My older sister began competing in beauty pageants when she was only four years old.
- She always took singing and dancing lessons.
She learned about proper posture and was always interested in hair, makeup and fashion. I was always more concerned with athletic interests. I’ve participated in volleyball, soccer, track and softball since I could barely walk. I’ve always enjoyed going for hikes and runs as well as bike rides. My sister and I have never found much in common. However, a few years ago, she came to me with the hope of getting in better physical conditions. As she’s grown older, the requirements of the pageants have become more strenuous. The scoring was no longer all about looking pretty in a cute dress and curling her hair. She was suddenly getting judged on muscle tone, fitness and the health of her body. She became aware that it was time to get more physically active but had no idea of how to go about it. Obviously, my sister was not interested in building bulky muscles. She was striving to lose some weight while also tightening and toning her body. We’ve been working out together four days per week ever since, and it’s been great for us. My sister and I now have a shared interest. We encourage and support each other. Because my little sister is relying on me, I never skip a workout session. I’ve looked into all different types of workouts to create a customized plan for her. We’ve added in a lot of yoga and high intensity cardio for our sessions, which has been wonderful for me as well. We’ve both seen the rewards from working out together.