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Raven Riddle – New IPL Masters Fitness Angels Pro

Photography by Ben Yosef

In this inspiring interview, Raven Riddle opens up about her journey to earning her IPL Fitness Angels Masters Pro Card, a remarkable achievement that marks the return of her fitness journey after becoming a mother. Having once chased corporate success and personal dreams in her 20s, Raven’s perspective shifted as she embraced motherhood in her 30s, leading her to rediscover her own identity and set new fitness goals. She shares how this competition, six years after her last stage appearance, was not just about reclaiming her body but about embracing the evolution of herself as both a mother and athlete. With support from her family and a renewed commitment to her health, Raven’s story is one of resilience, dedication, and the power of setting personal goals—no matter your stage in life.

"This competition was more like finding who I am today with this new title of Mother. And also like, 'sheee’s baaaaaack.'" [smiles]

NATURAL BIKINI MAGAZINE: Congratulations on earning your IPL Fitness Angels Masters Pro Card! Can you share what this achievement means to you at this stage in your life?
RAVEN RIDDLE: I’m someone who in my 20s chased up the corporate ladder, achieved incredible professional goals, and accomplished many wild personal dreams. Then having my boys and becoming a mother in my 30s, I realized none of the titles and recognition could even compare to the accomplishment of becoming a mother!
     One thing I was never told or taught was that when you become a mother, you fold into that new title and position and in a way you lose some of your personal identity. My youngest started school this year and I found it to be the perfect time to turn inward and ask myself…what do I like? Who am I? And what goals do I want to set for myself?
     The last time I stepped on stage was on my 30th birthday, so this particular competition meant more to me than any other fitness competition I had done in the past. It was over six years that had been in the gym, and of course my body went through many stages of change as I went through my pregnancies. This competition was more like finding who I am today with this new title of Mother. And also like, “sheee’s baaaaaack.” [smiles]

"The pride I have for myself in accomplishing this last fitness competition doesn’t even compare to the pride that these boys have for me. And that’s enough to make a girl smile!"

NBM: You’ve credited your husband Danny and sons Drake and Dane for their support. How do they inspire you on your fitness journey?
RR: My relationship with my high school sweetheart, Danny and my boys Drake and Dane mean the world to me. As the boys get older, they just seem to get more and more active, which I love. I want to always be a part of that with them. 
     I think setting personal goals in many different areas of our live is an important thing to continuously do. Being a role model for my children so that they know what it looks like to set a goal, do what it takes to achieve it, and celebrate the end! The pride I have for myself in accomplishing this last fitness competition doesn’t even compare to the pride that these boys have for me. And that’s enough to make a girl smile!

"When I started my cut in December, I was 47 pounds heavier than I was when I stepped on stage. I was looking ahead at 2024 knowing that I was turning 40..."

NBM: What motivates you to stay in shape and compete at 40? How has your approach to fitness evolved over the years?
RR: I’ll be the first to admit that I have not had a focus on fitness this past decade. When I started my cut in December, I was 47 pounds heavier than I was when I stepped on stage. I was looking ahead at 2024 knowing that I was turning 40 and the new year was about to start. 
     I was looking at what I wanted to achieve, and I wrote it down. There’s something about a written goal that really motivates me to keep my focus on it! I feel like for this particular show my eating habits were 90% of my success. I was not hard on myself about how often I needed to be in the gym or how much cardio or lifting I needed to do.
NBM: Balancing family and competition can be challenging. What strategies do you use to manage your time effectively?
RR: I had to become an early morning weightlifter. All so I could get home in time to wake the kids and get them ready for school after my workout. On the days I would use my peloton bike it would be after the boys went to bed late into the night. The most important part was making sure my meals were planned, and I had them all pre-made for the day or for a few days out. This way I could grab my lunchbox, freezer pack and my meals for the next several hours and be on the go with the hectic schedule we have. I also am someone who has a hard time getting in my water unless I flavor it, so I found several different BCAA mixes that I liked. I would make sure I premixed them the night before so that I could just grab and go or that would be something that I wouldn’t have in my day.

"...my seven-year-old pointed out, 'How come mommy gets to eat steak every night and we don’t?' That made for a good laugh around the dinner table. And of course, the answer to that is because mommy is a bodybuilder." [smiles]

NBM: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered on your path to becoming an IPL Pro?
RR: Because I am a wife, mother, and business owner I had to get the buy-in of my family so that they would know what they could expect of me, and we could all agree on when I was unavailable and that I would be most likely eating separate meals than them. It was funny the night that my seven-year-old pointed out, “How come mommy gets to eat steak every night and we don’t?” That made for a good laugh around the dinner table. And of course, the answer to that is because mommy is a bodybuilder. [smiles]
NBM: After achieving your Pro Card, what are your immediate goals for the future, both competitively and personally?

"Investing in yourself and in your body especially, will never be a poor way to spend your time and money."

RR: My focus for this show was mostly on dropping the large amount of weight I had been carrying around since my first pregnancy. My upcoming goals before I step on stage in 2025 are to put on more muscle mass in certain areas of my body. Always my main goal is to be a healthy, active human because I want longevity and habits that I can sustain.
NBM: What advice would you give to women, especially those in their 40s, who aspire to compete in fitness competitions or improve their health?
RR: Investing in yourself and in your body especially, will never be a poor way to spend your time and money. We get one life, one body and being able to grow old and still maintain mobility really contributes to the quality of life that we will have in the decades that follow our 40s. Set a goal…write it down…go after it every day (even if it’s just a little)…see yourself achieving it and focus on the fun! NATURAL BIKINI

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