NATURALMAG - New IPL APEX VI Athletic Masters, Evening Gown Masters & Evening Gown Open Pro Lanet Spence
“Every division was tough. I have so much respect for all the competitors who stepped onto the IPL APEX VI stage.”
BEN YOSEF: What an incredible competition season you had last year on the IPL stage, ending with a big bang at APEX VI! First off, how are you feeling about your 2022 IPL contest season?
LANET SPENCE: I’m so jazzed about 2022. I feel like it’s JUST THE BEGINNING for our team. I do not travel or compete alone. I love to bring others along. The coach in me is just as passionate as the competitor in me. I’m grateful for the IPL! So much diversity in the different divisions! It’s challenging and FUN!
BEN: And I am grateful for you and honored to have you and your team in the league and part of the IPL community! So, let’s talk about your Amateur division success at APEX. You snagged wins in Athletic Masters 50+, 40+, earned your Masters Pro Card and the Overall title there. Of course, you had previously earned Pro status earlier in the season for the Open class. And even competed as an Open Pro, where you earned your first IPL Pro title. So, competing in Amateur Masters at APEX…were you just totally comfortable knowing that you had already had such huge success in the division? Did you just know that Masters Pro Card was yours? [laughs] What was it like for you in Amateur Masters Athletic at APEX?
"The gymnast in me loves to be barefoot on stage. I just can’t get enough of that."
LANET: As we prepared for our time on stage at APEX, we had many conversations about how we arrived. We earned it. We knew that we would be on stage with the best of the best in the league. We worked hard so that we could be ready to have a good time, and we were excited to meet all of the others who had worked hard all year long to be in that competition. We really considered it an elite event. Every division was tough. I have so much respect for all the competitors who stepped onto the IPL APEX VI stage.
Someday, when I’m not able to be on stage anymore, I want people to remember me as respectful, helpful and fun. Honestly, most of the time I don’t know who my competition is until I’m standing side stage lined up with them. I am still honored to be part of an incredible group of athletes. Regarding the Athletic Amateur division…the gymnast in me loves to be barefoot on stage. I just can’t get enough of that. I’m grateful that I get to be there.
BEN: And you totally look like a natural on stage in this division! Like it was made for you! In Evening Gown you would earn yet another Pro Qualification. This time in the Open Class. What was it like for you in the Amateur Evening Gown classes? And do you find it challenging at all to transition between the Athletic and Evening Gown divisions? Or is it pretty smooth for you?
"Evening Gown is so beautiful to me. I feel like a princess. To be honest, I had never considered it. I had to be TALKED INTO IT. And guess what? I love it!"
LANET: Evening Gown is so beautiful to me. I feel like a princess. To be honest, I had never considered it. I had to be TALKED INTO IT. And guess what? I love it! The biggest challenge? THE SHOES! [laughs] We practice A LOT! And we watch other Champions!
BEN: AWESOME! I am curious, who talked you into entering the Evening Gown division? And how did that go down? [laughs]
LANET: My best friend and teammate Rhonda is a pageant winner. I made her promise she’d show me how to walk like a girl in heels. Then I still tried to back out at the last minute. [laughs] She said NOPE! Always surround yourself with people who pull you forward. This sport has realty taught me to live life with no regrets.
BEN: Love it! You are absolutely killing it in this division as well! I find it completely fascinating that someone like yourself, who looks so incredibly polished in the division, tried to back out! [laughs] It seems like this division was also made for you! So for the next interview, we talk about your Pro APEX wins!
LANET: Thank you, Ben! I am looking forward to it! NMI
About the interviewer:
Ben Yosef
Ben is the Publisher of NATURALMAG and the President & Founder of the International Physique League.
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