A female bodybuilder says she has been told she “looks like a man” because of her muscular physique.
Ivonne Michel, 29, started working out after gaining weight left her feeling unhappy and insecure about her body.
She was 21 and weighed 152 pounds when she began researching ways to improve her physique and discovered the gym.
Ivonne started working out three times a week in 2018, using YouTube tutorials to learn different exercises and following fitness influencers for inspiration.
She quickly fell in love with bodybuilding and now spends around two hours a day in the gym.
Since starting her fitness journey, Ivonne has competed in bodybuilding competitions including Amateur Olympia South America and the South American Championship.
She says weightlifting has transformed her self-esteem – despite receiving negative comments about her muscular appearance.
Ivonne, a personal trainer from Panama, said: “In the beginning, I didn’t know if it was achievable for me to get a body like this.
“I was 21-years-old when I was feeling shy and insecure about my body because I gained a bit of weight.
“Growing up, I didn’t have any sports around; nobody in my family was really into sports, so I didn’t know what to do.
“I then discovered the gym and realised that was my method.”
Learning to lift through YouTube
After joining the gym in 2018, Ivonne began searching YouTube for workout tutorials.
She started by exercising three days a week for five months before getting a personal trainer.
“I started googling ways that I could improve my body,” Ivonne said.
“I started working out with YouTube tutorials – including workout routines and exercise tutorials.
“I was looking for different leg and glute exercises, ideas for what I could eat, and generally learning from different fitness influencers and creators.
“I then met a personal trainer in the gym; he was giving me great advice, which I am so grateful for.”
After learning more about nutrition and how to optimize her workouts, Ivonne became a qualified personal trainer herself just 12 months after joining the gym.
She now owns a gym and says she trains for around two hours every day, including three leg sessions a week.
She said: “These days I am grateful that I have more time to do fitness.
“Bodybuilding is my life right now.
“I own a gym, so that helps me organise my time better.
“I go for two hours every day; I do 30 minutes of cardio and one hour and 30 minutes of bodybuilding.”
‘People tell me I look like a man’
Ivonne says she was shy when she first took up bodybuilding but gradually became more confident as her body changed.
She admits comments about her muscular physique initially made her question herself.
Ivonne said: “People would tell me all the time that I look like a man.
“I was wondering whether that was true and if I looked good, but I realised I like what I see and how I am feeling.
“I saw my body changing, I was building more and more muscle, and I just fell in love with the process.”
From beginner to bodybuilding competitions
Ivonne has since competed in bodybuilding competitions across South and Central America, finishing in the top three.
“For my first competition, I was really nervous,” Ivonne said.
“I had so many mixed emotions because I didn’t know what to expect or if I was going to do well. At the same time, I was really excited to finally experience it.
“Once I got on stage, I was just focused on doing my best. It was an amazing feeling, but it was also when I realized how much work and preparation actually goes into competing.
“After that first competition, I became more competitive. I wanted to place higher, improve every time, and see how far I could push myself. Every competition taught me something new and made me want to come back even better.”
