Welcome to GirlsofSAF.com

Favorite movies: The Princess Bride, Love & Basketball, Transformers, Delirious, The Italian Job (2003)
Favorite TV shows: The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Work Out, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Flashpoint
Favorite music: everything on Michael Jackson's Bad, "Let It Rock" (Kevin Rudolph/ Lil Wayne), "Sexy Bitch" (Akon), "One Night Stand" (Exit This Side), "Semi-Charmed Life" (Third Eye Blind), and lots of Bon Jovi
Hobbies: shopping, traveling, scrapbooking, outdoor sports and just relaxing on a beach

I was always an active child growing up, and was never able to sit still for very long – or so I’ve been told. In early elementary school I soon focused on cross-country running, track and field events, and basketball. I started off basketball with being self-taught, and learned a lot more while being the only girl allowed to play along with the boys at recess. Between having an older brother and growing up a tomboy, I believe this is where my competitive spirit began.

Volleyball was introduced in grade 7, and I soon learned that I was a natural, especially with the growth spurt I had gone through in such a short period of time. Between basketball, volleyball, and a variety of track events, I became a three-sport athlete, keeping busy every season at various competition levels, all summer long. My brother kept telling me I was adopted as no one else in the family took to sports. My memories of high school can still either make me smile, or put a frown on my face. I went through many highs and lows between winning many important games, awards and placing at OFSAA events, but also incurred three knee surgeries for tearing both ACL’s (anterior cruciate ligament) and cartilage. I still wasn’t prepared to stop, as the athlete inside me wanted more.

Throughout this time I had two role models in my life. I looked up to my mother, as she raised our family as a single parent, yet was able to make it to every game, race or match, no matter where it was located, and still run her own successful business. The other was Gabrielle Reece, professional beach volleyball player and model. I was amazed by what she had achieved in her life, and strived to have it for my own.

I went on to play volleyball at the varsity level for Brock University and this was also where I started to take on weight training, but volleyball specific. Between two-hour-long practices, workouts in the gym, much needed physiotherapy, and a full course load for my honors business degree, I had a full plate.

It was only this past winter that I really started focusing back on the gym. I had switched jobs in the company I was working for, had set working hours, and my love for volleyball had to finally be put on hold, as I had reinjured myself and endured a fourth knee surgery. A trainer at my gym offered to help show me exercises to strengthen my knee in order to get back on the volleyball court. In a short period of time, between his functional training and my weight training, I was noticing amazing results, and so were others. I was finally putting on more muscle than I ever thought possible on my lean frame, and this only motivated me to make sure I was in the gym on an almost daily basis.

When people started to plant the seed in my head about figure competitions, I did my research, went to a show, and knew that this was the goal in my life I needed to stay on track. Through referrals, I connected with an amazing set of trainers, who have been a great support system in order to help me achieve my goals. After only seven weeks of preparation, I competed in my first competition in June at the SAF Model Search and ended up placing second in the Open Fitness Model category, qualifying for SAF Elite status. I couldn’t have been happier that all of my hard work had paid off!

Throughout all of my years in the sports industry, what bothered me the most was the fact that women’s sports, not matter what the level, would never get as much coverage as men’s, even though we worked just as hard. When was the last time you saw a televised WNBA game, for example?

I used to look at magazines such as Oxygen, and was always in awe of the woman on the cover. In my eyes, she represented the ideal body. She was beautiful, yet fit and strong. I never thought I could get there myself. I have finally proven to myself that through hard work, dedication, and the right support system I too can reach my ideal body and goals.

I am so motivated and proud to represent the SAF Elite, as they promote fit and devoted women leading healthy lifestyles. The atmosphere is so positive, and though it is an individual sport, there is still a sense of teamwork, as you know what everyone has overcome to get to that level of competition. Ever since competing in the June show, new doors of opportunity have unexpectedly opened for me, and I’m excited to see where they will lead in my future.