Athlete Bio
My fitness journey started when I was a kid growing up in central Maine, doing PBS television aerobics and yoga classes to pass the time when it was too cold to go out and play. In college I dabbled in weight lifting for something to do in between classes. The first memory I have of thinking maybe I could be good at fitness is when someone at my college gym told one of my friends that I could out stair-step anyone. But I was shy and insecure, and focused on building my career as a marriage counselor, so for the next 25 years kept up my fitness journey in solo activities like aerobics, running, and yoga. I caught the competition bug when I started entering road races in my 40s. My husband encouraged me to get trained as a yoga teacher to enhance my practice as a mental health counselor, and that's when things really started to evolve. Standing in front of a class teaching people how to contort their bodies safely and with a sense of humor gave me a confidence I didn't know I had in me. Fast forward to 2022, when a good friend of mine said he was going to compete in his first bodybuilding competition at the age of 58. I admired his brevity, attended the show and got to witness him earning a pro card his first time out! I so clearly remember that day, before leaving the venue, saying "If he can do it, so can I." I found my coach, Laura, who right from the start believed in me and tirelessly taught me how to develop in ways I never thought I would be capable of. In 2023 there I was, on stage with all eyes on me, placing first in the novice divisions in my first show. From there I went full force into training mode. My trajectory led me to compete in 7 shows between 2023 and 2025, earning ANBF pro cards in Bodybuilding, Figure, Women's Physique and FemFit by the time 2025 was over. It's been a surreal experience. I could not do it without the unwavering support of my husband who, for the last 33 years, has steadfastly assured me I can accomplish anything and gone out of his way to make it happen; my friends and family who will travel to watch me compete and somehow act genuinely interested when I talk endlessly about my competition journey. And of course Laura, my coach, who quickly learned how much to push and when to modify in order to keep me on track to not only meet, but to exceed my goals. I cannot imagine what's next, but everyone who believes in me knows I'm not done yet. This sport teaches you more than how to grow muscle and strike a pose. It teaches you that you can do hard things, at any age, if you trust the process and listen to your support people.