DMV’s Fitness Queen

In her second ever figure competition, Inez captured the top spot this past Saturday at the NPC Virginia Gran Prix Body Building, Figure and Bikini Championships. This first generation Cuban, originally from Miami, definitely brought the heat.

But it didn’t come out of nowhere. She trained hard. She spent 360 hours just of practicing her poses. Her long-term goal is to turn pro. Before she can do that, she has to place top five at a national level show. She’s already qualified to compete in a national level show, so she’s definitely on her way to achieving her dream. This summer, Inez plans to improve her stage presence and build her physique, doing as many shows as she can.

Inez is also a personal trainer and aerobics instructor. Her passion for personal trainer and teaching aerobics led her to compete in figure competitions.

What did you do to prepare for the competition?

In the last year, I lost 30 pounds, dropped four dress sizes, and put 12 lbs. of muscle on. It’s been kind of a journey and a process this last year. The real training buckled down the last 12 weeks, where it’s intense dieting. Five meals a day of high protein, complex carbs, and then the training is grueling. It’s two-a-days five days a week and three-a-days two days a week. So you don’t get a day off.

To say the least, it was definitely a mentally, physically, emotionally challenging thing to go through. And nothing’s better than coming home with the first place trophy.

How big is your trophy?

It’s pretty big. I have pictures of me holding it and it covers the upper part of my body. And it’s pretty heavy. It’s at least two feet tall.

How did you feel when you first realized you won first place?

It was overwhelming. It was quite emotional in the sense that everything had finally come to fruition. Hard work, dedication, putting in the time and this is the result. This is what it should be. I had a grin from cheek to cheek. And more importantly, [I was] just thankful for all the individuals that really did play a part and help me get through the journey.

Have you always been into fitness?

I have. I am one of eight kids and there are five boys in my family, so we practically are a football team, so to speak. [Laughs.] I grew up playing soccer…got to a point where I wanted to do cheerleading or get into some different kind of sport. So, I started taking aerobics classes in high school. I got certified and taught all through college. Actually, I established an aerobics program because they didn’t have one before. After aerobics, it was maybe I should personal train. So, then I decided to personal train and I got certified. And within the last year, someone was like, “Maybe you should do fitness competitions.” And so I did. I am always looking for a new challenge and hopefully knocking it out of the park.

It looks like you did just that. Congratulations on your success and thanks for being “SHY!”

Inez maintained a blog, 14 Days Out: Road to the VA Gran Prix, to chronicle her journey of dieting, training, posing and glamorizing (hello, lash extensions!) her way to the top. You’ll also learn a thing or about competitions and their criteria. Take a look at fit-nez.blogspot.com.