older boy down the street who was very well built. I was always embarrassed about it because I didn't want to look like a boy. My younger sister used to say my shoulders were deformed and I hated how they looked and now I realize it was muscle. Every fall we would have to haul logs and make wood piles for our wood stove and my dad was proud that his girls were good heavy workers while his friend's boys were lazy.
"I lifted on and off for a few years, but now have been training consistently for five years. I have seen major changes in my body and I'm a lot stronger and healthier than I used to be. When I'm out, people comment on the development of my shoulders and arms mostly. My back is muscular and I am working on the lack of width. My legs have been slow to respond but I've been training them harder this last year and they're coming along.
"I'm not overly strong but my body responds well to weight training and I have gained strength and size. I've made a lot of progress and I would say its mostly hard work. If I am not consistent with weight training, cardio and diet, I gain weight like everyone else. I am very dedicated and rarely miss workouts. I suppose I have decent genes too."
On her motivation to compete: "Weight training makes me feel strong and more confident. I feel respected by other members of my gym and I know my hard work shows. I love the incredible transformation your body goes through when preparing for a competition and I love watching other competitors at shows, there are so many different body types, all with their own strengths. There is so much energy at bodybuilding/fitness/figure shows."
On being competitive: "I am not hardcore competitive, but I must be somewhat competitive to have the drive to compete. I don't want the competitive aspect of the sport to consume me however; it is just something I want to enjoy. I take pride in my accomplishments and hope that my hard work pays off."
On the reactions she gets to her physique: "I usually wear t-shirts or sweaters and people think I'm tiny, so when people see me in a tank top or something more revealing they are usually surprised. When I was training for my last competition, the guys at my gym were always telling me I was ripped and some guys ask me for tips which is very cool being a girl helping out guys! Sometimes older ladies look at me a little funny, like it's freakish or something and I've had some girls tell me that I shouldn't get bigger and I'm not even big YET!!"
On her proudest accomplisment(s): "First, I am very proud that I achieved the leanness and conditioning that I did to compete. I always wanted to see how close I could come to competition shape and I exceeded any expectations I ever had. I was very proud to come home with trophies. It also felt like an accomplishment when Rick Oliver, the HerBiceps photographer approached me at a friend's show before I was even dieting and asked to take my picture. I didn't think my physique was really noticeable and that gave me more confidence to compete."
Competition History: "I've only competed once to date at a level one show entering short class figure where I placed 3rd and lightweight bodybuilding in the same show where I placed 2nd. I am currently training for a level two show for the lightweight bodybuilding division."
Future Goals: "I plan to continue training and staying in shape; I can't imagine my life without training. After this next show, I plan to take a break and just enjoy training for myself and possibly do more figure shows sometime in the future."