Brandi Akers Interview

She is beautiful. She has an amazing physique, highlighted by some of the best glutes in the sport. But Brandi Akers is also an intelligent, strong (not jsut physically), independent, confident, and determined woman. From a tough up-bringing and being on her own at 15, Brandi has persevered, and become a success. She started competing in Figure, but moved on to bodybuilding, which was obviously a good choice based on her finishing first at lightweight at the 2009 Excalibur. No doubt bigger things are coming to, both in bodybuilding, and her soon to launch website www.brandimae.com. Here is a chance to know a little more about an extraordinary woman and athlete, Brandi Akers.





Q: First, Brandi, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this.
A: Not a problem at all, thank you for the consideration.

Q: Can you start out by telling a little about yourself.
A: A little about me; I am originally from Dallas, Texas currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am 28 years old, sort of a nerd as I love to read, love education and love to push myself analytically. I am highly ambitious, motivated and very tough (both inside and out)..I have been known to be sort of be cold hearted (or so I have been told). I am not shy by any means and absolutely love attention.

Q: Before the gym were you an especially athletic person? Play any sports or anything?
A: I have always been athletic; as a child I played ever sport from softball to running track. Even as an adult I have trained in Muay Thai, boxing and obviously weight training. I still intend on taking up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu after this coming season.

Q: What initially led you into the gym?
A: As I mentioned, I have always been athletic so going to a gym was nothing new to me, even as a young adult.


Q: Was training something you picked up fairly easy? How long before you started to see results?
A: I have always had a muscular physique and it has always shown. Results have always come easy for me as I have always trained like a consistent machine.

Q: What made you decide to compete for the first time?
A: Initially, I compete in figure shows for the simple fun of it because being fit and training was something I enjoyed so when a trainer of mine first suggested I compete, I was all for it and honestly don't regret it at all.

Q: Was competing something your family and friends supported at the time?
A: I have a small family but my grandmother has always supported me in everything. I have had past relationships where the guy wasn't supportive or didn't understand the concept of the sport..needless to say those relationships didn't last. I don't need a buffed out bronco but I do need to be supported and not talked down to because I have goals outside of the house.

Q: Was competing what you expected? Did anything surprise you about it?
A: Competing was what I expected in the beginning but what surprised me the most was how the girls went from being muscular in figure to slowly transitioning to a smaller and smaller physique; I have always been muscular and when I first started competing all the girls where muscular..I wasn't able to conform..I tried and didn't like it, hence why I decided to do bodybuilding.


Q: Can you share your contest history.
A:
*2009 - 1st LW FBB Excalibur
*2007 - 2nd Figure Lonestar
*2006 - 4th Figure Europa
*2005 - 8th Figure Ronnie Coleman Classic
*2004 - 10th Figure Ronnie Coleman Classic


Q: As far as body parts, what do you feel is your best one?
A: I feel I have a few great body parts; I think my bicep peak is great and my butt definitely is an asset.

Q: Do you have a part you most like to train or favorite exercise?
A: I honestly love to train my glutes; I love squatting, leg pressing and lunges.

Q: What is your normal training routine and diet like, and how do you alter it for contest prep?
A: Normally, I am consistent with cardio but when I am not training for a show I do love to do other athletics such as Mixed Martial Arts, dance and Yoga. I eat clean most of the time due to having a sensitive stomach. I can't have much sugar, dairy or heavy foods so this does help with off-season eating. I alter my diet by adding more calories and my protein intake; certainly I alter my training by implementing a consistent weight training regime.

Q: When someone sees your physique or hears you compete for the first time, what is the most common reaction? More positive or negative?
A: I always get positive feedback but a few times I have been asked if I was a transexual (man dressing as a women) but nothing really offends me.

Q: When they see it that first time, what is the one question or comment you are most sick of hearing?
A: Honestly, nothing people say or ask bothers me to bad; I do get sick of people asking "So, you must work out, huh?" but then I figure perhaps they just want to chat with me and don't have much else to open with, so I smile and say yes...sometimes I flex a bicep or so!

Q: What is the biggest misconception about female bodybuilders or the one thing you wish people understood?
A: I think there are major stereotypes regarding female bodybuilders (i.e. we all have huge clits, we all look like men, we are all so masculine, we are all crazy, we must all be insecure, etc.) I think some of us do love attention but some of us simply love to train and love the look and feeling of being muscular, hard and having balance of femininity and masculinity and that is OK. I think it is ironic that society is open to obesity (as that is normal) but yet stare at us as though we are from another planet because we are in shape and healthy....it honestly astounds and perplexes me that we are the weird ones because we are thick with muscle and not blubber!

Q: What is the best and worst part of competing?
A: The best part for me is seeing my body change time and time again; I love the look of being thick and hard. I love being on stage and I love the admiration from people. The worst would be the consistency you have to have when training and doing cardio...it is one thing to want to do it but when you know you have to...it can get monotonous at times.

Q: Do you have any favorite competitors or any you admire?
A: This is going to sound bad but honestly no I don't. I mean I think all female bodybuilders look good but I am my favorite competitor and I admire myself the most; in my mind I am a freaking rock and super star! I came from a very harsh and hard up bringing and I have endured more in my 28 years than some do in multiple life times so just being able to do what I do today and having the perceptions on life that I do...I have no choice but to admire myself the most...I have been on my own since the young age of 15, I dropped out of school and now I am competing, starting a small business, have started a non-profit organization and within a year will have my Bachelor's degree in business.

Q: Do you have a favorite cheat food?
A: My favorite would have to be Pizza; something sweet would be cookies.

Q: If another woman told you she wanted to start training, what is the one piece of advice you would most want to give her?
A: To go for it but to mostly be patient with herself because changes don't happen overnight; to stay consistent and to permanently change bad eating habits.

Q: You have a website coming soon. Can you give the address and tell people what they will be able to find there?
A: Sure, www.brandimae.com
The site is going to incorporate me (obviously) but also my brand of what an erotic, muscle, fantasy really is. Many people have fantasies regarding hard, fit, athletic and or muscular women..I want people to really understand that a women can be very muscular, exotic, erotic and sexy as hell.

Q: Outside of training, any other hobbies or activities you enjoy?
A: Again, I love reading, I love laughing and anything that will make me laugh; I love exploring anything that is unorthodoxed to society, I love dancing, I obviously love being around and spending time with the ones that I love, I LOVE MAKING MONEY, and I love helping others (philanthropy)..especially others (young children or women) who are struggling with poverty or obesity, I also love to sleep!

Q: Can you describe a typical day in the life of Brandi Akers?
A: Mornings usually consist of cardio, school and work; my evening consist of weight training, training any clients, and more work.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
A: That I play an instrument (Saxophone); it has been a few years and not sure if my lunges are up to par as they once where. I love drag queens!

Q: Describe Brandi Akers in five words.
A: Intelligent, Caring, Stubborn, Exotic, and Sexy

Q: Any set plans for the near future as far as competing or anything else?
A: The launch of my site www.brandimae.com
Competing at the 2010 USA in Las Vegas

Q: Anything you want to take this opportunity to plug or promote?
A: www.brandimae.com - should be launching in June 2010

Q: Are you looking for sponsors? If so how can they reach you and what are they getting in Brandi Akers the athlete and competitor?
A: I don't go on the hunt looking for sponsors as it seems many are looking to sponsor figure or bikini girls because they feel female bodybuilders aren't as marketable which is sort of a crock of crap when I get women all the time who tell me they would love to have my physique, arms, butt, etc., but as an athlete and a person I am great at sales, very sociable, have a brain between my ears, great with marketing, innovative and creative, outspoken, sociable, very down to earth and humble (no diva attitude where I think I am the best thing since sliced bread..that mentality makes me sick). Any one can contact me at my personal email: brandi@brandimae.com

Q: Brandi, again, I thank you for taking the time to do this. Any last words before you go?
A: Again, thank you for the consideration and opportunity to complete the interview, I appreciate it.