Post Competition Interview: Lauren Brazier

• Name: Lauren Brazier 


• Age: 24


• Category: Bikini D (Medium Tall)


• Competition:  4th Place Bikini Ontario Open Provincials, 1st Place Fit Model Comp Toronto Pro Show

What steps did you have to do to your body ready for stage?Physically any prep can be intense, but if you love it then it doesn’t feel like work. For me, I make fitness a lifestyle so when it comes to prepping for a show not a lot changes. I clean up my diet and increase the intensity at the gym. The weeks of prep your life becomes more disciplined and there are many aspects that change, but I love prep, I feel like I’m at “home” with myself and my body so to me prepping makes me happy and I welcome the changes.

What was your goal for the competition? To be honest, going into the Toronto Pro Show I wasn’t expecting to place. I remember leaving my house for the weekend and as I was walking out the door I yelled to my mom jokingly “I’m just aiming to not get last place!” I prepped hard for this show and put a lot of pressure onto myself but I also knew that there were going to be a lot of girls there who have prepped just as hard as me. This weekend was a lot about the experience so the medal and the placing was an extra added bonus!

How did you feel during your prep for stage? Emotional roller coaster is the best description I can give. Prep causes so many different emotions, from happy to sad, to tired, to feeling on top of the word, the list is endless, but nothing compares to the feeling you get when all the hard work is done and you step up on stage.

What was your least favorite part of the prep? The day Jill took away my mustard hahah just kidding, but that is a pretty traumatic moment. As I mentioned above, I put a lot of pressure onto myself in prep so some days I would get into my own head and create a negative mindset about my progress, especially in the days leading up to the show. It can be hard to see just how much progress you have made and sometimes it can feel like you’re not ready and those types of mind games can definitely be hard but thats why its so important to have a coach who really cares about you, who works you through those times and helps you to come out the other side of it.

Did you have a moment of weakness? If so, when and why? Oops, I kind of already answered this above, but YES of course! I don’t care what anyone say, nobody is a perfect athlete. As mentioned above there were more than a few times I felt weak mentally, but also physically when you are in the gym tired and you are fighting to get through a workout, or convincing yourself to get out of bed at 5am to go to fasted cardio. Prep is not easy, there are many struggles and times when you need to push yourself past limits, but when you do, you will realize how strong you are.

What was the best thing about your journey to the stage? The people I have met, the opportunities I have acquired have been such an amazing part of prep. But mostly, prep challenges you in ways you never imagined. I have never worked so hard at something before in my life and the sense of accomplishment you feel after all is said and done makes you feel proud of yourself and thats an awesome feeling, self love is so important.

What was your favorite food? Almond Butter…is that even considered a food?! hahah

What was your least Favorite food? Fish, I’m not a huge fan of fish, but tilapia is my sea animal of choice for sure.

Tell us about your suit choice & the experience. Colleen from the Crystal Suit….that woman leave me speechless, she is amazing! If you are getting your suit from anywhere else then you are missing out, not only on a gorgeous suit that will make you feel like a princess but the experience and relationship you build with Colleen is one that I will treasure forever. She cares so much about her clients and puts so much love into her work and it shows. I am in love with the suit she made for me. I find it hard to express my gratitude towards her, there are no words that even do it justice. She is truly amazing.

On the day, what did it feel like getting ready, and stepping on stage?Its an overwhelming experience. Its so much fun getting glammed up by Absolute Touch, they do an amazing job at tanning, hair and makeup which give you that extra added confidence when stepping on stage. I get nervous for are, but I was very lucky to have so many supportive people backstage with me reminding me that I have worked so hard and will do awesome out there. I love the stage, and once I’m out there, all the nerves disappear.

Did you feel prepared and ready physically & mentally? Definitely, I don’t think I would have stepped on stage if I didn’t. You put in so much hard work in the months leading up to that day, so once show day rolls around, the hard work is done and its all about having fun at that point.

Was it everything you expected? Everything I expected and more! I am so excited about my placing at the Toronto Pro Show, everything that came out of that weekend is a dream come true!

How did it feel to be apart of Team Bunny & have Jill Bunny as your coach? It felt like being apart of a family. Love is the word that comes to mind. Being apart of a team with so many amazing woman who are so supportive of each other is an feeling unlike any other. Being apart of Team Bunny was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Jill is amazing and incredibly inspiring woman who loves her clients a lot. We are her family and she treats us as so. It can be very hard for me to trust people and I have never given up control or trust to a coach before her, but she made me feel so comfortable and was able to show me that giving up control meant getting an incredible prep out of it. I hope she knows just how incredibly grateful I am to her.

When you were finished your competition, what did you do to celebrate? EAT EAT EAT EAT! Me and few girlfriends went out an ate some burgers, drank some champagne and enjoyed some frozen yogurt. It was nice to have a girls night out on the town!

What are your plans for the future… another competition??? I will be starting prep soon for Olympia in Vegas! Im still in shock about this one, can you say dream come true!!!

Anything that you want to add about the whole experience? This weekend was a reminder to me of not only why I do what I do, but also why I choose recovery every single day, life is so amazing now that I am healthy and strong and I feel like Im almost being rewarded for all the hard work I have put into taking my life back. Recovery is so worth it because life is an amazing and beautiful thing if we let it be.