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New IPL Bikini Pro, Gaby Marquez

“…when the judges didn’t call my name for 2nd, I was shocked. Then I was overflowed with happiness. So much that I cried tears of joy. I had earned my Pro Card!”

Gaby Marquez was another one of the busiest and most successful athletes at the 2020 1ST Annual IPL New Year’s Classic Pro/Am in Burbank California on January 18th.

In Burbank she would compete in five different divisions, kicking things off with Bikini Open. Bikini Open was a stacked class with plenty of talent, but there could be only one winner. And that was Gaby Marquez. Gaby would take 1st place in Bikini Open, earning her IPL Pro Card in the process. Off to a great start with four more divisions to go!

Next was Pro Fitness Angels, where she would make her Pro Debut, placing 3rd. Then Theme Wear (see page 22 in this issue) where she placed 1st in a stacked class. Then it was on to Sports Model Open where she would land in 2nd place. And finally Evening Gown Open for another 1st place spot and IPL Pro Card Number two!

BEN YOSEF: Big congrats on your showing at the New Year’s Classic! Wow, you were incredible! Quite a few months have passed now since that contest. Has all the excitement worn off yet?

GABY MARQUEZ: Thank you! It was a tough competition! Yes, a few months have gone by! I definitely am still excited and still somehow can’t believe it! –laughs-

BEN: Your first class was Bikini Open, where you took 1st place and won your Pro Card. How were you feeling in that tough lineup? And what was it like being announced as the 1st place winner?

GABY: At first, I was feeling quite nervous right before coming on stage. It was a tough lineup, full of amazing women. I had to remind myself to calm down and just go out there and do my best. Once I stepped on stage, it quickly went away and the excitement took over. I focused on what I had to do. It was just me and the judges.

Being announced as the 1st place winner was an overwhelming feeling. Just three weeks before, I had thoughts of giving up. I didn’t feel ready and didn’t think I would make it. So, when the judges didn’t call my name for 2nd, I was shocked. Then I was overflowed with happiness. So much that I cried tears of joy. I had earned my Pro Card!

BEN: Well, I am glad you did not give up! In your first IPL contest in 2019 you placed 1st in Bikini Novice. And you did not enter the Open at that show. Several months later in the year you returned to the IPL stage for the SoCal Pro/Am. At this contest you competed in Bikini Open Class A where you placed 3rd. Why did you not compete in the Open in your first show? Why did you not return to Novice for your second show? Is it because you had placed 1st in the past and felt that you needed to move beyond Novice? Also, what did that 3rd place finish do for you at the SoCal Pro/Am, in terms of looking toward the future?

GABY: I didn’t compete in the Open at my first show because I was new to the competition world and I wanted to get the feel of it first. And it was also somewhat intimidating. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. That’s right, I didn’t compete in Novice my second show because I wanted to give it a go and compete in Open where I knew it would be a tougher competition. And when I won 3rd, I was very happy about it. The 1st and 2nd place winners were definitely up there. Winning 3rd inspired me to work harder! I was getting closer to 1st and I knew I had to get there!

I’m super excited to get back on stage because I feel that I have been away so long. But also nervous because now I’ll be on stage with other pros, where the competition is top notch!

BEN: Awesome! And yes! You definitely got there! Of course at the New Year’s Classic you also had your Pro Fitness Angels debut, placing 3rd. You placed 1st in Theme Wear, 2nd in Sports Model Open and 1st in Evening Gown Open, earning your Evening Gown Pro Card. What a great show for you! Now you are set to return to the stage next month at the SoCal Pro/Am. How are you feeling as you prepare for that show, four weeks away?

GABY: Thank you! It was a busy show for me. And to be honest, a little stressful! It was super fun, but having so many costume changes and having to be ready on time, it made me sweat a little. –laughs- But I loved it! I’m super excited to get back on stage because I feel that I have been away so long. But also nervous because now I’ll be on stage with other Pros, where the competition is top notch!

BEN: -laughs- Yes! Well, congratulations again on all the success that you have had so far on the IPL stage. You are definitely an exciting competitor. And I’m excited to see what you bring to the stage next month! Any final thoughts?

GABY: Thank you! That means a lot! Can’t wait to get back on that stage again! And thank you for planning and putting on such great shows! I’m glad that the IPL was my first league to compete in. With all the different categories. It creates such a fun atmosphere. It lets you not only show all the hard work you’ve put in, but also lets you be creative. It makes you come back for more!

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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