By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE next wave of Pakenham fitness models is set to make their mark under the bright lights of the big stage.
Following in the footsteps of the likes of fellow Voyage Fitness member’s Sheree Smith and Anita Hynes, Emma Greene and Tiffany Hillard are gearing up for the Australasian Natural Bodybuilding competition later this month in Altona.
Greene started her journey in June last year and made it her goal to become a bikini competitor after being inspired by American star Nikki Blackketter.
“She pretty much said that if she could do it, anyone could do it and that’s what’s kept me going,” said Greene, who started training with renowned local trainer Bec McSweeny last year.
“I joined up with Bec because I knew that she got results, that she trained really hard, and that she had a great technique,” Greene said.
“I started that in September and I plan to compete on 29 March in a bikini competition for the first time.”
Greene has learnt about the different muscle groups, and proper training methods during her preparation so far – both of which will hold her in good stead well after she decides to stop competing.
“I used to come to the gym and I would just do this exercise and that exercise, and I had no idea what muscles I was actually training,” she said.
“Bec has taught me what I’m actually training and how to train it.
“I think it’s given me more confidence and I’ve definitely toned up – I’ve developed muscle and I’ve lost seven kilograms since December.”
Greene said anyone could go down a similar path – it’s just about self-belief.
“If you want it hard enough, you just have to go and do it.”
Hillard’s journey, meanwhile, started after she had her daughter (who is now two-and-a-half). Her original goal was to head back to the gym to lose her “baby weight”, but then she set herself another mark to reach for.
“I was back at the gym but it was for no particular purpose,” she said.
“My trainer then asked me if I’d ever thought about competing – I hadn’t and I’d never seen anything like it before.”
Hillard competed for the first time last year – as a fitness model – and has since relocated to Voyage in Pakenham.
Both Greene and Hillard have an eye on entering other competitions later this year, and they both agree – training is addictive.
“Once you see how fit and healthy you can be, and once you see the results – it definitely is (addictive),” Hillard said.
“You don’t realise how strong and powerful you could be until you actually give it a crack. Once you give it a go, you realise you can do it – and you can do more. It’s empowering. You just want to keep pushing yourself to see how far you can go and how strong you can be.”
