Melissa Biro Interview

Photo Credits:
Photos 2-4: RX Muscle


As I have said before, one of my favorite things about my blog is when I get to interview someone who is new to competing, someone with great potential who I can help to get more people aware of her. Several times at my gym I saw a woman named Melissa Biro working hard. At the time, I did not know of her intentions to compete. When I finally was made aware of that, I really gained an interest in seeing how she did. I admit, I did not expect her to do so well so fast. That is because you can never expect someone to do as well as she did as fast as she did. In her debut show recently, she won her class at the Tricky Jackson. She then brought an even better package to the Kentucky Muscle and took second place in a really tough group. Melissa Biro is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Q: Can you talk about how you got started in the gym?
A: I joined Urban Active about two years ago in order to get in shape. I was always into Yoga and then got into lifting weights about four months ago after my friend Johnathan Johnson told me the benefits lifting weights would bring to my body.

Q: Why did you decide to compete?
A: I decided to compete because I wanted to do something for myself that would be both physically and mentally rewarding. I am a very dedicated person, so when I find something I am really passionate about, I just dedicate myself to it. Once I got into the weightlifting and training, I found the training to be my passion. Also, once I saw the changes in my body, it became like an addiction. I was seeing such great changes in such a short period of time.

Q: People who don't follow it might not understand bikini, did you have to explain to people that it was fitness and not some T&A thing?
A: Yeah I did. People misunderstood what bikini was. They thought it was more like a beauty pageant. I would have to explain that there is dieting and training that went into bikini and it wasn't just something you go on stage without dedication and time commitment. There is a lot of time commitment involved in all aspects of bodybuilding. There is not a lot of education about it, people in the gym know, but people who don't work out don't know much about bikini or the other types of bodybuilding.

Q: For the prep for your first show, what was the hardest part?
A: I would say getting used to the dieting. In the beginning I was eating every three hours, six to seven meals a day. I had to prepare my meals every night. As it got closer, the dieting became more strict, more protein and veggies and less carbs. Also, closer to the show the dieting became very very strict. I had to give up alcohol and sugar and that was hard for me.

Q: The first show, you won your class at the Tricky Jackson, what went through your head when you won?
A: When I received the trophy I was just really happy and felt blessed because I put a lot of time into this. I was on stage with a lot of beautiful girls who put a lot of time commitment into it as well. This was my first show, so to be honest I just felt really blessed with the outcome.

Q: Did you feel going in that winning was a possibility?
A: i did feel it was a possibility but I didn't know that I would win first in my class. It was a surprise for me.

Q: After that you did the Kentucky Muscle and took second. One thing I liked is you didn't seem to be satisfied and came in better and leaner, would you agree?
A: Yeah, I definitely agree with that. My first show I went to the judges and asked what I could improve on for the next show cause it was mostly the same judges for Kentucky Muscle. One of the judges said maybe a little leaner. I really took it into consideration and for that show I was very strict on my diet for that week. I only had one week between shows. I was strict on my dieting and training and came in a lot leaner.

Q: Do you know when you would like to compete next?
A: Right now I am thinking I might do the NPC Pittsburgh Championships in May and also debating doing the Northern Kentucky show in March.

Q: For the next show, where would you like to be better?
A: I'd like to work on my alts and try to bring in the appearance of a smaller waist line. Also, of course for bikini, my glutes and keep them in shape. Also work on my triceps and improve them.

Q: Long term, are you gonna stay with bikini or would you ever consider figure?
A: I am definitely gonna stay with bikini. I love the curves bikini girls have and the amount of muscle we train to have. I also love the bikinis we were and the posing we do. I think it is fun. I love everything about it. If I didn't like it as much I wouldn't be as passionate about it.

Q: Is fitness modeling something that interests you?
A: Possibly in the future if that opens up for me.

Q: When you are at the gym, not a lot of girls train that hard, do you get a lot of stares from people?
A: Yeah I do. I do notice sometimes guys look at me when I train and some females do to. I think they are curious because not a lot of females train and lift weights. I wish there was more education for females on lifting weights and the changes it does for your body. I used to just do cardio and be a vegetarian. As soon as I got into eating protein and lifting weights, it changed my body for the better. I wish more females would get into it.

Q: If you could spend one day training with any person you have never trained with, who would it be?
A: Nathalia Melo. I read things she does for bikini, she does things for glutes that I like and has an amazing body. It would be a great experience.

Q: Anyone you want to thank?
A: I would like to thank Johnathan Lee Johnson, my trainer. He got me into all this, lifting, does my dieting and training programs. He is an inspiration for me and has helped me so much. I wouldn't be where I am without him.