Dedication is a good word to describe female bodybuilder Tanya Westman. For nearly a decade Westman has worked on building her physique to compete at a professional level.
“I’ve always been a bit of a gym rat,” said Westman. After having kids she hired a coach to get rid of her “mom” bod. Seeing how she was progressing her coach asked if she would be interested in entering a fitness competition.
“I was game and started training. When I stepped on stage, I did very well and was hooked.,” said Westman.
That was almost 10 years ago. In 2021 Westman competed in the CPA Canadian National Pro Qualifier in the heavyweight class where she placed third.
“My greatest accomplishment has been placing third on a national level twice,” she said. Westman has been working toward her professional card and is planning to head to the North American Championships in Pittsburgh at the end of August.
“I am looking forward to an international stage and the next level of competition,” said Westman.
A competitive bodybuilder’s physique is judged for; mass, definition, proportion, symmetry and stage presence. The sport of modern bodybuilding had its start in the 1930s and was male dominated until the 1970s when women started to enter competitions. Westman said that over the years female bodybuilding has become more mainstream although there is still some negativity attached.
“There’s always some sort of shock and negativity from people when you’re a bit of an oddity. You have to understand that I step on stage for the sole purpose of being judged. There are only a few opinions that matter to me,” said Westman.
Although the shock and awe of seeing a female bodybuilder has been a part of the sport Westman said that times, they are a changin’.
“With social media growing in popularity and people being able to see first hand that a strong female isn’t necessarily unattractive, it [bodybuilding] is becoming more mainstream,” she said.
There are several categories for women ranging from bikini to heavy weight bodybuilding. While the sport continues to grow Westman continues to train and her dedication does not go unnoticed. Westman begins training before her work day begins at a local gym.
“What Tanya has accomplished takes time and consistent behaviour,” said gym owner Corey Peebles. “She has a goal and goes for it.”
