Bikini Champion Samantha England

Interview & Photography by Ben Yosef

IPL newcomer Samantha England was a breakout Bikini Star at the June 2023 IPL Maryland State Championship in Havre de grace.

Frist, Bikini Mommas. The IPL’s Bikini Mommas division is an exciting and inspirational division. These are Mothers who also happen to be Bikini Competitors. The league offers three classes within the division: 0 to 1 (has at least one child 1 year-old or younger). 1 to 3 (has at least one child between the ages of 1 and 3). And 3 to 5 (has at least one child between the ages of 3 and 5). At the Maryland State Championship ALL THREE classes were represented.

The 1st place medal in the 1 to 3 class went to Samantha England! AND she took the Overall title! Then it was on to the Bikini Novice Class. Bikini Novice was stacked in Maryland. Novice delivered two classes, and the Class A winner was Samantha.

Samantha’s placements up to this point in the show:

2nd Bikini Model Open.
1st & Pro Card Swimsuit Model Open.
1st Bikini Mommas 1 to 3 & Overall Bikini Mommas.
1st Bikini Novice Class A.

"It's also given me the opportunity to help others compete. Which I enjoy so much! When I first started with the IPL, I had no idea that I would be where I am today."

BEN YOSEF: Okay, here we go! Congratulations on all of your success since first hitting the IPL stage in June! What a meteoric rise through this league! Your ears must be absolutely ringing! And we are only halfway done with all of these magazine features. First, how would you describe your IPL experience so far? And what is it like getting all of this magazine and media attention?

SAMANTHA ENGLAND: Thank you so much! My experience with the IPL has been different than any other organization. The way that IPL celebrates ALL of their athletes is really something that continues to amaze me! Working with the league has kept me inspired, excited, and involved in a sport that I love.

The attention and magazines have been amazing. It’s helped me so much, meeting people. It’s also given me the opportunity to help others compete. Which I enjoy so much! When I first started with the IPL, I had no idea that I would be where I am today.

"Yes, I was very busy in Maryland at the show...I was changing from one bikini to the next as fast as I possibly could..."

BEN: It’s all so very well deserved! And it is an honor to have you in the league and in the IPL community. You are such a great addition! One of the reasons for so much media coverage is that you were one of the busiest athletes at the Maryland contest! And not just that, you did so well in so many divisions also! Including earning your Pro Qualification in Swimsuit Model.

You were so active at that contest that we have to spread out all the media coverage, articles, and interviews across all the different magazines! [laughs] So, for this issue of Natural Bikini we are just talking about your success in the Bikini Division, starting with Bikini Mommas.

In Bikini Mommas you competed in the “1 to 3” class. Because you have a child that is between 1 and 3 years old. Sooo… a few things! Happy birthday to you! As this interview is happening you turned 24 years old just yesterday! So this also makes you a young mother! I think many people would be surprised to learn that you actually have a child. What is it like for you being a young mom? What does competing in the IPL Bikini Mommas division mean for you? And what was it like winning, not only Bikini Mommas 1 to 3, but also Overall Bikini Mommas in Maryland?

"Being a young mom is definitely challenging, but I know at any age being a mom is challenging."

SAMANTHA: Thank you again! I feel honored to be here as well! Yes, I was very busy in Maryland at the show. It was a long day, but so much fun. I was changing from one bikini to the next as fast as I possibly could before the next class started! I’ve enjoyed all of the media coverage, articles, and interviews! Thank you again! I did just turn 24, Thank you!

Yes, a lot of people do find it surprising that I have a little boy. Being a young mom is definitely challenging, but I know at any age being a mom is challenging. I was just blessed to have found my purpose while I was young. It’s definitely not always easy. Multitasking, taking care of myself and training, while also being present in the moment…sometimes it’s hard to find a balance. But, incorporating my son into going on walks with me or him attempting to do “squats” while I workout always makes it more fun!

BEN: Next in Maryland within the Bikini division was the Novice class. That was a pretty stacked lineup, with a lot of very talented and competitive athletes. You would end up in class A, placing 1^st there. Then you would go on to compete for the Overall title. Samantha Harris would win the Overall, but you were super competitive there! That literally could have gone either way. What was it like for you in Bikini Novice Class A? Were you feeling confident in that class? What was it like for you to ultimately win the class? And what was it like for you heading into the Overall? For the Overall, is that a situation where you just sort of say, “whatever happens happens”, or do you go in aiming to win?

"I definitely always do my best in aiming to win. But at that point, the prepping is done, and there's not much you can do but perform your best."

SAMANTHA: I definitely always do my best in aiming to win. But at that point, the prepping is done, and there’s not much you can do but perform your best. And I tend to do better at posing and my routine when I try not to stress or let my nerves get in the way. You work really hard for this day, so I try to enjoy every moment and really have fun up there. I think when competing, judges can tell when you’re having fun rather than just going through the motions. I felt really confident through the whole show. I learned a lot and met a lot of awesome people. Doing the pose off for the Overall title definitely was a blast. And it being such a close call was honestly really fun for me. I was dancing backstage with the expeditors and didn’t even realize I was about to have a pose off! [laughs] So I guess you could say I wasn’t stressing too much. For me, competing is done during prep and show day is the day to have fun with it and enjoy the lean look you worked hard for!

BEN: Your final Bikini class in Maryland was the Open. Another super tough division! You landed in class B this time and ended up taking 3rd. How were you feeling heading into the Open? And what was it like up there in that class? And when the dust settled, how were you feeling about your 3rd place finish? Also, in Bikini open you switched your suit. What was the strategy behind the suit change? Did you just want to mix it up a little bit or did you feel like that was your power suit? [laughs]

"As much as I'd like to say the suit change was a thought out power move, it was definitely just a last moment decision."

SAMANTHA: I think heading into Open, I felt pretty good. I felt like having so much time on stage really helped with all of my nervous jitters. In that class, I could tell I was up against tough competition. I remember the judges moving us around over and over! And after the dust settled, I was happy with my placing.

I feel like not placing as well as you hope only gives you more motivation and discipline to get better. As much as I’d like to say the suit change was a thought out power move, it was definitely just a last moment decision. It was new, and I wanted to use all of my suits in that show! [laughs]

BEN: Love it. Well, once again, the biggest congratulations to you! And since the Maryland show you have become such a big part of this league. Serving as a certified IPL Judge, Covergirl for Natural GAINZ Magazine and now promoting the 2024 Virginia Championship next spring! We are so honored to have you as such a significant part of this organization. We appreciate you! Finally, what can we expect from the Virginia Championship contest next year?

SAMANTHA: Thank you so much! I truly appreciate all of the opportunities and I am so grateful to this league for letting me be such a part of it. I’m so excited for IPL Virginia! It’s going to be an awesome show! I want to give competitors a show where they can be celebrated for their hard work. With supportive, friendly competition that challenges competitors to push themselves to the next level. It will be a fun, well planned out show that competitors will not only remember, but will come back to in the future! I can’t wait to release the date and see which competitors plan to walk the IPL Virginia stage! BIKINI

About the interviewer:

Ben Yosef

Ben is the Publisher of Natural Bikini Magazine and the President & Founder of the International Physique League.

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