Trainer, Coach & Fitness Model
www.amberdawnorton.com
By Denise Smith
OST Fitness had the great pleasure
of getting to know a host of talented
individuals who work within the
fitness community. The highly educated, articulate,
physically fierce Amber Dawn Fokken is no
exception. We talked with the fitness model and
personal trainer about all things health and her
uncanny ability to inspire.
Amber is from Wasilla, Alaska but moved to
Oregon when she was seven. She spent 20 years
there and now resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
with her husband, Brandan Fokken.
Her brother Aaron Orton, an NPC Body Builder
and owner of Genuine Fitness, LLC, saw potential
in her and persuaded her to compete after
graduating college. Aaron and Amber have always
had a good relationship. “Without his push and his
seeing potential and believing in me, I would have
never ended up in the position I am now.” He had
a huge impact on the direction Amber’s life would
take, and she will always be incredibly thankful for
his influence and support.
Growing up they had a typical brother-sister
relationship. “Some days we loved each other,
some days we hated each other.” They were
very much alike in the fact that they both played
a variety of team sports, including soccer and
basketball. “I think we were both competitive from
a young age and it made me a tougher female.”
Aaron joined the Marine Corps rright out of high
school, which she believes was a pivotal point for
him. When he was finished with his two tours in
Iraq, he moved in with Amber. “I think his discipline
and passion for health and fitness at that point
definitely impacted me and I am grateful for the
way he rubbed off on me.” MOST Fitness thanks
Aaron for his sacrifice and service in the United
States Marine Corps.
We spoke to Amber about her competitive
nature and where she got her internal fight. Her
parents were always very active in their lives.
Some of her earliest memories are of her mother
working out at the Golds Gym in Alaska. “She
would take us to the daycare center in the gym
and an active lifestyle became the ‘norm’ for us
kids.” Growing up with two older brothers made
Amber more of a tomboy with an interest in
competitive sports from a very young age. “I was
always trying to ‘win’ some type of war with my
brothers, whether it was over who could eat the
most or who could jump the highest.”
Amber can barely remember how she got
involved in pageants, but she thinks someone
along the way mentioned a Hawaiian Tropic
regional pageant that she should enter. “I knew
nothing about pageants, but I had some modeling
experience and figured I would give it a shot.” Her >>>
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