Nadi business owner Ajneeta Herbert has leaped into the competitive world of fitness as she took part in her first I Compete Natural (ICN) bodybuilding show in Lake Taupo, New Zealand earlier this month.
Herbert, who owns a beauty parlour and spa in Martintar, Nadi, represented Fiji in the NZ ICN under the Sports and Bikini Models categories.
The Fiji-born entrepreneur has always been passionate about fitness, and it took her five years to train her body and mind to be ready for the competitive stage.
With the assistance of NZ’s ICN president Brenda McDonnell and a personal trainer, Sina, Herbert was able to compete in her first international show.
“I’ve wanted to be part of IC Natural bodybuilding competition, so it took me five years, trained for five years and I was thinking that I might go on stage one day,” she said.
“Upon my visit to NZ in January, I managed to call ICN president Brenda McDonnell, and I told her that I wanted to compete. Through social media she sent me categories that I would be eligible for. From January to May, I went on diet, and I worked with my personal trainer, Sina from New Zealand and we did online for half an hour everyday.”
It won’t be a one-off experience for the personal trainer graduate as she is eyeing more ICN competitions abroad.
“My dream of becoming part of this ICN body building family was achieved through my hard work and dedication. It wasn’t an easy road, but with the right mindset and motivation from experienced body builders and fitness coaches, I nailed it.
“I will be competing in more competitions overseas. Not all food and supplements are available in Fiji, but the best gym is Pacific fitness where I spend my good quality time and it has become my hobby,” she added.
Herbert is now juggling being a hairdresser, a beauty therapist and a fitness enthusiast.
