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Cover Story: IPL Pro Bre Wilson

 

 

Stage Lights, Cycling, & Empowering Women 40+

PHOTOS BY BEN YOSEF

When Bre Wilson stepped onto the IPL stage at 49 and claimed her Pro Card, she wasn’t just chasing a title—she was making a declaration. A mother of six, military retiree, and spinal surgery survivor, Bre is living proof that strength doesn’t fade with age—it evolves, deepens, and ignites. Her journey is a masterclass in resilience, redefining femininity, and shattering timelines society places on women over 40. From powering through spinal injections to pedaling 52 miles on a whim, Bre’s story is both raw and radiant—a celebration of discipline, self-belief, and reinvention. In this exclusive SEAM interview, Bre opens up about motherhood, mindset, stage lights, and what it truly means to rise.

“I will be 50 next year. I demonstrated that age is not a deadline, it’s a power source…This win wasn’t the finish line, it was my launchpad.”

SEAM MAGAZINE: Bre, congratulations on your SEAM Magazine cover! Can you take us back to the moment you realized you had won the Evening Gown Masters 40+ class and earned your Pro Card? What was running through your mind?
BRE WILSON: Thank you! I’ll NEVER forget that moment. It was magical. Standing under those stage lights, hearing my name called as the winner of the Evening Gown Masters 40+ class, everything slowed down. It wasn’t just a title, it was the culmination of every early morning, every rep, every moment of self-doubt I pushed through. And then came the words: “Winner and Pro Card.” My heart didn’t just skip, it roared. I will be 50 next year. It wasn’t just winning for me. I demonstrated that age is not a deadline, it’s a power source. In that moment, I knew my purpose had just expanded. This win wasn’t the finish line, it was my launchpad.
SEAM: You’re a mother of six and just stepped onto the IPL stage at 49. What inspires you to continue this journey at a time when most people are winding down?
BRE: Well one reason is, our kids are in their 20’s and 30’s except for the 12-year-old. I need to be vibrant for my future grandkids so I can really enjoy them. Plus, it was only recently that I realized how much fitness is a part of my purpose. I must fit the part so I can encourage others, especially women, to live better and healthier. Lastly, a major inspiration is that I want the aging process to be as less problematic as possible. I want to enjoy life to the fullest and not be held back by physical and mental aliments that are within my control. I also don’t want something that is within my control to be the reason that I am a burden on my children earlier than I should be. I don’t believe that’s fair to them.

"After surgery, I asked my surgeon how long before I could lift again. He looked at me dead in the eye and said, 'You’ll never lift again.'"

"Your 'window' isn’t closed... Wisdom, resilience, and grit don’t come from youth, they come from life experience. That’s your power."

SEAM: Such a powerful story. And so very inspirational. Good for you for pushing through and defying the odds! We will definitely have to go deeper into this part of your story in a future issue of INSPIRE Magazine! Many women hesitate to pursue big goals later in life. What message do you have for those who feel like they’ve “missed their window”?
BRE: When I earned my Pro Card at 49, I thought about every woman over 40 who’s ever been told she’s ‘too late’ to chase something new. That moment proved otherwise. And I want every woman reading this to hear me loud and clear, There. Is. No. Expiration. Date. On Your Dreams.
     Too many women are conditioned to believe that if they haven’t “made it” by 30, 35, or 40, then the door has closed. That’s a lie. Life doesn’t end at 40, it EVOLVES. And so can you. I earned my Pro Card at age 49. I built muscle, battled back from spinal surgery, balanced motherhood, and stepped onto stages I once only dreamed about. Not because it was easy, but because I refused to believe my time had passed.
     Your “window” isn’t closed. You’re just getting started. Wisdom, resilience, and grit don’t come from youth, they come from life experience. That’s your power. So stop waiting for permission and approval. Stop shrinking to fit someone else’s timeline. Whether it’s lifting, launching a business, going back to school, or rewriting your story, DO IT NOW. You haven’t missed your window. You ARE the window. Break it wide open.

"Limitations? I don’t see them. I leverage them."

SEAM: You competed in three divisions at your first IPL show and placed in all of them. How did you prepare mentally and physically for such a demanding debut?
BRE: I didn’t just show up—I showed up with purpose, pain, and power. When I committed to competing in three divisions for my first IPL show, people thought I was crazy.  Especially with a spinal fusion in my medical history. And now since I’m 49, some people like to ask, “You still doing bodybuilding competitions?” But I wasn’t chasing comfort. I was chasing proof, that limitations don’t define you unless you let them.
     Physically, I trained smart, not reckless. Every rep, every rest day, every physical therapy and massage session was intentional. I had to listen to my body, but never let it silence my goals. I adapted, adjusted, and attacked every workout with precision and passion.
     Mentally? I had to armor up. I visualized that stage every single day. I reminded myself that the woman who was told she’d “never lift again” was about to compete in three categories…even if it meant battling through inflammation, injections, and rehab along the way.
     I didn’t walk into that show hoping to win, because being there I was already a winner. And placing in every division wasn’t luck, it was the result of strategy, discipline, and a fire that refused to go out. Limitations? I don’t see them. I leverage them.

“…femininity is not weakness, it’s warrior strength in heels. And when I walk across that stage, I’m not just modeling a gown, I’m modeling fearlessness.”

SEAM: The Evening Gown division celebrates grace, confidence, and stage presence. What does that division represent to you personally?
BRE: To me, the Evening Gown division is where strength meets poise, where every step, every pose, and every smile tells the story of a woman who has fought to stand tall and shine bright. This division isn’t just about the gown, it’s about the journey. It’s about owning the setbacks, the years of being underestimated, and still walking onto that stage like you belong there. Because you do.
     It’s confidence without apology. Presence earned—not given. I LOVE the Evening Gown division. It allows me to show the world that femininity is not weakness, it’s warrior strength in heels. And when I walk across that stage, I’m not just modeling a gown, I’m modeling fearlessness. I retired from the military last year. If you are familiar with the saying, “She can do both.” Some of us military divas use the saying. “Combat boots and high heels.” I think of that with the Evening Gown division.
SEAM: You mention discipline and evolution. How do you keep your motivation strong day to day, especially while balancing motherhood and fitness?

"Discipline isn’t a mood, it’s a mindset. And for me, it’s non-negotiable."

BRE: Discipline isn’t a mood, it’s a mindset. And for me, it’s non-negotiable. I have found I cant rely on motivation to carry me through the grind, because let’s be honest, motivation fades. Kids need you. Life throws curveballs. Your body aches. The clock runs out. But discipline? That’s what shows up when excuses try to speak louder than goals.
     Balancing motherhood and fitness isn’t about perfection, it’s about priority. My kids see me lifting not just weights, but responsibility. They watch me chase goals, and that fuels me every single day. I want them to know that sacrifice and success can happen.
     This isn’t a phase, it’s a lifestyle. I wake up early, I meal prep, I train with intention, not because it’s easy, but because my why is stronger than any obstacle. I stay motivated by remembering who I am, where I came from, and who’s watching me. My evolution isn’t finished. I’m still climbing. Still pushing. Still proving that motherhood doesn’t pause your greatness, it powers it.
SEAM: You’re quite the cycling enthusiast — or do you prefer “biker”? Semantics aside, when did you first fall in love with life on two wheels? And what does that ride do for your soul, your spirit, your sense of self?

"After not being on a bike since I was 15, I had ridden the entire 52 miles from Williamsburg to Richmond. At 46 years old."

BRE: (laughs) I’m not picky. I’m fine with either, but I have to say I prefer cycling enthusiast. I fell in love with life on two wheels nearly three years ago, at age 46. I had a few bikes as a kid, but I hadn’t been on a bike since I was 15. Even in the gym, I rarely chose the bike for cardio.
     One day at work, one of the executives — an avid and former competitive cyclist — invited a few people out for a ride on a 52-mile bike trail. I didn’t even own a bike at the time, but I signed up anyway. A few days before the ride, I went to a sporting goods store, picked out a bike, and took a quick ride down my street to make sure it felt right. That was it — I was in.
      We all met at the end of the trail in Richmond, VA, loaded the bikes into a van, and drove 52 miles to the beginning of the trail in Williamsburg. There was no pressure to finish the full distance; we were free to ride as far as we wanted, with several planned stops along the way, including lunch.
     In my head, I thought, I’ll do 10 miles. But after 10, I said, Let’s try 20. After that, I just played it by ear. And before I knew it, I saw a sign that said 51 miles. After not being on a bike since I was 15, I had ridden the entire 52 miles from Williamsburg to Richmond. At 46 years old.

"...distance cycling gives me solitude — time to reflect, reconnect, and recharge. I decompress. I come back feeling better, physically and mentally."

     Ever since then, cycling has become a regular part of my fitness plan. I go out for about 12 to 15 miles, twice a week. Unlike when I’m in the gym, distance cycling gives me solitude — time to reflect, reconnect, and recharge. I decompress. I come back feeling better, physically and mentally.
     I recently bought a GoPro for my helmet to capture footage of my rides and anything interesting I come across. And honestly, if for some reason I can’t lift or compete in the future, I pray I can still bike. I love it almost as much as bodybuilding. Bodybuilding is a 10. Cycling is a solid 9.6.
SEAM: Bre, that’s not just fitness — that’s freedom with handlebars. The way you describe that first ride — spontaneous, bold — it feels like a metaphor for your whole approach to life. You didn’t just get back on the bike… you reclaimed a piece of yourself. And now, with a GoPro on your helmet and grit in your heart, you’re not just riding — you’re writing your story, one mile at a time.
     What does landing the cover of SEAM Magazine mean to you, especially as a representation of women rising in their 40s and beyond?
BRE: Landing the cover of SEAM Magazine is so much more than a photo, it’s a statement. A bold, unapologetic declaration that women in their 40s and beyond are not fading, they’re rising. This cover isn’t just about me. It’s for every woman who was told she was “too old,” “too late,” or “past her prime.” Wrong. We are just getting started.

"I’m just getting started—and I’m bringing a tribe of unstoppable women with me."

     It represents power, possibility, and proof. Proof that your dreams don’t expire when you hit 40. Proof that beauty, strength, and ambition don’t have a time limit. Proof that evolution is constant, and reinvention is always an option. Being on this cover is my loud, fierce answer to the world: You cannot box in women who were born to break limits. This isn’t the end of the story—it’s the spark. And I hope every woman who sees it feels a fire light up inside her that says, “If she can do it, so can I.”‘
SEAM: Looking forward, what are your next goals as a new IPL Pro—and how do you plan to continue inspiring other women through your journey?
BRE: Becoming an IPL Pro was never the finish line—it was the launch pad. Now, I’m aiming even higher. Next? I’m coming for that pro stage domination, not just to compete, but to excel. I’m focused on building a physique that speaks for itself, sharpening my posing, leveling up my mindset, and representing women over 40 with fire and fearlessness.
     But my goals go beyond trophies. I’m here to shake the narrative. To show women that strength has no age limit, and that transformation is possible at any stage of life. I want to have an online presence to encourage other women to be healthy and thrive in this phase of life. I am planning speaking engagements, online early am workouts, mentoring. I want every woman watching to feel this in her bones: You are not behind. You are not done. And you are not too old to rise. I didn’t get this far to play small. I’m just getting started—and I’m bringing a tribe of unstoppable women with me. SEAM

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