The Secret Life of a Bikini Competitor

Robyn Challands
  • 5.0 (8)
  • FITNESS

The Secret Life of a Bikini Competitor Podcast is a weekly show featuring unfiltered conversations with female bodybuilders. Speaking to both pros and amateurs from all different federations and categories, your host Robyn Challands goes behind the layers of tan and sparkly bikinis to find out what it’s really like to be a bikini competitor. No topic is off limits!

  1. 06/29/2021

    #56 Daniella Murphy WBFF Fitness: Childhood trauma and building a survivor mentality, manifesting your dreams, post-show binging, posing struggles

    This week’s episode is with the unreadily inspirational Daniella Murphy, who is a WBFF Fitness (soon to be IFBB!) competitor and personal trainer from Wollongong. Dani has been through a lot in her life and her story is one of survival and determination.  I am eternally grateful to Dani for sharing it with me (and you!) - it was incredibly inspiring to listen to and I will be surprised if anyone doesn’t feel inspired to go out and conquer their goals after this. TW: This episode touches on themes of domestic violence, sexual abuse and suicide so if you’re not in a place to listen to this now, please save it for another time 💕 In this episode, Dani and I cover:⁠ Prepping throughout COVID in 2020 and finally hitting the stage for the first time in 2021 Journaling and manifesting her way to a top 10 placing!Dani’s post show binging experience and concerns over developing disordered eating patternsWhat she’s doing differently the second time aroundPosing struggles!Childhood trauma and building a survivor mentality - Dani’s incredible journeyFinding bodybuilding as part of the healing and growth journeyFalling in love with discipline and structureIf you want to heal… you need to dealDoing everything with intention Feeling seen in other people’s journeysAdvice for first time competitorsAnd SOOO much more!⁠ If you want to follow Dani’s journey and find out more about her personal training services you can do so at https://www.instagram.com/fitness_with_dani/  If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us both in so we can see and share too!⁠ ⁠Until next time…⁠ ⁠Love you!⁠ R x #SLBC

    1h 14m

  2. 06/22/2021

    #55 Holly Ouwehand NZIFBB Wellness: Finding a category for your body shape, prepping as a flight attendant, time management tips

    This week’s episode was with the lovely Holly Ouwehand who is an NZIFBB Wellness competitor. I’ve been meaning to catch up with Holly for a while now and it was awesome to get a little insight into her journey and super competitive mindset! In this episode, Holly and I cover:⁠ Holly’s prep 8 weeks out from her first Wellness compHow she manages prepping while being a flight attendantDoing photoshoots in prepMoving from bikini to wellness which suits her body betterDeciding to prep for WBFF with one week’s notice after her first comp with IFBB!COVID getting in the way of 2020 competing plans How Holly got into bodybuilding her background as a competitive swimming and netballerPutting on 30kg when on a student exchange to the USWhen we ‘noticed’ we’d gained weightWhy Holly loves competingHolly’s time management tipsAnd SOOO much more!⁠ If you want to follow Holly's journey you can do so at https://www.instagram.com/hollyshaus/  If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us both in so we can see and share too!⁠ Until next time…⁠ Love you!⁠ R x #SLBC

    54 min

  3. 06/01/2021

    #54 Brooke Hoskin ICN Bikini: PCOS & hormone management, are you cut out for competing? Never competing again to never slowing down!

    This week’s episode was with the legend that is Brooke Hoskin who is an ICN Bikini competitor from NSW. I’ve followed Brooke’s competing journey for a while so it was really awesome to sit down and get to know her! It was amazing hearing how she went from ‘never competing again’ to ‘never slowing down!’ She’s truly found her place in the sport and I’m so bloody excited/happy for her. Plus she’s just a hilarious legend! In this episode, Brooke and I cover:⁠ Brooke’s recent comp wins and Nationals appearanceBack to back shows and applying judges feedbackAre you ready or even cut out for competing?How Brooke went from ‘never competing again’ to winning to coming 2nd at NationalsBlowing our after her first show and how she pulled herself out of a dark placeHow Brooke fits it all in (spoiler: it involves 3am wake ups)PCOS diagnoses + hormone managementNot being ready for her first show and the impact that had Being called ‘fat’ in her previous sport, which led her into fitnessBrooke’s competing plansAll about The I’m Sorry, What? PodcastAnd SOOO much more!⁠ If you want to follow Brooke’s journey you can do so at @brookehoskin and check out her podcast at @theimsorrywhatpodcast  If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us both in so we can see and share too!⁠⁠ Until next time…⁠ Love you!⁠ R x #SLBC

    1h 5m

  4. 05/25/2021

    #53 Sarah Collier IFBBNZ Bikini: Prepping in secret, overcoming binge eating, mindful vs. mindless eating and activities

    This week’s episode was the wonderful Sarah Collier, an IFBBNZ Bikini competitor from, you guessed it, New Zealand! Sarah and I have been Insta friends for over a year now and I was honoured to be one of the only people who knew she was prepping for her first ever comp last year!  That’s right, she prepped in secret! Now the cat is out of the bag and she’s also prepping for her second show, I couldn’t wait to chat to her about her experience. In this episode, Sarah and I cover:⁠ Why Sarah chose to prep in secret for her first show and all the challenges and benefits that came with itDealing with other people’s negative opinionsShould you post your prep on social mediaStage nervesIncorporating social exercise and different training focusses post show How her 2nd prep is going now she’s ‘out’ as a competitor and the differences this time aroundOvercoming binge eating and how she prevented it post showMindful vs. mindless eating and activitiesTechniques for mindful eatingDangers of ‘scarcity’ mindsetSarah’s ‘Queen of Cheat Meals’ Instagram and the importance of making food an enjoyable experienceAnd SOOO much more!⁠ If you want to follow Sarah’s journey you can do so at https://www.instagram.com/sarahcollierpt/ and of course drool over her foodie page at https://www.instagram.com/queenofcheatmeals/ ⁠ If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us both in so we can see and share too!⁠ Until next time…⁠⁠ Love you!⁠ R x #SLBC

    1h 5m

  5. 05/10/2021

    #52 GlamFit Bikinis owner, Claire Williamson reveals EVERYTHING you need to know about competition bikinis

    PICTURE THIS: you’ve decided to do a bodybuilding show. You’ve got a coach. You’ve nailed the diet. You’re training like a beast. Social life? Don’t know her. You’re kicking goals… but then you realise – shit… I’m about to be a onstage in a very small, very sparkly, barely there bikini… how the hell do I get started!? Well, fear not my friends. Because Claire Williamson, owner and designer of GlamFit Bikinis is here to save the day. In this episode, Claire and I literally cover off EVERYTHING you need to know how about to pick and design your bikini, including:⁠ How GlamFit came to be + Claire’s journeyWhere to look for inspirationWhen you should plan and buy your bikiniHow to choose the right colour (for you and your federation)What to consider when choosing a cutBest tops for natural and enhanced boobsHow to design couture bikinis and themewearHow much will it all cost me?How to accessorise to perfection (shoes, jewellery etc)Caring for your bikini and show day tipsAnd SOOO much more!⁠ There were also a heap of listener Q&As peppered throughout so if you asked a question on my stories the other week - we most likely answered it!! If you want to check out GlamFit Bikinis you can do so at @glamfitbikinis and https://glamfitbikinis.com/ If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us both in so we can see and share too!⁠ Until next time…⁠⁠ Love you!⁠ R x

    1 hr

  6. 04/28/2021

    #51 Sharnie Cocks ICN Fitness Pro & IFBB Bikini: Overcoming imposter syndrome, recovering from disordered eating, slip ups on stage, managing scoliosis

    This week’s episode is with the wonderful Sharnie Cocks who is an ICN Fitness Pro and now IFBB Bikini athlete.  Sharnie is such a beautiful soul and we had a great chat about how our limiting beliefs can hold us back and it’s so great to hear about Sharnie was able to work through hers to truly step into her power!  As always, we cover off all things competing, including:⁠ Reminiscing about going into lockdown over a year ago!How Sharnie got into competing and trainingThe impact of what we internalise when we’re youngerPulling herself out of binge eating and purging behavioursHow educating herself on food, macros and energy balance helped with thisImportance of putting your body into a good position to prepCompeting in untested federations as a natural competitorChoosing a federation and categoryUnexpected pro cards and dealing with imposter syndromeNot prepping unless you’re 100% inHow Sharnie manages scoliosisSlip ups on stageAnd SOOO much more!⁠ ⁠If you want to follow Sharnie to learn more about her coaching services you can do so at @sharnie_louise_ If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us both in so we can see and share too!⁠ Until next time…⁠ Love you!⁠ R x

    51 min

  7. 04/20/2021

    #50 Courtney McConnell WBFF Bikini: Overcoming shyness, building confidence, powerlifting in your off season, waiting to compete when the time is right

    This week’s episode is with the incredible Courtney McConnell who is a WBFF Bikini athlete and online nutrition and training coach from the gorgeous Gold Coast! I absolutely love following Courtney on social media - not only does she put out super helpful macro friendly recipes and guidance all the time, but I really admire her style of training. She is one strong woman and we had a good chat on this episode about much we love compound lifting! In this episode we spoke about:⁠ Finding fitness after coming back from a Contiki tourLearning to track macros before macro tracking was popular!Why Courtney waited until after 21st to competeTrying different federationsBest show momentsLearning the hard way to take a break between showsTrying out powerlifting compsWhy being strong is THE BEST!Should you squat and deadlift as a bikini competitor…?Courtney’s passion for helping others develop confidenceTips for building confidence and overcoming shynessCourtney’s competing plansAnd SOOO much more!⁠ If you want to follow Courtney to learn more about her coaching services you can do so at @projectme_coaching and follow her journey to stage in October you can do so at @courtney_healthandfitness  If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us both in so we can see and share too!⁠⁠ Until next time…⁠ Love you!⁠ R x #SLBC

    56 min

  8. 04/06/2021

    #49 Jess Johnson IFBB Bikini Pro: overcoming binge-eating & burnout from back to back shows, prepping in the Air Force, managing FOMO

    This week’s episode is with the amazing Jess Johnson - the newest Australian IFBB Bikini Pro!! We had originally slated this interview for the week after her state qualifier show, but decided to postponed until after nationals… and we’re so glad we did!  Not only did she turn pro at Nationals, but straight away got to go up against some of Australia best pro athletes on minutes later, taking out 3rd place!! It was awesome to hear about all her experiences competing over six years, especially her epic come back to win her IFBB Pro card following a bit of a burnout after a year of back to back shows. In this episode we spoke about:⁠ Her experience turning pro in March!How she got started competingJess’s collection of pro cards (IFBB, ANB, WNBF, INBA, AWNBS)Tips for competing overseas and interstateHow Jess managed prepping in the Air ForceTips for managing FOMO when competingHow to still socialise while in prepRebounding and burning out from a year of back to back shows Overcoming binge eating & understanding our ‘trigger’ foodsThe challenge of ‘decision fatigue’ Jess’ competing plans now as a PRO!And SOOO much more!⁠ If you want to follow Jess to learn more about her coaching services and follow her journey to stage in November you can do so at @jessjohnsonfitness If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us both in so we can see and share too!⁠ Until next time…⁠ Love you!⁠ R x

    1h 12m
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

The Secret Life of a Bikini Competitor Podcast is a weekly show featuring unfiltered conversations with female bodybuilders. Speaking to both pros and amateurs from all different federations and categories, your host Robyn Challands goes behind the layers of tan and sparkly bikinis to find out what it’s really like to be a bikini competitor. No topic is off limits!

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