I was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and came to the United States when I was 10 years old in 1996. I speak 3 languages fluently: French, Haitian Creole, and English as my last. I graduated from Stroudsburg High School and currently attending St. Joseph’s College; a private college in New York; pursuing my Master’s Degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. I am a professional bikini bodybuilder under the Natural Muscle Association. Now, competing in the NPC/IFBB organization. I published my first recipe book in 2019 titled, “Dieting Deliciously, “Crave-Killing Recipes For The Healthy Foodie.” My latest business is the creation of Designer Bag Exchange, a platform that connects buyers and sellers worldwide involving luxury/designer bags/Accessories. Launching April 2021.
Age:
35
City:
Manhattan, New York.
Occupation details:
Student.
Fitness Goals:
Acquiring control of balancing my overall health; physical, psychological, emotional, occupational, and social. I also would like to help others.
Training Plan?
It changes all the time. However, the basics are that I focus on two major muscle groups each day and finish with a few drop sets. I also work on parts I feel that need a little more work each day and finish off with abs.
Thoughts on HIIT, Powerlifting, TRX, Yoga, and others?
HIIT – A must, It saved my life when New York shut down all its gyms for 5 months!
Powerlifting– I believe it’s a sport that requires a lot of patience, and a strong mind/body! I believe it does wonders for bulking season, look what It did for my lower half!
Bodybuilding – an individual would never understand the amount of work, discipline, and overall consistency it takes to achieve being one of the greats in this industry! More emphasis on discipline and consistency, as much on the off-season as competition season.
TRX – Amazing for the overall score! I have a set myself but haven’t used it for quite a while. I actually did a feature using the TRX bands a few years ago for Inside Fitness.
Yoga– one of the most difficult and fulfilling tasks I have ever experienced! I used to attend a hot power yoga class ( 3x a week) that used to leave me drained and rejuvenated at the same time. The fat used to just melt off my body at an accelerated pace with dieting and additional training ( weights, cardio)! The first thing on my list post covid is to find a studio in NYC.
Others?
I believe in a proper 3-day fast to initiate any diet and even a complete revamp of your eating habits a week prior to prepare for the fast. I believe in the keto diet minus most cheeses, bacon, and other unhealthy fats that contribute to high blood pressure/clogged arteries, etc.
Nutritional & Supplements:
Eat what grown from the earth and you’ll be more than halfway there.
Special skills?
I am a great cook, I guess. Nothing special. I do find it interesting how shocking it is to certain people when I talk about my love for cooking.
What do your parents mean to you? What did they teach you?
My father passed away when I was very young! I believe that a huge chunk of the overall development of a child is always altered or affected when he/she lacks a parental figure growing up. I learned how to cook and to always respect others the way I would want to be treated.
What separates Status from other fitness magazines?
In my opinion, what I love about Status Fitness Magazine is that it showcases all branches in health and fitness. It’s edgy, trendy, educational, and most of all mainstream! Its staff/editors are not afraid to showcase/embody bad@$$ aesthetics and beauty with a hint of desirability! At the same time, it still captures its readers/audience without limiting to only featuring a typical, perfect, cookie-cutter girl-next-door. I think it’s wonderful.
What would it mean to you to become the next Status Fitness Cover model?
If I were chosen as the cover model for Status Fitness, first I would probably cry as I always do when something extremely exciting happens to me; To tell you the truth it would be an honor. Especially after undergoing a 4.5 hr foot and ankle reconstruction surgery in 2019, which took me a year to recover and fully walk again. Then when I was improving in physical therapy to be able to train again, New York had gone into a full lockdown closing down all the training facilities. I remember trying to run outside and had to turn right back around to ice my swollen foot, even 10 months post-operation. Despite it all, I took myself out of the mental rabbit hole I was spiraling into and began HIIT training at home. I cleaned up my diet and stayed consistent until they opened the gyms back up again. I started feeling strong-minded and fulfilled again. The only thing I am craving more than anything is joining my fellow athletes on the stage doing what I love doing.
This year, besides going to school full time, I plan to compete in Pittsburgh on May 1st and continue on until I make it to the Olympia stage. This feature would not only be an honor but it would solidify that the light at the end of the tunnel is just another door being opened for more opportunities and challenges that come with them.
If you meet Status Editor-In-Chief, Rodney Jang, what question would you ask him?
- What do you believe is the secret in keeping a magazine alive in a generation where so many others have perished?
- What do you look for in a model and, or athlete to be featured on the cover?
6 things people would not know about you?
- I listen to Hans Zimmer; a Master Composer, when I’m stressed. My favorite piece “ The Way Of Life.”
- I ride and own a Kawasaki Ninja 400! I drive a stick and I am obsessed with sports cars. My father died when I was young but I pretty much got it all from him.
- I really don’t like trying on clothes when shopping. About 99% of the time I get the correct size.
- Not only do I love to cook but I am pretty darn good. ( shoulder pat lol)
- My favorite cartoons are Rick & Morty, & Dragon Ball Z.
- I have 4 Yorkies: Scrappy, Charlie, Winston, Oliver.
Who inspires you?
It truly depends on what phase of my life I am in. However, I get my inspiration from the average person who has built him/herself up out of nothing. Those who work in silence, as they spend sleepless nights towards achieving a dream. Those who went from sleeping in their cars to run their own company. The single mother who puts herself through college as she raises a son or daughter; with all odds against her. Finally, the girl who worked tirelessly to prove to herself that the limits that are set before her are the limits that she places there herself.
Who do you wish to inspire?
I would hope to inspire anyone who has the will to do whatever it takes to pursue and fulfill what he or she is most passionate about. In my lifetime I had to learn on multiple occasions that some people just are blessed with a support system since childhood and others have had to rely upon themselves most of their lives and go through unspeakable obstacles to fulfill certain dreams they may have, and wanted to pursue.
Transformation story:
In February of 2019, I competed at the Arnold Classic and placed 4th. Though it was not my most proud moment, I was still pleased to have been in the top 5 contestants. Shortly after I had to get a complete foot and ankle reconstruction of which I needed almost all of 2019 to recover and go through a battery of physical therapy sessions. Still, I began to clean up my diet and work on losing the weight I have gained just through nutrition until I can actually get to the gym again. By December of 2019 I began training with minimal mobility; In other words, I could train my upper body and the only type of training I could do was on a stationary bike. This continued until about March when I could at least partially do cardio on an elliptical. Then suddenly Covid hit and the gyms in New York City were all shut down including the one in my building. Psychologically I felt helpless and unmotivated to train at home. My diet was just falling apart and I just gave up! Within 5 months I gained about 20 lbs and was more depressed than ever! Until one day I couldn’t handle being unhappy, depressed, and overall uncomfortable. I tried running outside and my healed foot and ankle swelled up for the next 3 days. I gave it another try but this time instead of attempting to jog, I just walked as much as I could and focused on completely cleaning up my diet. Each day, I took it as a new challenge until finally I began feeling stronger after about 3 weeks and lost 15 lbs. Within 7 weeks I dropped 5 inches in my waist and all of the sudden the gyms opened again. Though we were still in lockdown, each day I woke up I had something to look forward to accomplishing. I went from being absolutely devastated, recovering from a year-long injury, and sitting at home all day in a state where we could not even leave our homes, to then focusing on being healthy and competing again in May 2021.
Life goals:
My goal is to look back one day and be proud of who I’ve become as a human being; a friend and maybe one day, a mom.
5 lessons you have learned:
- I always measure the character of human beings by the way they feel about or treat animals. I don’t vibe on all levels with a human being who doesn’t love nor value animal life and well-being.
- When feeling unmotivated, always start your day by making your bed, brushing your teeth, and immediately after, hitting the gym. Somehow, it has always worked for me psychologically.
- School isn’t for everyone. However, education sure as hell teaches you many important elements and fundamentals of life that you may not have gotten growing up. Make yourself available to learn and understand different cultures, ideologies, and overall experiences.
- I have learned to love who I am. Although I have struggled most of my youth figuring it out. I know that I am a free-spirited, fun-loving, judgment-free being, Yet, I am also viciously curious, impatient, and a little stubborn. However, I will give you the last 100 dollars in my wallet if I knew you truly needed it knowing that I will go without (only for a short time).
- If I ever become a mother, to never walk away from my child; The regret will far outweigh my pride in the end; from both sides.
Music and artist you listen to while training?
Cardio or HIIT: House Music: Axwell n Ingrosso, Armin Van Buuren, David Guetta, Steve Angello, Benassi, Avicii, Kygo, Tiesto, Kaskade, Steve Aiko, Eleven, Hardwell, Skrillex, Martin Garix, Diplo, Zhu!
Weights: Rap or Hip Hop: 21 Savage, Meek Mill, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, DMX, Juvenile, Travis Scott, Kanye West, Tupac, Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes.
Favorite actors/ movies:
Here we go!
Actor: Jaime Foxx Michael B. Jordan – Movie: Just Mercy
Actor: Bruce Willis – Movie: Tears Of The Sun, The Sixth Sense,
Actor: Chadwick Boseman – Movie: Marshall, Black Panther, Avengers
Actor: Gerard Butler – Movie: Gladiator
Actor: Viola Davis- Movie: The Help, Widows
Actor: Taraji P. Henson – Movie: Hidden Figures
Actors: Robert Deniro, Chazz Palminteri – Movie: A Bronx Tale
Actor: Robert Downey Jr. – Movie: Avengers
Actor: Tom Cruise – Movie: The Last Samurai ( Hans Zimmer composer)
Actor: Denzel Washington- Movie: Malcolm X, Training Day, The Equalizer 2, American Gangster.
Actor: Jason Statham: Movie – Too many to count I just love him lol.
Favorite books and authors:
- Animal Farm – Paul Orwell
- The Power of Letting Go – John Purkiss
- Whispers – Dean Koontz
- PSYCH 101- Classical Conditioning- Ivan Pavlov- Learning by association.
5 most important attributes you see in a person?
- Driven, hard-worker.
- Passionate, exciting, loving, caring.
- Intellectual, open-minded.
- Reliable, personable.
- Thoughtful.
Favorite Quotes:
“Energy and persistence conquer all things!”
“It’s the only quote that summarizes everything I aspire to do and to be”.
Photographer: Amir Marandi
