SEDIBENG.- Mbalenhle Mtambo (29) from Vanderbijlpark was chosen to represent Sedibeng at the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness South Africa (IFBBSA) in the beach bikini category after placing in the top 3 at the provincial competition which was held at the Walter Sisulu Hall in Randburg last month.
The Personal Trainer and Sport Science graduate from University of Free State told Sedibeng Ster that it took five months of vigorous training twice a day and drastic changes in her diet to transform her physique for the beach bikini championships.

“I had to be very disciplined and willing to make a lot of sacrifices to transform my body from being too muscular to looking like a beach beauty.” Mtambo said that the process of preparing for competitions always comes with good lessons. I learned how to use my time wisely, and in the process I had to cut out certain social aspects of my life that no longer served my life purpose.”

Being chosen to represent Sedibeng in the nationals is both humbling and exhilarating for Mtambo because it was her first attempt in a competition of such high magnitude. She attributes her success to her Coach, Quenita Pires, who inspired her to enter the competition and made her aware early on that her competitiveness in this sport will depend more on her mental strength than her physique.

“In the beach bikini category, contestants are expected to be lean and I was very muscular. As I trained more and ate healthier, my body went through many changes. I lost a lot of body fat before I could gain the necessary lean muscle.”
The fitness athlete said that as her waist-line size reduced, her self-esteem took a knock because of cultural expectations.
“I was stereotyped because as a black female society expects you to look a certain way. In our culture extreme weight loss is associated with being sick and thickness is perceived as more attractive.”

Mtambo feels that if she did not have constant support from her coach and the mental capacity to remain focused, she would have quit. She plans to use her success in the sport to make a difference in the community by sharing information and coaching other women who want to venture into bodybuilding and fitness. “Anyone can enter into this sport irrespective of age and background, as long as you are willing to put in the work, you can go far.”

You can connect with Mbalenhle Mtambo on her Facebook page and Instagram––– Mbali_Mtambo.