VIGOROUS Magazine Cover Story - IPL Bikini Pro & "The Real IPL" Star Alex Hackett - Natural Bodybuilding Competitions

Cover Story – IPL Bikini Pro & "The Real IPL" Reality Series Star Alex Hackett

“…’The Real IPL’ was way more fun and easier than I expected! Watching the episodes was the best part, seeing it all come together.”

Images captured on Sunday, August 13th, the day after Alex competed in the 2023 8th Annual IPL Southwest Grand Prix in Phoenix, Arizona. The Grand Prix was Alex’s return to the stage after a 1-year absence. At the Grand Prix, she placed 4th in Pro Open Bikini.

This marks Alex’s second magazine cover since competing in the IPL. Her first was SEAM Magazine’s Winter 2022/2023 issue. One of the most popular covers and issues in SEAM’s five-year history.

Alex is also the star of “The Real IPL” reality series episodes 9 & 10.

Interview & Photos by Ben Yosef

What do I do for fun? Besides lift? [laughs]

John Doe

BEN YOSEF: Welcome back to the mags! And congrats on cover number two! So, you are like the busiest woman in fitness! What does Alex Hackett have planned for this weekend?

ALEX HACKETT: [laughs] Thank you so much! Well, I’m planning to get an early workout in with Whitney, then head home and pack up to leave for California. I’m taking the boys with me. Hopefully I can get Andre to drive. Going to see clients, family and friends. We have a pop up Christmas bar in Long Beach we hope to go to tonight after I see some clients. I’m sure it’ll be more time with family and friends Saturday night before driving back Sunday.

BEN: Very cool. Christmas is near! Merry Christmas to you and the family! Whitney is a sweetheart. We NEED to get her on the IPL stage! [laughs] So, what does Alex Hackett do for fun?

ALEX: Merry Christmas! I’m so not ready! [laughs] Whitney certainly is! And I know! [laughs] What do I do for fun? Besides lift? [laughs] I love spending time with family and friends. Whether that’s grabbing food and drinks, going out dancing or just hanging out, watching a cartoon movie, or playing games. I love to read, but only manage to do that for 10-15 minutes before bed.

BEN: How much of your life is consumed by fitness? And do you feel you have balance in all of life’s areas? Family, fitness, fun? In your SEAM Magazine Cover story interview you expressed that you had some challenges balancing. Has this changed?

I feel pretty balanced. I work hard and I play hard. Except I could use more help with the house cleaning.

John Doe

ALEX: Actually, not a lot. I don’t go more than 90 minutes ever in the gym. Just can’t afford to. And as little as 20 minutes when my schedule is crammed. But I do spend time on client check-ins and programming. I feel pretty balanced. I work hard and I play hard. Except I could use more help with the house cleaning. That doesn’t get as much attention as it should. My kids are pretty active and busy themselves, so I don’t schedule work on the weekends if I don’t have to so I’m available to them. I’ve been a little better about not taking on more than I should since that last interview we had. Still too much, but it’s better! [laughs]

BEN: You returned to the IPL stage in August at the Grand Prix after a year away. At that contest you placed 4th in Pro Bikini. I would imagine that you wanted to place higher. What was that year away from stage like for you with regards to training and physique development? What was it like for you actually returning to the stage? And how were you feeling, and I guess how are you feeling now, about the results of that contest?

I honestly wasn't as focused. I managed to gain the muscle I wanted but didn't lean out as much as I needed to.

John Doe

ALEX: Of course, I would have loved to have placed higher. I honestly wasn’t as focused. I managed to gain the muscle I wanted but didn’t lean out as much as I needed to. I was going through a lot personally, in some rather dark places, frankly. So I had a lot of setbacks. That show also ran so late that I was seriously tired by the time I went up and just wanted to get done so I could eat. The focus wasn’t there. I still had a great time, regardless. It’s always fun catching up with everyone and meeting new people. I think the judges called it right, and considering I was the oldest one of that group and still managed to place, I’m happy about it. Not to mention, the muscle gain I had is in itself a huge win for me.

BEN: That is a good and honest synopsis. I appreciate you sharing that. With regards to running late, that’s on me, considering I promote that show. We have lots of new initiatives underway for the 2024 season to really help streamline the shows and make them much shorter and easier on everyone. For instance, switching to an “I Walk” instead of the “T Walk” at Finals will save so much time. Also doing just one or two rounds of quarter turns. We tightened things up at APEX VII last month and got done with that show like an hour early. Which might be a record in our 9-year history. Thank you for helping as our Expeditor at APEX by the way! I appreciate you. But anyway, back to you!

Let’s talk about reality tv! Thank you for being a part of episodes 9 and 10 of The Real IPL. And opening your life up to that show and our audience. How would you summarize that entire experience? From the lead up to the filming to watching the episodes afterwards…

Ok, so "The Real IPL" was way more fun and easier than I expected! Watching the episodes was the best part, seeing it all come together.

John Doe

ALEX: Ok, so “The Real IPL” was way more fun and easier than I expected! I was overwhelmed and anxious thinking about it, but it was super casual and easy to forget the camera was even there. It’s funny cuz the kids went from thinking it was weird to fully embracing the idea. Watching the episodes was the best part, seeing it all come together. The whole experience was a lot more fun than I expected.

BEN: Love it. And I think it was really great for the audience and the IPL community to get an inside look at your life. It’s so interesting to see people in their natural habitat and not just on stage or in the magazines or social media. I think your episodes definitely delivered that, which is awesome. What is the likelihood that we will get you back on that show for a follow-up? [laughs] Also, you are running so many businesses. You’re like superwoman! One of your businesses is the Slay Squad. I know that you are helping women in the areas of health, fitness and wellness. And finding their true power. Which is amazing. In addition you are also coaching athletes for the IPL stage. What can you tell us about that brand and what is driving you to help so many women?

...specifically helping older women like me get results and believe in themselves, loving what they see in the mirror, was my drive.

John Doe

ALEX: I think it would be fun to do another episode! I initially started helping people in the area of fitness that were close to me, just giving them tips and workouts. They got results and were just so happy with how they felt. For me, it felt really good to help people feel that way. I pursued furthering my education in the area, and my girlfriend, Chelsey, asked me to join her Squad as a coach. It seemed natural, and it was a way to reach even more people. I’ve always loved helping others, which is how I got into nursing. But specifically helping older women like me get results and believe in themselves, loving what they see in the mirror, was my drive. I do this health and fitness thing for me to feel better and, in return, be a better mom. I figured if I could do it, others could do it too. It’s rewarding and in turn, they then inspire others as well.

BEN: Love it. Very inspirational. So, this interview has taken like 6 months! It’s funny, I just wrapped up the Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine cover story interview with Teresa Moss, which took just about as long! [laughs] Nonetheless, it has been a pleasure!

Of course, you ended up returning to the stage for the Arizona Championship in April and earned your second Pro Bikini Masters title. Congratulations! We’ll have to go deeper into that in a future interview, but give me a quick synopsis of what that show was like for you as well as taking your second Pro title?

I just go up there and want to have fun and to see the fruit of my labor, so to speak. For that to translate to another win, well, it was rewarding!

John Doe

ALEX: It felt pretty incredible. I just go up there and want to have fun and to see the fruit of my labor, so to speak. For that to translate to another win, well, it was rewarding!

BEN: Also, it was awesome seeing you presented with your framed cover of this issue of VIGOROUS Magazine as well as your star for your appearances on “The Real IPL”! What was it like being presented with those gifts?

My kids see them and are proud of me for the accomplishments I've had in this journey. I gotta say that star was so fancy!

John Doe

ALEX: Absolutely loved the magazine cover and star! It was so cool to be able to get those and now have them in my home for display. My kids see them and are proud of me for the accomplishments I’ve had in this journey. I gotta say that star was so fancy!

BEN: All so very well deserved! All right, so let’s wrap this thing up so we can get this interview live! [laughs] Right now you are registered to compete in your fourth IPL competition, aiming for your third Pro Masters Bikini title. How exciting! Leave us with your final thoughts on what we can expect from you at the Southwest Grand Prix in August of this year?

ALEX: I love how I say, “This is it”, and sign up for another one! [laughs] Expect me to come, have fun and strut my stuff on stage, because I enjoy being up there. And for me to cheer on the other athletes because I know how much hard work and sacrifice it takes to put yourself out there. VIGOROUS