‘Time to look after me’: The South Aussies rocking the state’s fittest rigs
Here’s how these 14 South Aussies got mega-ripped, and how you can too.
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South Australia is home to thousands of people looking to improve their health and embark on life-changing fitness journeys.
Bodybuilding is a sport designed to challenge and reward its participants and attracts people of all ages.
Several competitors are motivated later in life to cut nasty habits and focus on themselves and some have been in love with fitness for longer than they can remember.
Here are some of South Australias most inspiring and motivated mature fit rigs.
Fiona Hughes
Fiona Hughes’ bodybuilding journey began in 2019 when she decided to start focusing on her health after her three sons had grown up.
“It was my time to look after me,” the 52-year-old said.
Ms Hughes also decided to change to a vegan diet and started following the Sculpted Vegan, a bodybuilding influencer.
“I basically just followed that and just got hooked in the world of bodybuilding,” Ms Hughes said.
In 2020, she became a personal trainer to “explore more of the fitness world”.
The bodybuilder said keeping fit had “ups and downs” and in 2021 she had a “down period”.
“It was October 2021 that I decided to jump back in the gym,” Ms Hughes said.
“And a year later I was sort of on stage … it was quite the transformation.”
Ms Hughes said getting up on stage was nerve-racking but it was worth all the hard work.
“It was absolutely horrifying but exhilarating at the same time,” she said.
“I knew absolutely nothing about the bodybuilding world to start with. It was all a big learning curve for me.”
The motivated vegan said the body building community was full of “encouraging and welcoming people”.
“I’ve made so many good friends in the last year, it’s been amazing.”
Ms Hughes will be competing in three more shows in April with hopes to compete overseas in the near future.
Lisa Morby
When not spending time with friends and family, Lisa Morby is getting into the gym and working toward improving her fitness.
Ms Morby was recently in the Ms Figure open category and over-50s category at the 2022 Ms Fitness Australia nationals in the Gold Coast, after previous successes in local competitions.
“Thank you to my husband and family for cheering me on and for the enthusiastic support,” Ms Morby said on her Instagram page.
Terri Roberts
Terri Roberts, a five-time Australian bodybuilder title winner, is the director of Elite Natural Physique – a natural bodybuilding and fitness federation that hosts two shows a year.
Ms Roberts has more than 40 years of fitness experience at world level and is highly regarded by other bodybuilders who follow her influence.
Jenni Hill
52-year-old Jenni Hill does not shy away from competitions and posing for her chance to be crowned a bodybuilding champion.
In October 2021, Ms Hill posted to Instagram to express her excitement at competing in a competition over the age of 50.
“Finally got to achieve my goal of competing in my first-ever bodybuilding competition at age 50,” she wrote.
“It was truly the best experience and worth all the hard work, discipline and training involved.”
The motivated bodybuilder is a regular at Perfect Pose where competitors perfect their poses.
Tracy West
Tracy West is a world champion bodybuilder for Nabba and World Fitness Federation, as well as a two-time state champion.
When Ms West isn’t preparing for competitions, she is working in the disability and aged-care sector.
She keeps followers on Instagram intrigued in her lifestyle and fitness journey as well as showing support for Elite Natural Physique federation.
Janelle McLean
Janelle McLean’s bodybuilding career was put on hold in 2014 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 49.
The 58-year-old, who has been in love with the gym since she was 18, and has been competing since 1989, said it was hard to step away from the gym.
“It sort of took away my competition dreams,” she said.
“I actually wanted to compete for the first time in the over 50s (and) I wanted to defend my state title, go to nationals and go to the international show.”
Ms McLean said she discovered her love for the gym before a night out on the town.
A few of Ms McLean’s friends wanted to go to the gym before the night to “pump up their arms to pick up chicks”.
“I tagged along and I just fell in love with the feel of lifting weights and the way it made me feel,” she said.
“I’ve been going ever since.”
Ms McLean said she “never lost the drive” to get back on stage but found it difficult after her intensive cancer treatment.
“I couldn’t quite get to that size that I was before,” she said.
The gym powerhouse competed in her first show 12 months after.
“That was more of just taking back what was taken away from me,” she said.
Ms McLean said she wasn’t happy with the way she presented, so decided she would compete once more, in 2021 – which she looks back on fondly.
The gym junkie started competing in 1989 and continued until 2000, but soon after decided to have a break after having her son.
“One of the promoters actually mentioned something to me and said ‘it’s coming up to 20 years since your first competition’ and I thought that would be a good reason to actually come back,” she said.
“I aimed for that and I really just thought it was going to be a one-off but I came back and it was so successful and I realised how much I missed it.”
The body builder has won a national title and also competed at an international level in 2011 and 2012.
“To take so long to get there, that made it even more special,” she said.
Ms McLean said it was surreal when she stepped out on the stage in Austria.
“Hearing my name as they introduced me and I walked out, I went ‘this is where I belong’,” she said.
Ms McLean said she has no intention of giving up the gym anytime soon and referred to it as her “fountain of youth”.
Ms McLean now also trains others to pose for bodybuilding competitions and has her own business, Perfect Pose.
Janere Reid
Janere Reid is a WBFF bodybuilding pro, coach and photographer.
Ms Reid uses Instagram to share images from photo shoots as well as inspiring others on their fitness journeys.
The bodybuilder coaches through her own private company, Fit Angels Body Transformations, which inspires and guides people to transform themselves.
Ms Reid is also involved in Creative Fitness Media and “creates magic” with her fitness and fashion photography.
Emma Bowman
“Travelling bodybuilder” and mum of three, Emma Bowman, has over 20,000 followers on Instagram who follow her fitness journey.
Ms Bowman is an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness bikini pro as well as a coach.
The sports nutritionist works with clients to help them reach their goals and feel their best.
The mum of three also takes her Instagram followers on a journey as she travels the world with family.
Wendy Broekx
After both her sisters died from cancer, 54-year-old Wendy Broekx made it her mission to be “fitter, stronger and healthier” than she has ever been.
Ms Broekx said her struggles with body image and confidence had also been a driving force in getting her involved in the world of bodybuilding.
“I have always struggled with confidence and body image and in my younger years battled eating disorders,” she said.
“I wanted to do something that hopefully would help me become a better, more confident person.”
The bodybuilder said getting up on stage had been an electrifying experience.
“Extreme diets and getting up on stage wearing a bikini frightened the life out of me but in another way also electrified me,” she said.
Ms Broekx has competed in 20 to 30 bodybuilding competitions – most being Ms Fitness Australia, ICN, ANB and ENP.
In 2022, she was the Overall Figure Champion in the I Compete Natural Australia competition, the Australasian Natural Bodybuilding Australia and Elite Natural Physique Australia.
The 54-year-old said learning how to pose has been the most challenging part, both emotionally and physically.
“(There’s) so much to learn, so far out of my comfort zone, but each competition I learn and I improve – it has become very empowering,” she said.
When Ms Broekx isn’t competing, she is running her business Santosha Co Wellness which helps others reach their fitness goals.
“It’s for everybody but I really wanted to specialise in helping women over 30 who are busy and struggle to find time for themselves … and women over 40 who are going through any stage of menopause,” she said.
Livi Di Benedetto
Livi Di Benedetto competes regularly in bodybuilding competitions across Australia – most recently having competed in the Elite Natural Physique Australia competition in the Figure 50-plus category.
A huge believer that “age is just a number”, Ms Di Benedetto, makes it her mission to keep fit and inspire others to compete.
The bodybuilder was also awarded the Elite Natural Physique Terri Roberts Legend Award in September last year.
Lisa Callisto
Lisa Callisto has been a bodybuilder for about three years after having joined the gym when she was 50 years old.
Now 59, Ms Callisto has competed in the figure category in five bodybuilding competitions.
The bodybuilder said her favourite thing about the sport was “feeling strong” and challenging herself.
Ms Callisto also runs her own business Lisa Callisto PT where she helps her customers with strength training and body recomposition.
Betina Darby
Semaphore Park woman Betina Darby was determined to prioritise her health and fitness six years ago after separating from her partner of 20 years.
The 54-year-old says bodybuilding pushes her out of her comfort zone but leaves her feeling rewarded.
“I hated the stage (after her first competition in 2019) and vowed to never do it again,” she said.
Since then, Ms Darby has competed in the ICN SA over-50s division and is looking forward to competing again in October.
As a single mother, Ms Darby said the “gym has been a good outlet”.
Ms Darby said her four sons, particularly her 24-year-old who lives with a disability, motivate her to keep fit.
“I stay fit for him,” she said. “I like being a role model.”
The inspiring mother also has a vegan diet which she said helps to “nourish” her body.
Andrew Baker
Andrew Baker is making it his No. 1 mission to pursue body building despite being diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was two years old.
The 54-year-old said as a result of his diagnosis he had tight hamstrings, tight calf muscles and tight achilles tendons which made it difficult at times to exercise.
The devoted fitness fanatic says it will not stop him from pursuing his goal of competing in the ICN competition this April alongside his 24-year-old daughter Sarah.
The motivated competitor said his daughter was his main form of inspiration.
“She’s the one that sort of gets me to keep going with it,” he said.
Mr Baker said he had been doing gym work for a while, but had never done fitness to this extreme.
“It’s a whole new experience … in reality I’m out of my comfort zone,” he said
“There’s nowhere to hide.
“It is a bit (exciting) but I’m nervous at the same time.”
Mr Baker said he focused on keeping fit mainly because of his job as a factory hand at Witley Engineering – which included a lot of heavy lifting.
“I try to keep my strength up and basically just try to be fit and healthy,” he said.
“It helps with de-stressing and just the physical fitness of everything.”
Mr Baker said he was looking forward to competing in April despite some reservations he had.
“My goal is just to get out there and enjoy the day,” he said.
Seamus Percival
Seamus Percival, 55, started his fitness journey three years ago after he was forced to go on a 15-year break from the gym following a serious car accident that left him with back injuries.
“I started out doing the push-up challenge for mental health then an online body transformation,” Mr Percival said.
He said he decided to set himself a goal and entered his first ICN bodybuilding competition in 2021, where he placed third.
“I don’t struggle with motivation as the gym is my escape and happy place,” Mr Percival said.
“I’m pain-free when I’m working out and the endorphin release is a natural antidepressant.”
Mr Percival said he was looking forward to two competitions coming up in April where he will compete in the Master’s Over 50s category.
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