| People January 1, 2009
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Angela was shocked that
she won at the Summer 2008 SAF Model Search.
(Photo June 2008 by D. Dave Paul) |
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Meet Angela DeFrancesco – the
Summer 2008 SAF Model Search Figure Model Winner
The story behind Angela DeFrancesco’s success as the
Figure Model winner at the Summer ’08 SAF Model Search is an interesting one. Angela
is a 28-year-old schoolteacher from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, who, despite possessing an
imposing-looking physique onstage, is actually quite petite: she stands just
5’1" tall and is about 107 pounds.
The first time I saw Angela compete was about two years ago
at a figure competition in Northern Ontario. I was immediately impressed with her superbly
developed physique. It was obvious to me that she trained with weights, but she was
developed in such a way that I also felt she must be accomplished in something like track
and field. She looked like a real athlete, not just someone who goes to the gym from time
to time.
Angela did well in that first contest, but I could also
tell she was nervous when she was on the stage. That’s certainly understandable, as I
think it was her first show and she probably wasn’t used to being in front of a crowd
in a bikini. However, I thought enough of her that I wanted to encourage her by giving her
some feedback, essentially telling her that she had very good potential and that she
should continue with physique competitions even if it was a little nerve-racking the first
time. Her reaction to my suggestion surprised me – she gave me a suspicious look of
as if she thought I was just flattering her. Right then, I knew that she had no idea how
much potential she had.
Each time I saw Angela after that, I’d give her a few
words of encouragement. Most of the time, though, she would still give me that look.
However, after a while, I think that she also starting getting similar feedback from
others and I could see that it was beginning to sink in. Her confidence was growing, that
look of disbelief was disappearing, and she was realizing that she might have a future in
the fitness world.
The real turning point came the night before the Summer
’08 SAF Model Search when she walked up to me with her entry form in hand and said,
"Do you think I should compete? Be honest. Be really honest." Although
she had competed in figure already, she had never competed in any type of fitness modeling
event and she was obviously having second thoughts about entering. My answer was:
"Absolutely! You certainly have the potential. Now you just have to give it a
try."
As we know, Angela did enter and she won the Figure Model
category in that show, which I was obviously happy to see. When our MCs announced her name
and walked over to her to give her the trophy, I made sure to take note of the expression
on her face to gauge how she was feeling at that moment. It was obvious that she was
absolutely shocked that she had won. Her confidence had improved since I first saw her
compete, but she still had no idea that she had the potential to win a competition like
this one, even though she just did.
But that’s not the only story there is about Angela.
There’s a rather surprising one about how she got to the competitive stage in the
first place, one that starts long before that first show in Northern Ontario. I got
together with Angela last fall so she could tell that story herself. Here is what she
said:
"Since as far back as I can remember, I was always
involved and had a passion for physical activities. No matter what physical activity it
was, I had to be involved. During my high school years, I was involved in basketball,
volleyball, wrestling, badminton, and track and field.
"I went on to university and continued my studies in
kinesiology, specializing in movement studies. While at university, I wrestled and played
basketball for the varsity teams. Everything seemed to be going well up to this point. It
was November 2002 when everything changed. I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with
heart problems. It was at this point where everything I had worked so hard for had to
stop. I was told I would never be able to play sports competitively and even had to stop
training at the gym for a while. I struggled with the news that I received and had a hard
time swallowing it. There is no real way I can explain how I felt other than depressed and
robbed of my dreams. I decided to become a certified personal trainer, focusing on
sports-specific training. If I was unable to be active, I wanted to be able to help other
individuals reach their goals.
"After graduation, I returned to my
hometown of Sault Ste. Marie. While teaching for the school board, I continued to personal
train in my spare time. I slowly started to get back into training myself. One of my
fellow trainers and good friend, John Perron, confronted me about training for a figure
competition. My immediate response was, ‘No way, I could never do that!’ I loved
the idea of training hard, setting a goal, and being able to attain it. However, I never
thought I would be able to get up on stage in a tiny suit and show my body. John continued
to be persistent and really wanted me to at least try a ‘level 1’ show and see
if I enjoyed it. I finally agreed.
"In May 2007, I competed in my very first figure
competition. After finishing second, I realized that there was so much more to the sport
than being in great shape. Presentation, jewelry, suits, skin color, the overall package
were taken into consideration. I worked on my presentation skills and, the next weekend,
went on to win the overall title at the Northern Ontario Championships, and I placed
second at the Natural Ontario Championships that were held the same day. I finished the
’07 season placing fourth at the Ontario Championships, which wasn’t enough to
qualify me nationally. It was after that show that I got hooked.
"Being the competitive person that I am, I wanted to
be able to achieve the highest goal possible, and be the best competitor I could be. I
trained really hard in the off-season, working on my overall package with the goal in mind
of making it to the 2008 CBBF Canadian Figure Championships. In 2008, I ended up finishing
second out of a tough thirteen-competitor class at the Ontario Championships qualifying me
for the Canadians. That very same day I entered the Summer ’08 SAF Model Search at
the last minute and ended up winning the Figure Model category with no prior modeling
background. I was in total shock, but ecstatic nonetheless! Hard work and determination
were starting to pay off. After that, I had my first ever photo shoot with Doug Schneider
and am featured in TheStarPowerStudio.com. I never anticipated competing in figure
competitions would lead to what it has today.
"I am continuing to train hard in the off-season and
work on my weaknesses while balancing teaching, family, and friends. Each year, I am
trying to set my goals a little higher, with the ultimate goal of one day obtaining an
IFBB Pro Card, and being featured in fitness magazines. I am so grateful that I am able to
compete in a sport that I really enjoy and hope that I can be a positive role model to
both the students I teach, as well as those around me. Someone once told me,
‘Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.’ I am a firm
believer in this: anything is possible, just follow your dreams."
Seeing Angela’s progression from being a nervous
novice to becoming one of our SAF Elite has been very satisfying for me. It’s one
thing to see potential, but another to watch the person make the most of it and get ahead.
When it happens, it’s not only gratifying, but inspiring in a way that can motivate
others to succeed. Those are the kind of success stories I like to tell. Now I’m
looking forward to seeing what Angela’s next steps are and what the future brings for
her yet again.
. . . Doug Schneider
das@seriousaboutfitness.com |
