When I heard my number continually being called I knew that it was going to be a very close competition and that I was doing well. As the crown was being placed on my head, I was partially stunned and extremely overjoyed! My main goal was to do my best, and I was already proud of myself for not holding anything back in my prep. All of the rewards magnified the positive experience I was already having! I couldn’t have asked for it to go any smoother than it turned out!

BEN: So awesome! And yes, you ended up taking the class in 40+ as well as winning the Overall for Bikini Masters. What a day! With the type of physique you bring to the Bikini stage…what would you tell girls who may be afraid of putting on too much muscle for Bikini?

JENNIFER: Thank you, Ben, for all of your acknowledgements! Your question makes me think about the wiggle room that exists in the space between each division’s specific criteria and the subjective elements that enter in. Some of these include the personal style preferences of the judges and the variety that each set of competitors brings to each show.

     It was a risk entering the Bikini category with a look that was more defined than soft. However, because it was my first time competing, I honestly wasn’t sure how to address flattening my abs without leaning out as much as I did. I had to also consider how small my frame is and whether it would transfer suitably to the Figure category. In this competitive level of bodybuilding, it is important to have a mindset that leaves room for growth and improvement. Training to put on muscle requires a lot of effort and is not something that can happen accidentally. It requires a very dialed-in diet and a meticulous program design. Therefore, any woman doing all of this work should enjoy the process too.

     A woman prepping for a competition should begin by choosing a category that supports her goal. My goal was to pack on muscle evenly and to have flat abs. I realized, when entering into the Bikini category, that I might lose points for being too cut. But that is the look I personally prefer. And by choosing it, I could present with passion! So rather than playing it safe, I chose to put my best foot forward despite the unknown. This led to success! Having a goal and risking something new, but not achieving it the first time, always means that there is an opportunity to learn more! Playing it safe may lead to stagnation. But the worst is to entirely give up.

     When trying something new and challenging, as I did in the Bikini competition, it is good to see it all as a learning experience. This was especially true for me when tackling unfamiliar details, such as fine-tuning my salt intake. It was a lot of work, but when viewed as a learning experience, it enhanced my enjoyment of the whole process.

     The focus of these competitions goes beyond muscular definition and symmetry. My best piece of advice to any future female competitor is to know the sport and focus on nailing all of the rounds!

BEN: Well said and so insightful. Thank you for sharing that. I do have to clarify something though. In the IPL there’s no such thing as being too ripped or too cut in the Bikini division, or any division for that matter. It all comes down to presentation. If a Bikini competitor is shredded, like you were, that’s not a bad thing. As long as you’re presenting appropriately for the division, you’re good to go.

     Do you think you will ever compete in other divisions like Figure or Women’s Athletic for instance? And lastly what is next for you and when will we see you hit that IPL Pro stage?