In a word - F****** AWESOME!!
Hang on..that's 2 words. But you get the idea. I had the time of my life (damn, now I'm going to have THAT song stuck in my head!) even though i didn't win (or even place).
Now, don't get me wrong - it was never a major priority to win the show - sure it, would have been nice, but I didn't go in it to win it. That may not sit too well with some people, but that's too bad. I did this for the experience, to pop my cherry and say that I have competed in a Figure show. That's it. If there were trophies attached to that - then awesome, but I'm not ashamed/disappointed/upset with the way that everything went. I came in looking the best I ever have, and I had the best time - smiling from ear to ear and presenting the best package that I could. So I'm totally proud of that, I learnt a butt load, and will definitely be bringing it in the next show!
Plus, my posing ROCKED!! I was watching (out the corner of my eye) some of the other girls and they had NO stage presence, looked miserable and would have given anything to get off stage. NOT ME!! I was totally comfortable, loving it and had fun!! And in the pics that Kurt took you could see that barely any of them knew how to pose or had a smile on their face. I had so many of my friends and family there, and a lot of them said I was the only one who smiled, and that i "shone" which was a pretty amazing compliment for me - so I'm SO stoked with that!
The only hard bit of the whole thing was my damn abs and thighs pose in the first division I went in (Tall Figure) - I had fun trying to balance, and for some reason was shaking like a leaf (damn adrenalin!!) and took a while to strike it without tipping over - but got there eventually :o) Oh and then the individual posing round - had trouble after sitting there all day remembering exactly how it went - but I got through it and before I knew it, my 60 sec routine was over!
So anyways, the day went like this:
6:00am - wake up, wasn't allowed to shower as it would wash all the tan (3 coats) that I had put on over the last 2 days) also had to wake up Kurt to help get me ready in time
6:15am - more tan applied (yes, that's correct, that makes 4 coats) by my gorgeous muskles, Kurt...still waking up
6:30am - sitting in front of heater to dry and keep warm (wasn't allowed to stand barely at all due to fluid retention in legs - ugh!!)
6:45am - hair dresser/make up artist arrives - commencement of 'The Do' takes place
7:00am - still doing 'The Do' - lotsa spray, pins and curling involved (not in that order)
7:45am - 'The Do' completed...I've suddenly grown an extra 6 inches!! Like, I wasn't tall enough already!!Make up to begin...
8:15am - Best friend Penny arrives at the house - gushes over how different I look!! And how AWESOME my hair looks!! :o)
8:30am - Make up completed, feeling insanely girly
8:35am - suit goes on - this shit just got real...
8:35am - show Kurt and Penny the finished product - Penny gushes and says "oh my god Gem, you're a Bodybuilder!!" - photo below taken at this point by Kurt
8:45am - get the last of the bits and pieces ready - Penny then drives us to Shellharbour Workers Club (the venue)
9:10am - stand in line waiting to register
9:20am - not happy with me standing, Kurt gets a chair for me - how sweet is he!!
9:25am - still waiting in line - sussing out the competition
10:00am - still waiting...
10:15am - registration completed, money paid, music handed in - no backing out now!
10:20am - more waiting in line to get INTO the hall where the comp is
10:30am - time comp is meant to begin...finally get into hall and discover my parents and cousin are already in there! also find out that my division is 2nd and 4th last from the bottom of the running sheet...which means a LONG day for me and anyone who wants to come watch me
11:15am - actual time comp begins
11:30am - eat
1:00pm - interval - still haven't gone on stage
2:15pm - pump up, more tan applied, heels go on, bikini stuck to butt, get ready for show
2:30pm - get up on stage for first division - Tall Figure
2:40pm - 2nd division i am in - Novice Figure - no time for pump up or tan
2:50pm - off stage to see friends/family and grinning from ear to ear..the 'serious' part is over now - now to have FUN! We all go to the bistro and they eat lunch, i eat fish and watch 2 of my mates (Jacko and Lewis) devour cheescake..bastards
3:30pm - back inside to the hall and sit through another 3 hours before the intermission...such a loooooong night!!
6:00pmish - intermission
6:30pm - back into the show...getting closer to my routine
7:00pmish - finally get up and do my indivdual posing routine...sooo much fun!!! Stuffed up the timing a bit - but overall went down fab!!
8:00pm - finally finished after being presented with competitors medallions...but even better - its time to EAT!!
As you can see - post comp was epic!! hehehe
I truly had o of the best days ever. I'm not sure exactly what it was - the fact that I had all my closest friends and family there to support me, the fact that I was finally up on stage after all these years, or the fact that I was in the best condition of my life, I was PROUD of what I was presenting and had fun while I was up there, or just the excitement of being able to be all girly for a day and get all pampered and dressed up...I can't quite pin point it...but all I know that it was awesome, and I'm TOTALLY hooked...aleady got the next one planned out!!
Oh, and before I sign off this post, I want to thank a few people, just in case they read this.
Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who came to watch me:
- My parents for supporting me no matter what and puuting up with me bringing strange food to eat on Mother's Day - love you guys heaps!! xx
- My cousin Sonya for making the trek from Sydney and thinking that the show was the day before, and then hung around the extra day just to come watch it on Sunday!!
- Jacko and , Georgie for both supporting and encouraging me and WODing out with me and Kurt
- Lewis and the fact the he came from Canberra to watch - what a legend!!
- Penny - and also special mention to Penny for being my chauffeur to the show - love you chicka - you're the best!! xx
- Robbie - for coming to the show and staying as long as she could -didn't end up getting to see the whole thing though
- Kisane and her daughter for ebing sweet enough to come check out what it was all about - and for her kind words when I got of stage
- Deanne and her kids - and also to Dee for being an awesome boss at CrossFit Wollongong and supporting me all through the prep - thankyou so much!!
- Tether - my long lost buddy from school...times have changed, but you've defo stayed the same...was so amazing to have him there - he especially made the trip down to the Gong for it to support me, and then stayed for the meal and also for our indulgence at Cold Rock...I'm so stoked he were there and were able to share in the experience of the day - it meant so much to me, so thank you xxx
- Dave for coming along to the celebratory dinner and sharing the experience - thanks heaps buddy!!
- Sonia for coming along to the whole thing, even with a busted up wrist and NOW she's going to do her OWN comp!!! Wooo hooo!!!
- Michael (my big bro) and his wife Naomi - for coming at JUST the right time when I was up on stage and get the whole thing video taped for me...and also for supporting me and making the trip from Sydney on a Sunday arvo...so appreciate al the support and encouragement from you two - love you both heaps!! xx
- Heather - my hair an make up chick - shee did the 'do' and the make up, and was even willing to get to our place at 7:00 on Sunday morning - what a talent!!! Thank you so much!!
- Katie - my amazingly awesome posing coach who sadly wasn't able to make it on the day, bu was with me in spirit, and taught me the best stage presence and posing ever...I felt totally in control and breezed through the posing - and I'm sure its because of all her help
- Asher - for the incredible posing routine she designed for me - so grateful for your help - thankyou!!
- Josh and Chastity - Josh for being the comp/diet prep genius that he is!! Without his help and support and words of wisdom, I don't know if I would have been able to get up there and have as much fun as I did...he's changed my life, and with Chastity's help the two of them worked to get me in the best condition of my life...so stoked I got to speak to him on the day... i will be forever grateful, and hope to one day meet them for real
- Finally - to my muskles, Kurt ...the love of my life who has been my rock and support through everything...putting up with my insanity, occasional mood swing, and always pushing me to better than I allow myself to believe I am...never once lost faith or belief in me, and was the most amazing and generous person I could have ever hoped to have in my life...I can't express how grateful in am to have him in my life, and he means the absolute world to me...thanks for everything baby...you're amazing, I love you xxx
