At 5’10” and competing around 165 pounds, Australian IFBB figure champion Kiki Vhyce stands as one of the fitness industry’s most compelling figures. literally and metaphorically. With millions of Instagram followers, a thriving online coaching business, and five competitive titles under her belt, Kiki represents a modern breed of athlete.
Who is Kiki Vhyce?
From Hospital Bed to Stage
The origin story reads like a worst-case scenario. At 21, while studying at Bond University’s prestigious Banking Academy in Melbourne, Kiki collapsed during training. What started as bronchitis spiraled into pneumonia and pleurisy, a life-threatening infection of the lung lining, due to doctor negligence. She was hospitalized, weighing just 52 kilos (approximately 115 pounds), hooked to medications like prednisone that bloated her frame and sapped her confidence. Doctors warned her family she was dying.
The recovery was traumatizing. She gained weight from medications, lost muscle, became withdrawn. But that bottom proved catalyzing. “I looked in the mirror one day and I’m like, this is not me. This is not what I want to do anymore. Like, this is not how I ever envisioned my life to be,” she recounted in a 2019 podcast. “From there, I pretty much just snapped into gear, lost all the weight, and went full speed ahead into bodybuilding.”
Kiki spent the next five years training obsessively, documenting her progress on social media, and building a physique that would catch the attention of major supplement sponsors. Her consistency was magnetic. By 2017, she was ready to compete.
The Competitive Rise
Kiki’s first competitive outing came at 22 through WBFF (World Beauty Fitness & Fashion), which she viewed as a learning experience rather than her ultimate destination. The federation had a different vision for her, judges wanted her fuller, then leaner, constantly requesting adjustments, but the judging lacked consistency, and the emphasis on “marketability” felt at odds with her core philosophy: winning based on hard work, not marketability.
That frustration pushed her toward IFBB Figure, which she pursued in 2018. The pivot proved decisive: 2018 Victorian Qualifier: 1st place overall state champion, 2018 Arnold Classic Australia: 1st place (International Figure Novice), 2018 IFBB Pro Victorian State Championships: 1st place (Figure Open & Overall Figure Champion).
She accumulated five Figure division wins in her amateur career. Her personal bests showcase strength befitting her frame: 95 kg squat (205 lbs), 110 kg deadlift (242 lbs), and 75 kg bench press (165 lbs).
What’s notable is how she approached competition. Kiki didn’t chase size for its own sake—she chased symmetry, proportion, and the refinement unique to the figure division. “Every step, every ounce of effort matters, no matter how big or small,” she once said. “Progress accumulates. And sure, it may not always feel that way in the moment, but when you look back, you will realise how far those steps have taken you.”
Strength as Self-Ownership
Kiki rejects the notion that femininity and muscularity are mutually exclusive. In an Instagram post reflecting on her journey, she wrote: “Hard work becomes art, and time reveals it.” Later, she elaborated: “You don’t become different in a single moment. You become different through the devotion to small, necessary things…the oughts, the disciplines, the tasks no one praises. The mirror carries the imprint of that devotion. It shows the sculpture formed by years of choosing effort over ease, intention over comfort.”
When she was navigating a post-lockdown recomposition in 2020–2021, she articulated her phase explicitly: “I did my best over this years lockdown (despite the challenges and uncertainties) to preserve my muscle and overall fitness—but now it’s time to uncover, refine and level up. Still staying as true as I can to the the figure division I compete in and also my rendition of classic female bodybuilding (which I love so much!).”
Later, as she prepared for renewed competition, the strategy tightened: “When you have a goal, you need a plan. And now it’s time to execute.” She elaborated further: “Forever chasing the build..muscle where I want it, control where I need it. It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about ownership. Turning effort into shape, and struggle into strength. Every rep, a reminder that this is earned through effort, time and mastery.”
Building a Business Around Strength
What distinguishes Kiki from countless other fit influencers is that she monetized authenticity rather than selling a shortcut. She began as a full-time online coach via Facebook before Instagram existed, bootstrapping her fitness business long before algorithmic visibility made it fashionable. Today, her business operates through multiple channels:
VHYCEFit offers personalized training programs and nutrition plans. Her app includes over 100 exercise demonstrations with technique breakdowns, progress tracking, and meal plans adjusted for dietary preferences. The ethos behind it is clear: “Everyone has the potential for greatness. While we may not have control over everything in life, we do have control over our choices and actions—and these two things drive our journey and can ultimately propel our success.”
The Australian Pathway and International Ambitions
Australia’s competitive landscape differs substantially from the US. There are only one or two official opportunities to turn pro annually, with limited pro cards distributed, requiring victories at state qualifiers or nationals. This scarcity motivated Kiki to pursue international opportunities, with the Dominican Republic floated as a potential destination for gaining pro status without waiting years.
Her ultimate goal is relocation to the United States. In the 2019 podcast, when asked directly about moving to the US, she acknowledged it was always her plan. The reasoning is simple: the US offers more pro opportunities, higher prize money, a larger supplement/modeling industry, and the global stage necessary for someone with her frame and marketability.
Why She Resonates
Kiki’s appeal transcends the fitness sphere because she operates from a place of unshakable conviction. She lived through life-threatening illness. She recovered through discipline, not luck. She built a business from zero followers by delivering value, not by chasing trends.
At 5’10”, 160 pounds of conditioned muscle, she’s a living advertisement for her own methods.
