Growing Up

I grew up being a very athletic child. I was always running around doing something exciting. My mother started teaching me dance at the very young age of 2. She enrolled me in my first ballet class at 3, and gymnastics at 5. I continued doing gymnastics for the

next 6 years at a very prestigious academy. Eventually, I moved on to other interests. I continued taking a tumbling class after school at a local recreation center. I was also enrolled in the dance and theatre programs at my middle school. Yes, I was a theater geek! After a year, the tumbling coach quit, so I started volunteering to coach the classes. I was only 13 at the time, but this is when I found my love for teaching. I continued building a program for all ages for the next 2 years. When I was old enough, I got a work permit and started coaching at a gymnastics gym. I continued teaching gymnastics for the next 12 years at several different facilities, traveling with the teams and coaching them at competitions. I quickly moved up to coaching optional gymnasts. I started choreographing there routines and teaching ballet and jazz classes to all the gymnasts.

I joined the Army in 2000, and after a month in basic training I broke my back and had a medical honorable discharge. It took me a while to heel from the injury. During this time I refused the surgery of getting a bolt put in my spine. After fully recovering, I decided a needed a change, so I moved to Key West, FL. I brought my love of the arts with me. I enrolled in local dance classes to build my strength back up and quickly found my way to the local gymnastics gym to start coaching. I continued coaching through my pregnancy with my son Gage (now 7), then took some time off to be a mom.  I gained 60 pounds during my pregnancy. I never thought this could happen to me. Wow! You moms out there know how different your metabolism is during and after a pregnancy.

I of course couldn’t stay away from teaching and dancing and performing for too long, but it was hard with a little one, and extra weight on me, so I started the first and only competition dance team in Key West, called The Hot Tamales. The team ranged in ages from 6-26. I taught them ballet, jazz and hip-hop. I also trained and competed with the team. This was a great and fun way to get back in shape. We won several regional and national awards.  At the end of the dance season in 2005 I decided I wanted to continue competing on a more challenging level.

I was watching MTV made and saw a girl training to compete in a fitness competition. I never knew they existed. I had found my new passion. I googled the coach on the show, Cathy Savage, and enlisted her help. She was so amazing. My first competition was the Ms. Fitness Florida in November 2005 and I took first place. It was a small competition, but a great start to my new life in fitness.

I’ve since placed in several fitness and modeling competitions and I’ve appeared in several magazines including Oxygen, where they profiled my story about my back injury. I now live in Key West, FL where I’m continuing to love life! I’m so thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had, and the friendships I’ve made.

Favorite Sports:

dance, fitness, gymnastics, basketball

Personal Motto:

“Why just sit there, when you could be doing something!”

MY THREE FAVORITE MEALS

    1.turkey burgers with potatoes

    2.chicken penne

    3.chicken/veggie stew