About Me

I would love to provide you with some background information on who I am and what I’m about, as well as what brought me to the health and fitness industry in the first place.

I started dancing as soon as I could walk. My days, and sometimes nights, were spent at the studio practicing technique, and learning the discipline and work ethic that comes with the territory of being a dancer.

The dance world is very critical… At 8 years old I would have been eligible to be moved into the professional training division of my ballet company – this was the next step to eventually earning lead roles and prestige as a young artist. At the end of term, my “ballet report card” had top marks for technique, grace, poise, and performance quality. But scribbled in red ink at the bottom of the page were the words, “While Emily excels at technique and performance, she will never have the body of a dancer.” This was the reason I was given for why I was not admitted into the professional training division.

Aside from deterring me from ever returning to ballet, that remark changed the way I viewed myself, my body, and my worth for the next 8 years. I struggled with body image, my relationship with food, trying to lose weight and “fit in” with regards to my appearance. Despite the blow to my confidence and the turmoil I faced in the following years, I didn’t let that comment stop me from pursuing my love of dance and performance. Instead, I moved to a different studio, pursued contemporary and competitive studio dance, and became a musician.

My junior year of high school came along I tore five muscles in my hip, halting my dance career the end of that season. In the meantime, I started seeing a physical therapist to rehabilitate. It was also then that I discovered the gym and strength training   which proved to be the most life-changing “hobby” I could have ever taken up.

I began lifting weights on top of physical therapy to help with my hip rehab. At the gym, I felt completely at home and in my zone. At 16, I began educating myself of the basic principles of nutrition, and training. This craving for knowledge also led me to later pursue a degree in Kinesiology (which I am currently in school for), as well as earning credentials as a Sports Nutrition Specialist with the International Society of Sports Nutrition. I began seeing my body for more than what it looked like, but rather for the amazing machine that it was. Lifting weights taught me that my strength comes from myself, as does my physical beauty. I finally felt strong and beautiful, not because my dance teacher told me I was, but because I developed that connection between my mind and body and felt that beauty for myself.

A couple of years into training, I discovered the National Physique Committee (NPC) and competitive bodybuilding. I learned that I could weld my love for being onstage as well as my newfound love for training, nutrition, and strength. I competed in my first bikini competition in April of 2014, and I have been hooked ever since.

I am now 21 years old and an accomplished amateur bikini competitor in the NPC, having competed in 13 shows since my start in 2014. You can see some of my competitive accomplishments at the bottom of this page! I currently train 5-6 days per week and am well known for my “mixed” training style. I love to train in a variety of ways! Bodybuilding is my main focus, but I incorporate elements of powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting into my programs as well to compliment my bodybuilding programming and to keep things fun!

Competitive bodybuilding is my heart and soul, and it’s the reason I have developed what I call my, “Wonder Woman” mentality.

During a radio interview after my second show in 2014, I was asked what one piece of advice I would give to young girls, and I said:

“Become your OWN Wonder Woman. Don’t rely on the energy of the outside world to fuel you. Find out what makes YOU strong and what makes YOU awesome, and run with it.”

Growing up I was taught that women are meant to be small and are destined to a lifetime of hating their bodies into submission. I was taught to use food to manipulate my body from a place of hatred.

In stark contrast, bodybuilding has taught me that women (and men) are meant to be strong and powerful, both physically and emotionally. I learned that food was my friend, my fuel, and my medicine. Bodybuilding is a celebration of my body and its athletic ability. That is a lesson I want to share with every woman (and man) I have the opportunity of reaching.

Self-worth and confidence are lessons that are learned far too late in life for so many people. I want to spread the #WonderWomanMentality as far and wide as I can reach. It is my hope that every person, no matter what dark place they may be in or have come from, can rise and find what makes them strong and awesome, and run with it. Or better yet, squat with it.

Thank you for visiting my website! For more from me, be sure to check out the blog section as well as my social media channels, which are all linked on this site. If you are interested in training programs or nutrition coaching, please head over to the Plans & Services page! I can’t wait to continue to share my journey with you.