Marina Lopez Spotlight

@marinalopezfbb I am on a quest to be a leader in the new Women’s Physique category. My goals are to make it to the Olympia and Ms. International stage and compete as one of the best in the world in Women's Physique. I own a personal training studio and fitness bootcamp in Denver Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains. During the ski season, I spend allot of time in Vail Colorado. I love spending a day skiing and then sitting by the fireside in the evening cuddling.

At the age of fourteen I became a professional dancer with Ballet Folklorico. By sixteen I enrolled in a fitness and conditioning class and began weightlifting. My interest in bodybuilding was fueled by reading Flex Appeal and Perfect Parts by Rachel McLish and Hard Bodies by Gladys Portugese. I found women with muscle to be very intriguing. My background in dancing and muscular physique turned out to be a very good combination.

In 2004, I decided to enter my first competition as a bodybuilder. I won 1st place in the lightweight category at my very first show. I was hooked and decided this was the lifestyle for me. In 2006 I crossed over to figure competition and qualified for nationals after winning the overall at the Shawn Ray Pro/Am at my first show. After two attempts at the national level in figure, I decided to return to bodybuilding. The judging criterion was changing and the physique that I had built was now considered too muscular and hard for the new figure standards.

I returned to bodybuilding in 2009 and qualified for nationals by winning the overall at the Colorado State. At my national debut in bodybuilding I took home 1st place in the lightweight class and the overall title at the 2009 Jr. National Championships. I then went on to compete in Vegas at the USA's. I went back to work to prep for the 2010 Nationals. I won my class at Nationals and earned my IFBB profesional status.

See more of Marina at marinalopez.com, Facebook and Twitter