Kelly Bigliazzi Interview

Photo Credits:
Photos 1-2: JSK Photography
Photo 3: Dan Ray
Photos 4-5 RX Muscle


Kelly Bigliazzi had a real good 2012 including winning her class at Jr. Nationals and showing definite improvement. An injury will keep her off stage this year and she says it's not for sure she will be on stage again, but she has already proven she has the work ethic that if she wants it, she can do it.

Q: Can you talk about how you got started in the gym?
A: I was twenty years old. I passed out while I was driving and went to the hospital. I found out my blood sugar was in the 40's. I was about two hundred pounds. I was an athlete in high school and a hundred and thirty pounds through high school. I ended up finding out I was hypoglycemic, borderline diabetic, thyroid issues and I.D.S. The doctor said i needed to change my ways and I met my now husband, got me in the gym and I started doing my own research on how to eat correctly. I did kind of like an Atkins but a healthy way. I got the weight off and did my first show in 2007.

Q: What made you decide to compete?
A: A friend who I didn't know at the time came up to me in the gym and said "you need to do a bodybuilding competition." She had won her NGA pro card so I took her advice and did my own research and prepped myself for my first show.

Q: When you started to add muscle, it still isn't accepted by everyone, did any family or friends react negative?
A: Yeah, I had some family members who when they saw me, it was kind of a shock. Some were supportive and some would make their comments. I just blow everything off and move on with my day.

Q: Some girls I interview say that after they compete that first time that it becomes addicting, was that the case with you?
A: Yeah, I would say so. It is the whole adrenaline rush and the accomplishment. I think the first show was probably the most rewarding because I had come so far from two hundred pounds and dieted down to one hundred and thirty-five pounds. It was an adrenaline rush. I didn't win but it was rewarding and I had to do it again.

Q: This year you won your class at Jr. Nationals, granted it wasn't a huge class, but that is a big show, how did it feel to win?
A: I was more than excited. It was a huge accomplishment. You don't know who is gonna show up. The only thing you can do is compete with yourself. That's how I go into every show. I don't care who is gonna be there, I am there for myself and even if I don't win a trophy, it is an accomplishment getting there. I was happy to get first in my weight class.

Q: Does it upset you to see so few bodybuilders turn out for a show like that?
A: Absolutely! It is disheartening. It is what it is. I think there is more that goes into it. At Jr. Nationals they don't offer a pro card and I think that has a lot to do with the turn-out.

Q: After that was USA's, you took eighth in a big class, and I thought you actually looked better at USA's, would you agree?
A: Absolutely! I was the same weight. After Jr. Nationals, about three days later I got into a motorcycle wreck, and got chewed out by my coach for even being on the motorcycle. I wasn't able to work my legs for five weeks after Jr. Nationals. Even my cardio was limited. The weird thing was I came in at the same weight but was much leaner than I was at Jr. Nationals.

Q: Was that a goal or did it just happen?
A: It happened. At Jr. Nationals judges said I should do USA's. I discussed it with my husband, I'm not gonna jump into something and not discuss it with him, he is very involved in everything I do. We made the decision to do it and see how I do.

Q: Do you know when you will compete next?
A: I more than likely will be having hip surgery in February cause of the motorcycle wreck. I ended up with a fracture in my hip joint and a labral tear in the rear part of my hip joint. I need to get that fixed because it is hindering my training sessions and my cardio sessions. So I will get it repaired and hope for the best, it is not a guarantee it will fix anything. So we are looking at a year before I can even get back to training normally.

Q: Is it hard to take that time off?
A: Absolutely! It is hard, but it is what it is. There is nothing I can do about it. I could sit and mope and be mad, but it wont fix my hip. I have to make the best of what I have and know I have my husband and God behind me. I just hope for the best and that I can get back into competing. We will find out after I am fully recovered. I want to.

Q: Assuming you compete again, is a pro card the goal or is it more if it happens it happens?
A: If it happens it happens. I'm not like "I have to have my IFBB pro card." I look at competing as an accomplishment, it is fun, something I never dreamed I would do. If I get it, so be it, if not, that is just how things work out.

Q: At the gym do you get the stares and attention?
A: Yeah, it just happened tonight. I get dirty looks, stares, glares, people point. I look and smile and go on my way or just ignore them. I appreciate the people who come up instead of pointing and starring and introduce themselves. I will introduce myself and throw it out to tell me if they ever need help with anything. I don't want them to think I am an alien and cant speak. People will be that way and some wont like me just cause of how I look. You cant do anything about it.

Q: In public, are you more of a cover up and avoid attention type person or show it off?
A: I show it off. I wear tank-tops when I am in-season haha. Right now, not really, I go to the gym in sweats and a hoodie and stay covered up in the winter. I like to keep my joints warm, my muscles warm. When I am lean in the summer I wear a tank-top.

Q: If you could spend a day training with someone you have never trained with, who would it be?
A: Dennis Wolf. I would have to say Dennis Wolf.

Q: Anyone you want to thank?
A: My husband. I am sure you have heard this a thousand times, spouses have to deal with a lot of our mess, our dieting, mood swings and all that goes along with competing. He is very supportive and lifts himself. My coach P.J. Braun works with him to but he doesn't compete. I have to thank my husband. He has been there from day one. We have had our rough times but we always work together and get over it.