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La’net Spence – Bikini Model Pro Masters Champion

Photography by Ben Yosef

At 55 years young, La’net Spence continues to prove that longevity and high-level competition can go hand in hand. Already an IPL Bikini Model Masters Pro when she arrived at APEX IX, La’net added another Pro title to her résumé before stepping into the Amateur Open class, taking the win and earning her Open Pro Card at the same event. It was another statement performance in a career that has stretched across Bikini Model, Athletic, Evening Gown, and beyond. But behind the titles, Pro Cards, and years of success is a competitor still driven by the same fundamentals: consistency, discipline, confidence, and a willingness to keep stepping outside her comfort zone.

"Earning my Open Pro Card at age 55 was an exclamation point on the power of consistency."

Natural Bikini Magazine: Hi La’net! You came into IPL APEX IX already as a Bikini Model Masters Pro, earned a Pro title for the class, then turned right around and earned your Open Bikini Model Pro Card. What did accomplishing both of those milestones at the same event mean to you?
LA’NET SPENCE: Earning my Open Pro Card at age 55 was an exclamation point on the power of consistency. Coming into IPL APEX IX already as a Bikini Model Masters Pro and then earning my Open Bikini Model Pro Card at the same event made all the early mornings, disciplined choices, and years of showing up feel incredibly worthwhile.
     Most days I feel good because fitness is part of my lifestyle. During prep, though, I feel great. There is something empowering about having a goal that challenges every part of you.
 
     The competition is fierce in every category, and I’d be lying if I said the fear isn’t real. Standing beside younger athletes who have youth on their side can be intimidating. I’ve learned that consistency, discipline, and experience bring strengths that age can’t take away.
     Every time I step on stage, I consider it an honor. Winning another pro title was exciting. The greatest victory is proving to myself, and to others, that it’s never too late to pursue excellence. Age doesn’t define your potential. Consistency does.
Natural Bikini: At 55 years young, you’re continuing to win at the highest level. What keeps you motivated to keep improving?
LA’NET: Working out creates a feeling in me that’s hard to match. The endorphins, the discipline, and the sense of accomplishment fuel every part of my life. Starting my day with a workout clears my mind, strengthens my body, lifts my mood, and sets the tone for everything that follows. I actually struggle on rest days because both my mind and body crave movement.
     Age has never been a limiting factor for me. It’s simply a number. What matters is how you take care of yourself and how consistently you’re willing to show up.
     I’m also inspired by the incredible athletes in the Masters divisions. There are more talented, dedicated competitors than ever before, and they continue to raise the bar. Instead of seeing that as intimidating, I see it as motivation. They remind me that our best years don’t have to be behind us. We can continue to grow, improve, and compete at a high level at any age.

"...if you want to keep growing, you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone. Bikini Model was definitely uncomfortable for me at first..."

Natural Bikini: You bring a little more muscle to the Bikini Model division than we typically see, yet you consistently find yourself in the winner’s circle. How have you learned to balance your physique, posing, and presentation to fit the division so successfully?
LA’NET: Experience has been my greatest teacher. I’ve learned that if you want to keep growing, you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone. Bikini Model was definitely uncomfortable for me at first because it required a different mindset than some of the other divisions.
     There are subtle but important differences in training and prep. It’s about finding the balance between symmetry, muscle tone, femininity, and overall presentation. You have to know when to push for more muscle and when to refine what you already have. In Bikini Model, you’re not relying on flexing poses to showcase your physique. Instead, every movement has to highlight your shape naturally and confidently.
     That balance comes through practice, and lots of it. If you asked the athletes I coach, they’d probably tell you I’m easygoing… until it comes to posing. That’s one area where I’m unapologetically disciplined. We practice posing year-round, no exceptions. I truly believe posing is one of the most overlooked skills in bodybuilding, and Bikini Model is one of the most challenging divisions to master because every detail matters. The presentation has to look effortless, even though it’s the result of countless hours of work.
Natural Bikini: In your opinion, what separates a good Bikini Model competitor from a great Bikini Model champion?
LA’NET: Confidence, it’s built, not borrowed. Once you make the commitment and practice consistently, confidence starts to grow. It’s the repetition of the basics, over and over, that creates a strong stage presence.
     Then comes the hard part… staying your course. When you step backstage and see everyone else, it’s easy to start comparing. Don’t. Trust your preparation. Trust your process. Bring your best package. Because competing is harder than it looks, and confidence is often the difference between looking prepared… and looking unforgettable.

"Whether it’s Masters or Open, I show up ready to perform, bringing my best package. My focus is always the same...".

Natural Bikini: Having now earned both your Masters and Open Bikini Model Pro Cards, do you approach those two classes any differently, or is your mindset exactly the same every time you step on stage?
LA’NET: Whether it’s Masters or Open, I show up ready to perform, bringing my best package. My focus is always the same: step out there fully committed, fully confident, and deliver the most polished, powerful version of myself for that moment and that division. At the end of the day, it’s not about the category—it’s about execution.
 

"Every division has taught me something different, and together they’ve made me a stronger Bikini Model competitor."

Natural Bikini: What is it about the Bikini Model division that you enjoy most?
LA’NET: Choosing the suits! [laughs] I probably go a little overboard buying options so I can find the perfect one. It’s part of the fun. What I love most, though, is that this division pushed me completely outside my comfort zone. The posing style and level of conditioning were so different from anything I’d done before, or at least that’s what I thought going in.
     One night I was thinking about how often I encourage other women to step outside their comfort zones. It hit me that I shouldn’t ask others to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself. So I took the leap. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. I absolutely love it, and it’s reminded me that growth always begins just beyond the edge of what’s comfortable.
Natural Bikini: Your success on the IPL stage spans Bikini Model, Athletic, and Evening Gown…three divisions that demand very different qualities. Has competing in those other divisions helped make you a better Bikini Model competitor?
LA’NET: Absolutely—competing across multiple divisions has directly elevated my Bikini Model performance by keeping me challenged, adaptable, and constantly evolving. It keeps my body adapting because this sport requires consistent, intentional changes to training, nutrition, and conditioning.
     I also think earning the Women’s Bodybuilding Pro Card in Fairbanks played a role. The choreography is another influence. It’s challenging, creative, and so much fun. This brings out the gymnast in me and reminds me not to take myself too seriously. Every division has taught me something different, and together they’ve made me a stronger Bikini Model competitor.
Natural Bikini: What advice would you give someone who has the physique but still struggles to project confidence and personality on stage?
LA’NET: If someone has the physique but struggles to project confidence and personality on stage, my biggest advice is to commit fully to the decision you’ve made. Once you decide, practice consistently—because repetition is what builds real confidence over time. Confidence isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you create through preparation and daily effort.
          I also strongly recommend having a coach and a supportive team and tribe around you. It’s not only fun, but it helps you grow in every area of life. You may think you’re just preparing for a competition, but you often end up improving spiritually, in your relationships, friendships, and even your career. It’s truly transformative.

"Today, what motivates me isn’t a trophy or a placing. It’s feeling my absolute best for the rest of my life."

Natural Bikini: You’ve been competing long enough to see the sport evolve while continuing to stay at the top. What have you learned about longevity that has allowed you to remain so competitive year after year?
LA’NET: It’s become so clear to me that anything worth achieving gets better with time. Consistency is what creates lasting results. Learning when to push hard and when to rest, listening to your body, and allowing your training to evolve as you age are all part of the process.
     One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to trust my coaches, follow people who have walked this path before me, and stay open to learning every single day. Be a student of the sport. Growth never stops. And as you grow, reach back and help someone else. That’s what truly drives me.
Natural Bikini: You’ve already built one of the most decorated careers in the IPL. What goals still motivate you?
LA’NET: Before I ever stepped on a bodybuilding stage, I was sitting around a campfire with a glass of wine in one hand and the bottle beside me. My friends, Autumn and Jeff, looked at me and said, “You should try bodybuilding. There’s a show in August. Let’s go see it and find out if you like it.” That was in 2010.
     I competed in my first show in the spring of 2011, and it changed the trajectory of my life. Today, what motivates me isn’t a trophy or a placing. It’s feeling my absolute best for the rest of my life. When I’m in shape, everything works better, from my brain to my toenails. I have more energy, more confidence, and more joy in the everyday moments. High on endorphins, no more drinking, ever.
     This isn’t just a season for me. It’s a lifestyle, and I’m in it for the long run. I’m hooked. See you in 2027. BIKINI

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