True Novice Figure NPC
Donation protected
Hi! My name is Ashlee Ibarra and I am a SSG in the United States Army. I have been serving for 12 years! I am a single parent of two beautiful kids, Leila (12) and Keegan (almost 6). My family loves fitness and to always try adventurous activities any chance we get! Recently, I decided to compete in my first figure NPC competition at Owensboro, KY on August 18.
The Backstory: I’ve deployed four times and working out has always been a stress reliever. At home, I don’t have much time for myself so I would go to the gym early in the morning or during lunch so I had time with my kids after work. It wasn’t until we moved to Fort Campbell, Ky, April 2017 that I realized I shouldn’t make this lifestyle just for me. My daughter, Leila, started her first year of 6th grade in a new city. It was very hard for her to adjust. Her hobby has always been volleyball but when the season was over it was hard to keep her motivated. With work, and traveling for work, and being focused on my 5 year old, it was hard to see what she was really going through. For a month, she was getting cyber bullied. This was not easy to overcome alone especially since I was gone for a military school in Texas for a month. She was really sad, hurt and confused on why this was happening to her. Fortunately, I came home in time to help her cope and gain her strength back after everything was done. Her confidence was still low and she lost interest in a lot of things she usually loved. This is the time I decided to put in effort to show her how fitness doesn’t just help your health, strength or get big muscles. It really is a tool to help gain confidence and your motivation. You can make weekly goals that are reachable and conquer them. And in a week you have grown as a person by just doing what you love. She started going to the gym with me and eating healthier. She started seeing progress in her strength and her appearance. Her attitude was changing drastically. She would talk about fitness to her friends and to me more than I was talking about it. It made me so happy to see her finding her motivation and drive back to feel better. It is so easy for kids now a days to only focus on social media and drama going on with their “friends.” To hear her eagerness to have so many goals about working out made me proud. I told her she could do anything she put her mind to. She always questioned if she really could. Then one night I realized I need to take my own advice. I need to put my words to actions. I need to show her it is possible to to do anything if you really want it that badly. You just have to put the work in and anything is possible. So I decided, as a single 30 year old mother of two, I would do what I always dreamed of doing but never thought in a million years I could, compete in my first Figure Competition. I Definitely never actually thought I would follow through with it but here I am 5 weeks out and I have worked so hard to get where I am. The dream I have always had is to have a career started for me after I retire in about 7 years. I would love to be a personal trainer or fitness coach. So helping her has helped me so much too. She is my biggest fan, inspiration and supporter. She has been pushing me since I started training and has seen the struggle. But now she can see that hard work does pay off and we all can do whatever we put our minds to if we really want it!
The Cost: Unfortunately, I didn’t realize how much competing would cost.
CompetitionTraining- $1,250
Figure competitors suit- $415
Competition Registration and Competition membership- $300
Hotel and Lodging for competition- $250
Spray Tan for Stage- $150
Stage Hair and Makeup- $250
Competition heels- $50
Competition jewelry- $30
Transportation- $150
Total: $2,845
This is a competition for athletes and the goal is to place and get sponsored. Then I can start my journey to attain my future career. But I need help to follow this dream of mine!
How can you help?
As you can see this a National Physique Competition, I signed up for the true Novice, Open for Kentucky state. The cost was definitely a lot more than I expected and planned for. If you could please help support my longtime dream by making a donation and sharing it with anyone who supports people for achieving their dreams, not only for themselves but also being the best role model you can be for your kids. It would be greatly appreciated. So please know that even 10$ gets me closer to my goal! Thank you so much for letting me share my story with you! No matter what, I am beyond grateful for the support and motivational words that I have received! Thank you and God Bless!
The Backstory: I’ve deployed four times and working out has always been a stress reliever. At home, I don’t have much time for myself so I would go to the gym early in the morning or during lunch so I had time with my kids after work. It wasn’t until we moved to Fort Campbell, Ky, April 2017 that I realized I shouldn’t make this lifestyle just for me. My daughter, Leila, started her first year of 6th grade in a new city. It was very hard for her to adjust. Her hobby has always been volleyball but when the season was over it was hard to keep her motivated. With work, and traveling for work, and being focused on my 5 year old, it was hard to see what she was really going through. For a month, she was getting cyber bullied. This was not easy to overcome alone especially since I was gone for a military school in Texas for a month. She was really sad, hurt and confused on why this was happening to her. Fortunately, I came home in time to help her cope and gain her strength back after everything was done. Her confidence was still low and she lost interest in a lot of things she usually loved. This is the time I decided to put in effort to show her how fitness doesn’t just help your health, strength or get big muscles. It really is a tool to help gain confidence and your motivation. You can make weekly goals that are reachable and conquer them. And in a week you have grown as a person by just doing what you love. She started going to the gym with me and eating healthier. She started seeing progress in her strength and her appearance. Her attitude was changing drastically. She would talk about fitness to her friends and to me more than I was talking about it. It made me so happy to see her finding her motivation and drive back to feel better. It is so easy for kids now a days to only focus on social media and drama going on with their “friends.” To hear her eagerness to have so many goals about working out made me proud. I told her she could do anything she put her mind to. She always questioned if she really could. Then one night I realized I need to take my own advice. I need to put my words to actions. I need to show her it is possible to to do anything if you really want it that badly. You just have to put the work in and anything is possible. So I decided, as a single 30 year old mother of two, I would do what I always dreamed of doing but never thought in a million years I could, compete in my first Figure Competition. I Definitely never actually thought I would follow through with it but here I am 5 weeks out and I have worked so hard to get where I am. The dream I have always had is to have a career started for me after I retire in about 7 years. I would love to be a personal trainer or fitness coach. So helping her has helped me so much too. She is my biggest fan, inspiration and supporter. She has been pushing me since I started training and has seen the struggle. But now she can see that hard work does pay off and we all can do whatever we put our minds to if we really want it!
The Cost: Unfortunately, I didn’t realize how much competing would cost.
CompetitionTraining- $1,250
Figure competitors suit- $415
Competition Registration and Competition membership- $300
Hotel and Lodging for competition- $250
Spray Tan for Stage- $150
Stage Hair and Makeup- $250
Competition heels- $50
Competition jewelry- $30
Transportation- $150
Total: $2,845
This is a competition for athletes and the goal is to place and get sponsored. Then I can start my journey to attain my future career. But I need help to follow this dream of mine!
How can you help?
As you can see this a National Physique Competition, I signed up for the true Novice, Open for Kentucky state. The cost was definitely a lot more than I expected and planned for. If you could please help support my longtime dream by making a donation and sharing it with anyone who supports people for achieving their dreams, not only for themselves but also being the best role model you can be for your kids. It would be greatly appreciated. So please know that even 10$ gets me closer to my goal! Thank you so much for letting me share my story with you! No matter what, I am beyond grateful for the support and motivational words that I have received! Thank you and God Bless!
Organizer
Ashlee Ibarra
Organizer
Clarksville, TN