#25 Donna Atkins Posing Coach: VHS posing videos, no social media & bikinis from eBay: how bodybuilding has evolved over 17 years

25 EPISODES! WOW! How awesome! What better way to celebrate the milestone than an interview with the AMAZING Donna Atkins. Donna has been in the competing industry for over 17 years as a competitor (figure, fitness and bikini!), MC, judge, posing coach, tan technician and a total pillar of the Victorian bodybuilding community.

She is sunshine in human form and cares so deeply about the community and the competitors she meets and works with. I’m lucky enough to call Donna both my posing coach and friend and loved finding out a little bit more about her competing journey and how the industry has evolved over the years. 

We chatted about:

• FaceTime photoshoots
• How she got into competing 17 years ago
• Her first experience with a comp prep
• What bodybuilding in Australia looked like before social media
• Learning to pose from a VHS video + old muscle magazines
• The competitor community back then
• How diets have changed
• How social media changed the sport
• Competing in fitness, figure and bikini
• Travelling interstate for nationals 
• Figure routines
• Taking a 7 year break from competing, but still being involved in the industry
• How she fits in being a posing coach, tanner and working a full time job int he midst of competing seasons
• The importance of community and networks within the sport, especially if you’re new
• Difficult prep experiences
• Tanning tips and mishaps!
• Donna’s competing plans 

And more!

If you want to follow Donna you can do so at https://www.instagram.com/donnaatkins_theposingcoach/ - if you ask nicely she might just share some of those YouTube videos ;) 

If you love the episode don’t forget to share to your stories and tag us in it so we can see!

Until next time…

Stay safe, love you!

R x