Expectations were low for Chrissy Warren ahead of her first international fitness modelling competition and the end prize of a pro card was certainly not on her radar.
Fast forward a fortnight and the 33-year-old is now the holder of not one, but two pro cards and is a fully fledged professional of the sport.
“In the first 10 months of competing I’ve got my pro cards in both categories which is just crazy,” Chrissy said.
The Traralgon resident was up against the best in the world with competitors flying into Phuket from Romania, China and Korea for the ICN Southern Universe Championships.
“Let’s not lie; I was nervous,” she said.
“You saw all the international people and the Koreans came in [with] their big teams of about 40 people and it was really overwhelming.”
The stress and nerves of her first international competition were compounded by being away from home and all the normal creature comforts.
She also encountered a few difficulties trying to keep her deep bronze stage tan intact in the 100 per cent humidity of Thailand but it was not enough to shake her on stage.
She placed first in all three of her first walkouts to secure the coveted fitness pro card.
“Now they class me as a professional athlete in the sport … it’s just been a wild ride,” she said.
There was no time for celebrations and she walked out again immediately after the big win – this time in the sports category – and eclipsed the field once more to make it pro card number two.
“They let me walk out with the pros just after winning my pro card. They said ‘you might as well go out there with them’,” she said.
“So that was an extra walk out after the big win and it was just mind-blowing.”
Warren was not just making up numbers in the professional division either.
“I placed. I came third and fourth. I was just looking at Lisa thinking ‘I can’t believe this’,” she said.
Partner Lisa Theodore said she “was like a kid” watching on from the crowd and was completely overcome with pride.
“That was probably the highlight. Chrissy getting to compete against the professionals at the end of the day and placing third and fourth up against them,” she said.
“I just couldn’t believe it. I was looking at her thinking ‘who is this person?'”
Now back on home soil and as grounded as ever despite her new-found notability, Warren is already earmarking dates on the professional competition calendar.
She will be back on stage in October for her first official professional showing at the nationals and admits she has “caught the travel bug” and is eyeing trips to Italy and Las Vegas next year.
“That’s the goal,” she said.
“It’s just been the most amazing journey in sport and the support I’ve had has been incredible.”
“I guess the message I want to get across to women, [to] men is to not be afraid to get in the gym and lift weights. They’re not going to bulk you. It’s just completely changed my life.”
