My name is Leia, yes I was named after Princess Leia from Star Wars. I am 27 years old and I’m a full-time fitness competitor. I like to embrace my geekier side as I am a big movie buff and love to make silly videos, anything for some laughs and a good time. I love to live my life to the fullest and experience as much as I can. I am a very extreme person which works great with my bodybuilding goals. You need to be a little extreme to compete in the world of bodybuilding.
Age:
27
City:
Seattle, Washington DC.
Occupation:
Fitness Competitor.
Relationship status:
Married.
Fitness goals:
Becoming an IFBB pro and bodybuilding coach would be the top 2. I’d love to have my own team and continue to teach and mold the younger generations of bodybuilding at the moment. I’m trying to learn and just take all the information I can from the original big-time bodybuilders.
Training plan:
My training plan consists of five days a week, separating muscle groups for each of those days lots of fresh food and water. Currently trying to compete in the new wellness class with the NPC so just trying to grow baby grow.
Supplements:
I am a natural competitor. Currently taking CLA daily Vitamins, Amino Acids, Fish Oil’s, a Probiotic, and a Thermogenic. A lot of my supplements can be found in total nutrition.
Special skill:
I have a main stage walk and lots of sass as far as a hidden talent goes. I can do a Shakira voice and impersonation.
What do your parents mean to you? What did they teach you?
My parents were very hard workers. And the punishment would include running, stairs, and lots of extra sports practice, so I guess you could say they taught me perseverance and to push through my workouts even when tired, which I’m definitely thankful for today considering the sport I chose!
What separates Status from other fitness magazines?
I love that Status Fitness Magazine highlights female bodybuilders and doesn’t discourage the amount of muscle they obtain. They actually show muscular females when other magazines try to wash them down which is always a slap in the face to a fitness model: he’s worked really hard on abs and the airbrush him to look not as hard. I Appreciate that Status Fitness Magazine does not do that. I think it’s incredible!
What would it mean to you to become the next Status Fitness Cover-model?
It would mean the world to be able to just say that I am a fitness model for Status Fitness Magazine! For the last couple of years, I’ve really been trying to get my foot in the door and pushing myself. I’ve had a lot of people doubt me, and I have even doubted myself before, but I know if I just keep going I can make this happen for me someday and I’d be honored if it was with Status Fitness Magazine. Amazing!
If you meet Status Editor-In-Chief, Rodney Jang, what question would you ask him?
I would ask him how old he was when he started getting into fitness and or/ if he played sports growing up as well as when he decided to start the Fitness Magazine.
6 things people do not know about you:
- My dad actually named me after Princess Leia and I have a sister named after the Lord of the Rings Princess Arwen.
- I have a recommendation letter from NASA.
- I can impersonate Shakira’s singing voice.
- I have 8 siblings.
- I won baby beauty pageants.
- I’ve lived in my car before.
Who Inspires you?
I guess I would not be able to name just one. The people who inspire me are the female bodybuilders and fitness models, who are breaking stereotypes that muscle is manly. Their transformation photos not only show a strong sexy female body but also a strong woman physically and mentally. Those transformations inspire me daily!
Who do you wish to inspire?
I wish to inspire the young girls, the shy ones, the timid ones, who may not have a lot of confidence or believe in themselves. Working out builds a strong body and mind, I believe your whole demeanor and confidence just shoots through the roof, which in return makes you take more shots at your goals, taking better care of yourself, and standing up for yourself in situations that you need to be strong for. If I can inspire people the way others inspire me, I would be so honored.
Transformation story:
I played sports all through grade school. After high school, it was straight to the workforce to provide for me. I was so stressed and only ran back then with no sense of nutrition. I became anemic and lost about 30 pounds on my already small frame. I felt taken advantage of a lot of the time and not a lot of confidence. I started working at my local YMCA, looking around and seeing all the strong females, I missed having a sport so I started lifting eventually had a coach came up and asked if I’d like to compete. As soon as I stepped on stage, I fell in love, I finally found what I was going to be doing for the rest of my life.
Your life goals:
I only have one goal in life and it sounds so cool, we all know it’s not quite that easy but my life goal is just to be HAPPY. I want to be happy in my lifetime. I want to have a happy life.
5 lessons you’ve learned?
- If it’s not a yes, it’s a no. Do not waste your time on people or things that do not make you happy.
- Always love harder. Even if you get hurt, do not take love away from others or yourself.
- Love is our reward, you want to know the meaning of life? It’s LOVE. To love, and to be loved in return.
- I’ve never met a successful quitter. All successful people kept going. Doesn’t matter how long it took, they never stopped, and eventually, they all made it. So never give up. Keep going.
- PMA – Positive Mental Attitude. Going into something with a positive attitude even if you don’t want to do it (work, homework, chores, etc) will have a better outcome than going into something already thinking negatively about it.
Music and artist you listen to while training:
My music depends on the workouts I’m doing that day. Music definitely affects my mood so I have to make sure I pick the perfect set. Uplifting motivational and even dancy music for running such as Sia, Imagine Dragons, and some Reggaeton! When lifting heavy, definitely have to go with some Eminem and My Darkest Days.
Favorite actors and movies:
One of my favorite actors would have to be Robin Williams, it’s just nostalgic for me such as the style fire. And that would be Jim Carrey with the Mask and in McGregor with Nicole Kidman. The one roof is my absolute favorite movie with some of my favorite versions of cover songs, shortly followed by the Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Favorite books and authors:
My favorite author would be Stephen King. You always know you’re in for an interesting read a little twisted and keeps you on your toes. I love sci-fi and horror. But I am a sucker for romance, even though I try to hide it. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald has some of the most beautiful quotes in writing on every page written.
5 most important attributes you see in a person:
- I love people being true to themselves and unapologetically them.
- When people speak their mind, open communication and easy to speak to/straight forward.
- Cheerful! Positive people give me life and are much needed in times like these (2021).
- Genuine – real.
- Consistent – reliable.
Favorite quotes:
“The worst thing I can be is the same as everybody else. I hate that” – Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“I love her and that’s the beginning and end of everything” F Scott Fitzgerald.
“Don’t just exist. Live”.
Photographer: Dustin Raymond
