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Street-born businesswoman Laura Summers has earned the chance to compete internationally after taking third place in her first bodybuilding competition for two years.<\/p>\n
Laura, founder of Sleek Easy Clean<\/a>, entered the open bikini category at a United Kingdom Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation event as a warm-up before the competitions she had originally planned for later in the season.<\/p>\n She finished third in a field of 10 competitors and received a formal UKBFF invitation qualifying her for IFBB international events.<\/p>\n Laura said she had previously competed in junior bikini but moved into the open category for her return to the stage.<\/p>\n The event was not originally intended to form part of her main competition schedule.<\/p>\n She said: “I wasn’t meant to compete for another three weeks but wanted to get the nerves down as I haven’t competed in two years.”<\/p>\n Laura said she arrived with a bikini and heels which did not meet the requirements for that federation and was marked down as a result.<\/p>\n Despite that, she secured third place and said she was one of three competitors at the event to receive an international invitation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The UKBFF is affiliated to the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, with competitors at its qualifying events able to earn invitations to international competitions.<\/p>\n Laura said her invitation means she is now planning to represent Great Britain at the IFBB World Fitness and Bodybuilding Championships in Spain later this year.<\/p>\n The 2026 championships are scheduled to take place in Santa Susanna from 29 October to 2 November, with senior bikini among the categories on the programme.<\/p>\n Laura said receiving the invitation had been a long-held ambition.<\/p>\n She said: “Getting an invite to compete internationally in Spain at the IFBB event is absolutely amazing.<\/p>\n “I’ll be honest, I cried for about an hour straight driving home. I’m very emotional. I am so proud of myself.”<\/p>\n The result comes during an already busy period for Laura away from bodybuilding.<\/p>\n
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