00:00Afiya Giles-Baines will never forget her experience at the Raw Classic Fitness Bodybuilding Tournament.
00:06She entered the stage at 117 pounds, down from 227 pounds near two years ago.
00:13So I am familiar with stage and audiences, but certainly not in a bikini, right?
00:20So that is very new. I'm a total novice. I was actually the only first-timer in my category, so
00:26it was quite nerve-wracking.
00:28After walking off stage, she says she felt a sense of accomplishment.
00:33I felt proud. Yeah, I felt proud. So in addition to grateful, because we always try to remain in that
00:39grateful state,
00:40there was this sense of pride in knowing that that stage really represented the 244-pound woman that I used
00:52to be,
00:53the sacrifices that I made to get there, the support that I enjoyed, the growth, you know, and the development
01:04and becoming who I am.
01:07Are you happy at 117?
01:13117 is stage lean. I don't know if that's a normal thing for me right now, in terms of, you
01:20know, getting back into everyday life.
01:24But I was happy with what I presented. I can't remember the last time I was 117, right?
01:30But in terms of just maintenance, the goal for me really is maintaining my health.
01:36She is yet to make up her mind about returning.
01:39Oh, that's the million-dollar question, Sir Drew.
01:45I do not see myself stepping on a stage in the medium to short term,
01:52but I didn't see myself stepping on a stage at all.
01:56So at the risk of not putting my foot in my mouth, I reserve comment.
02:03The stage felt closer to home for Josette McLean.
02:06I currently hold every local title in bikini bodybuilding in Trinidad.
02:15Just two weeks before the last show, I was at the Amateur Olympia, attempting to get my pro card.
02:24I wasn't successful, you know, but I just, I went from that show into this show.
02:31McLean won her third bikini fitness title.
02:34Winning for a third time, it felt incredible,
02:38because this is actually, it's the most, it's the largest group of women that I went up against locally.
02:47The accomplishment is of significance to her as I return to the stage is certain.
02:52Definitely, absolutely, 100%.
02:57So I, like I said, I started this journey for competition three years ago,
03:03but fitness has always been a part of me.
03:07Being in the military, it requires that you have to be, you have to be fit.
03:13There's more to their stories as Sophia takes us through the drive behind her weight loss journey,
03:19while Josette reflects on the fit path towards the fifth day.
03:22Sergio Dufort, TV6 Board.
