Country mum turned top body builder

Just a year into her bodybuilding career, this mum has represented Queensland on a national level. She just hopes she has made her little town proud

LOCAL CHAMPION: Stacey Darr placed fourth at the NBA nationals. Picture: Contributed

BODYBUILDING: Just a year into her bodybuilding career, Stacey Darr has made it as a pro and represented Queensland at a national level.

But she just hopes she has made her little town proud.

Darr travelled to Sydney for the Natural Bodybuilding Australia nationals as a part of team Queensland, where she placed fourth out of competitors from all over Australia.

"I just would have never expected I could do it," she said.

"I hope it's a little bit of encouragement for other people to get out there and strive towards something they want to do.

"I never would have thought I could do anything like this and have done as well as I've done in my first 12 months."

Despite feeling a little overwhelmed at the scope of the competition, Darr said she was grateful to have had the opportunity to compete and represent her state.

"Just being able to get to Sydney and getting to have that experience in my first year is pretty mind-blowing," she said.

"Overall I didn't get the result I had hoped for but it's given me something to work towards because in body building it's about continuous work."

Darr's coach Rachel Curd said it wasn't just her physique that made her a standout competitor, but her work ethic.

"She always makes sure everything she needs to do gets done," Curd said.

"She never complains, she doesn't have a hard time - she just does the work and just trusts what I ask her to do."

Darr said she was excited to see what she could do in the next 12 months.

Her next goal will be to qualify for the international competition in the US in November next year.

Originally published as Country mum turned top body builder