Witpoortjie resident Monique Giraud-Groener was crowned Overall Wellness Champion for the fifth consecutive year at the 2025 International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) National Championships, held in Durban from September 11–13.

The Port Elizabeth-born athlete began competing in 2017 and has dominated the Wellness Fitness category ever since.She currently holds four Gauteng titles, making her one of the sport’s most consistent champions.

Her entry into bodybuilding was unexpected: a stranger noticed her strength and athletic build and encouraged her to compete.“The rest was history,” she says.Monique admits the journey has been far from easy.

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“Behind the trophies lies a demanding lifestyle of strict diets, countless hours in the gym, and sacrifices that extend well beyond competition day. You must be disciplined to reach the goal.”

Her training regimen requires time away from family and an extreme diet few could endure.But for her, bodybuilding is about more than physical transformation.

“This sport teaches discipline, confidence and goal-setting. It shows that delayed gratification has value. A bodybuilding physique cannot be bought – there’s only one way to achieve it, and that’s through time, effort and hard work.”

Her advice to aspiring competitors is direct and motivating: “This is not an easy sport – otherwise everyone would do it. Set the goal and work towards it. It will get so tough that you’ll question your life decisions more often than the meals you eat in a day. The key is not to give up, because the achievement when you step on that stage is undeniable.”

Monique is now focused on her next target: the world championships, to be held in Spain later this year.