A Randfontein resident recently competed in her first bodybuilding competition and came out on top!
The 26-year-old Romelia Andrews said she has always admired bodybuilders, locally and internationally, watching them on social media prepping for shows and seeing the kind of discipline and consistency it took to be on that stage. This drove her to challenging herself.
I wanted to know what it felt like and what it took to be a competitive bodybuilder, and I have definitely found a passion for it because it’s way too difficult a sport not to be extremely passionate about why you’re doing it.”
Her preparation started on February 1 this year and her diet was and still is very clean and strict. Many have a misconception that athletes who compete starve themselves, and she can guarantee that they don’t.
“My training regime is just as strict. I trained twice a day from the start and I prepped for 16 weeks in total which were the most difficult 16 weeks of my life because my mental and physical abilities were tested to their limits. I can proudly say I pushed through to the end and it was worth it.”
Romelia competed in an NPC Show called Muscle Mulisha Grand Prix which served as a regional qualifier.
This was her first-ever bodybuilding competition, and she competed in the wellness division. She stood in three categories – True Novice, Novice and Open Class A.
In each of these categories she came out on top and took home three gold medals.
She explained it wasn’t easy and that one of the hardest aspects of this sport was the posing and routines. She was very anxious about her posing and whether or not she would be ready before her show. Her main concern, however, was her physique.
According to Romelia it was nerve-wracking but rewarding.
I plan on competing again in December for the same federation, NPC. This time it will just be a Pro Qualifier, which is major, but none of this would have been possible without my coach, Este Lubbe, the support of my sponsors, my friends and family because they really pulled me through.”
