I've always admired muscles and as a teen I found myself identifying more with male physiques than your typical female. Then I read an article on Robert Mapplethorpe's book Lady, featuring pioneering bodybuilder Lisa Lyons, and not long after, the same magazine ran a feature on early British bodybuilder Carolyn Cheshire. I started lifiing at university but didn't really know what I was doing until I left and joined a real gym. I've had one or two breaks where lift got in the way but I've always wanted to be strong and muscular. My body didn't cooperate the way I thought it would but I keep plugging away. Anyone who lifts weights is always a work in progress - I don't think that will ever change for me.

I can't imagine not being strong - it's just who I am. I've been doing it so long it's as much a part of my routine as brushing my teeth. There are days I don't want to go to the gym but I'm never away from it for long. I couldn't imagine not training.