*COVER STORY*
DANIELLE PELA
NEW IPL OPEN & MASTERS FIGURE PRO
Securing dual 1st place finishes and earning her coveted IPL Pro Cards in both Figure Open and Masters 40+ at the April 2024 9th Annual IPL Arizona Championship, Danielle Pela’s journey is nothing short of Amazing and inspirational. Overcoming initial doubts about her muscle mass, she embraced the challenge with determination, propelled by a commitment to excellence and a profound love for fitness. Her victories weren’t just about physical achievement, but also a testament to personal growth and resilience. As she reflects on her remarkable ascent in this exclusive GAINZ interview, Danielle shares the highs, the challenges, and the transformative power of pursuing one’s dreams.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN YOSEF
Congratulations on your incredible achievements at the IPL Arizona Championship! How did it feel to not only win 1st place in both Figure Open and Masters 40+, but also earn your Pro Cards in those classes?
It felt absolutely amazing! I had been dreaming about competing in the Figure division since 2022. The only factor stopping me was that I didn’t feel I had enough muscle mass to be competitive. This year, I finally just said, you know what, just go for it and see what happens! It took several seasons for me to earn 1st and my Pro Card in Bikini, so I knew this division wasn’t going to be easy. I went into this show with a mindset of just bringing the best that I can, and not forgetting…first and foremost…To Have Fun! To win 1st and earn my Pro Cards on my first time competing in Figure…it was truly a dream come true!
Can you share with us what was going through your mind when you realized you had achieved such a significant milestone in your career?
When the judges called out 4th place, then 3rd place, and finally 2nd place and my number hadn’t been called yet, my eyes welled up with tears of shock, gratefulness and joy! I could hardly believe I had won! I actually really frickin’ did it!
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MY EYES WELLED UP WITH TEARS OF SHOCK, GRATEFULNESS, AND JOY! I COULD HARDLY BELIEVE I HAD WON! I ACTUALLY REALLY FRICKIN' DID IT!
Competing since 2019, you’ve had quite a journey with the IPL. How has your approach to training and competition evolved over the years, especially leading up to this major win?
My training and competition prep has evolved over the years by developing a certain level of consistency I can feasibly maintain as well as giving myself some grace. I know that I don’t have to be perfect all the time, but I must be consistent and patient when I want to see results. Throughout my fitness journey, I have learned that there is no magic pill, potion, or powder that’s going to magically transform me. I must put in the work, but I must also be kind to myself and not forget about how far I’ve come! I honestly love working out! I consider the gym my “Happy Place” and I wouldn’t be who I am today as a mother, wife, and mortgage professional without my gym time and CrossFIt community.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your preparation for this competition?
Hands down the posing for Figure! It was so much harder than it looked as compared to Bikini, or any other division I have competed in. But I was determined to get the posing down and I had a wonderful coach to help me look my best on stage. The other challenge I faced was getting down to stage weight. This show ended up being the heaviest I’ve weighed, and that was difficult on me mentally. I had to accept that the number on the scale isn’t the only measure to go by. I had to rely more heavily on other measurements and focus more on how I looked in the mirror and what I was wanting to achieve on stage rather than on an arbitrary number on a scale.
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IT WAS SO MUCH HARDER THAN IT LOOKED AS COMPARED TO BIKINI, OR ANY OTHER DIVISION I HAVE COMPETED IN. BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO GET THE POSING DOWN…
Women’s Athletic Open also resulted in earning a Pro Card. What adjustments did you have to make in your training and mindset to compete successfully in this division?
I had already adjusted my training for Figure, which for me was to focus more on building my shoulders, lats, glutes and quads. I think those muscle groups were what was lacking for me the last time I competed in Women’s Athletic Open. I felt confident in my gains for the Figure division, so it was kind of a no-brainer for me to go after the Women’s Athletic Open division again.
You mentioned that being on the cover of Natural GAINZ Magazine was a dream of yours. How did you react when you first found out you were featured on the cover, and what does this accomplishment mean to you personally?
When I saw the cover for the first time and saw it was me, I was so excited! I think I ran over to my family and said, “Look! I made it on the cover!” I was thrilled and also honored! Landing the cover meant the world to me because I’ve worked hard these past 5 years competing in the IPL. So, to be recognized on the cover of Natural GAINZ…it felt so good! Like I had just won an award for all my hard work!
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I FELT CONFIDENT IN MY GAINS FOR THE FIGURE DIVISION, SO IT WAS KIND OF A NO-BRAINER FOR ME TO GO AFTER THE WOMEN'S ATHLETIC OPEN DIVISION AGAIN.
What advice would you give to aspiring athletes who look up to your achievements and dream of reaching similar heights in their competition careers?
That’s a good question! I think the best advice I could give is to know that if this is what you want to achieve, you CAN do it! We are our own worst critic and enemy at times. It may be cliche to say this, but honestly and sincerely, developing a strong mindset is key to achieving one’s goals. Without the right mindset, all the other stuff that goes into it…the training, the diet, etc…won’t matter. You must fearlessly believe in yourself and not let anyone (including yourself) try to take that feeling away from you.
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YOU MUST FEARLESSLY BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND NOT LET ANYONE (INCLUDING YOURSELF) TRY TO TAKE THAT FEELING AWAY FROM YOU.
You mentioned the importance of confidence in your journey. How has competing in the IPL helped you build and maintain confidence, both on and off the stage?
Getting up on stage wearing almost nothing in front of your family, friends as well as strangers is a character builder. It’s definitely not easy to do, but once I did it and showed myself I could, I gained confidence in myself and my ability to do hard things. I think that’s what the “competition bug” is about and it’s what keeps me coming back for more!
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future in your competition career? Are there specific competitions or milestones you’re aiming to achieve next?
Winning the Figure division was sort of the pinnacle for me. But having said that, I know I’ll be back. Whether it be to compete as a Pro in Figure, or try out another division, maybe Shape. My next goal is to continue to put on more muscle mass and continue to improve my overall body composition. I think it’s fascinating how we as humans have such power to mold and shape our bodies.
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WINNING THE FIGURE DIVISION WAS SORT OF THE PINNACLE FOR ME. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I KNOW I'LL BE BACK. WHETHER IT BE TO COMPETE AS A PRO IN FIGURE, OR TRY OUT ANOTHER DIVISION…
Any final thoughts for Natural GAINZ Magazine?
I didn’t always believe that we had the power to mold and shape our bodies. Not sure if I ever shared this with you, but I once tipped the scale at over 200 lbs during my first pregnancy with my oldest child. I was also a “big” kid growing up and was constantly made fun of for being overweight. It’s safe to say I had a deep belief that I would always be a bigger person and that being skinny just wasn’t part of my DNA. When I released all the weight (and this was over several years) and began putting on more lean muscle mass (also over several years), I could no longer believe the lie I had told myself for so long. And the moment I realized this was a lie was the first time I stepped on the IPL stage in 2019. As I look back at my former self and where I am today, I am just so grateful to have found a sport and a league like the IPL. It’s been an intregral part of my self improvement journey. GAINZ
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