Hi Sylvea , congratulations on your win at the NPAA BC Championship , placing 2nd in Bikini and winning the first ever Magnum Carne Diem Model .
Tell us a little about yourself , and how did you get here . Thank you very much . Well , I grew up dancing . Ballet was my main focus for 19 years . I had an ankle injury , which was the reason I had to stop . I wanted to find a way to stay active and to create a more positive body image . With the many years of dance came some unhealthy habits to be able to look a certain way . I am now a personal trainer , focusing on helping other women create a healthy , self loving , positive body image and lifestyle- it ’ s really all bout balance for me .
What are your passions besides training ? My number one passion is helping others reach their goals , be that health , fitness or life orientated . I think it ’ s so important to have something to work towards and to be dedicated to .
What is a typical day like for you ? A typical day for me is a long day ! Generally I ’ m up at 6 to get my workout in before I start with clients for the day . I typically work until 8 . My days are busy , but I would have it any other way ! Once I ’ m done I like to have some down time before getting my meals organized for the next day .
At what point in time did you make the decision to become a bikini competitor ? I decided to do my first competition 3 years ago because I wanted something to focus on that was just for me . I always but others goals and needs before myself , which is great , but I also think it ’ s important to do some things for yourself . This was a good way for me to stay dedicated to making time for myself , and to get into the best shape of my life . It has also turned out to be a great learning experience for me . It ’ s amazing to see how you can manipulate your body into changing .
What made you compete in NPAA ? I wanted to compete with NPAA because I wanted to try a natural show . I also loved the idea of the “ T ” walk aspect , and how each competitor really gets his / her time to shine on stage . We all put in so much work and dedication to get ready for a show and I think it ’ s so great to be able to show off our hard work !
What was the biggest challenge you faced in your journey to the stage ? My biggest challenge with prep was keeping a good balance between my personal life , work and prep . Prep really takes the top spot in terms of priorities . Making time to prep food , get all my workouts in and still have time to enjoy life can be a challenge . I truly love what I do though , so it was totally worth it for me .
What was the highlight of the show for you ? The highlight of the show for me was winning the first ever Magnum carne diem model search photoshoot ! I also loved how friendly everyone was right from the get go . Wendy , Kevin and all of the backstage helpers really did an amazing job of making every athlete feel welcomed and like a part of the NPAA family .
Who was the most influential person in your life ? The most influential person during my prep was my coach and best friend , Brenley Cunnigham . She kept me accountable and feeling good throughout my entire prep . She has always been my biggest cheerleader and I am so thankful to have such a positive person in my corner !
What was your favorite body part to train ? Definitely my shoulders and glutes . My shoulders have always been small so I enjoy building them , and which girl doesn ’ t want a toned rear ?
Any tips to give to people who want to start getting fit ? My biggest tips for anyone who wants to get fit are : 1 . Drink lots of water , hydration is key . 2 . Give it time , nothing happens over night . If it ’ s worth having you ’ ll work hard to get it ! 3 . Hire a personal trainer to make sure your form is good to avoid injury . 4 . Most importantly , believe in yourself . If you don ’ t think you can then you won ’ t , so stay positive and remind yourself that you can do it and you are more than half way there !
Who is your fitness inspiration ? Ashley Kaltwasser . Her dedication to this sport is so admirable . I like to look through her Instagram photos when I need some extra motivation .
You also received The Bam studio Award and got the opportunity to shoot with Ali Sohrab . How was it like working with Him ? Working with Ali was amazing . He made me feel comfortable in front of the camera right away . We had a lot of fun creating great pictures ! He gave me great direction during our photoshoot . Ali is very creative and had lots of different ideas for photos . I can ’ t wait to work with him again in the future !
Do you have anything to share with people out there ? Thanks for the interview . I have not much to say except the fact that life is a gift ; just do what you love , love what you do . Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable !”
What ’ s the next step for you ? My next step is to keep conditioning my body and to build my arms- it ’ s an ongoing thing !
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