I got an Instagram and was scrolling through my explore feed when I saw a picture of Jessica Aravelo getting ready to step on stage. I decided at that moment that I wanted everything she had, including her titles, and I wanted to be able to tell her that she was the reason I started; but not as a spectator, as a competitor. I haven't looked back since.

It's the one place I can go where I can release all of my stress and emotions without having to say a single word. I can go into the gym and have a completely brutal session, and no one will have to know that I was really upset about something. Also, it's one place where you can't actually cheat to get what you want. Your body will only reflect the efforts you put into it, so, if you're giving your all, it will show that. This is something only you can be held accountable for, and the responsibility and dedication it takes to produce results has taught me a lot about how I should conduct myself outside of the gym.