SPECIAL EDITION:
Fate and 4-Week Fitness Plan Team up to Skyrocket Teen’s Self-Esteem

17 year-old Jean Leifhelm aggressively entered several local preliminaries to the Miss Florida Teen USA 2006 pageant but without much success. Placing in the top five on many occasions, she came close but never clinched a title. Admitting that her swimsuit figure was her weak area, she applied misguided and often unhealthy advice from gym trainers and other contestants to get in shape. Some methods were silly and others were downright scary, but she was willing to give anything a try. As a result, at one of her local contests, Jean felt weak and tired nearly collapsing to the floor, a far cry from the convincing smile she had on her face for the judges that afternoon.

After placing as first runner-up at Miss Treasure Coast Teen USA, Jean was ready to hang up her high heels for the pageant season. But, as fate would have it, the winner was unable to participate at the state contest and Jean replaced her, opening the door she tried repeatedly to swing open. She was now officially a contestant in the televised pageant!

With very little time to prepare, she contacted Built 2 Win so that she could discuss options to be her best on stage. During her initial telephone interview, when asked what her main goals were, she replied “I just want to, for the first time in my life, feel comfortable in a swimsuit on stage.” That was all pageant fitness trainer Justin Popovics needed to hear to be convinced that this girl was willing to start from scratch to rebuild her mind, confidence and physique through a customized fitness program and nutritional guidance. Jean was on-board as a client and signed up for the Emergency Body Blast within minutes after hanging up the phone.

Creating an intense program that emphasized cardiovascular conditioning and strength resistance training, Jean tackled the program like a true sport, never straying from what was asked of her. She and Justin talked frequently to keep the momentum going strong and to ensure a solid showing with the little time left before her competition.

After 4 weeks, the new Miss Treasure Coast Teen USA e-mailed her “after” photos to her trainer in New York City. The change was obvious in her appearance, but even more so in her attitude and state of mind. Justin explains “It was like looking and talking to a completely different girl. Jean became a shining example of what pure heart and drive and the willingness to learn can do for a pageant contestant. She has a newfound respect for herself, her body and it’s such an amazing sight to see. Watching her compete on stage at Miss Florida Teen USA was the biggest rush for me. Her smile, attitude and aura were all so bright and positive that it gave me the chills. That’s what being a ‘builtgirl’ is all about.”

Jean adds “The culmination of Built 2 Win's program was competing in the Miss Florida Teen USA Pageant. Justin was so much more than a fitness trainer and his grooming advice and guidance was a true blessing. Competing on stage that night was so much fun, and for the first time in my life, I was proud and happy with my body, and I enjoyed every moment that I was on stage. What I've accomplished was far greater than any top ten placement, and no crown can replace what Justin has given me.”

ONE MONTH TO PAGEANT PRESSURES CONTESTANT TO TRANSFORM HER FIGURE IN FOUR WEEKS

When I set out to prepare for the Miss NY USA Pageant, I knew that if I wanted to be a strong competitor, an important part of that preparation would be to get myself in excellent physical shape. However, the task seemed daunting: I had a little over a month to accomplish my goal.

I am so glad I found the Built 2 Win Web site. Right from the start, Justin’s enthusiasm and dedication towards his work was evident. I knew from our first conversation that I’d made the right decision in choosing to take on the challenging, but ultimately rewarding, Emergency Body Blast. The custom program that Justin designed for me truly unlocked my potential, and I achieved far more than I ever imagined I could.

I look in the mirror now and am much more confident about my body, but the positive results have gone so much further than that. Following my program took a lot of hard work and dedication, and when I look back on my training, I’m so proud that I stuck with it. Working with Justin didn’t merely result in a more toned physique; I attained a newfound sense of determination, a stronger desire for success, and resolved to maintain the healthy lifestyle I adopted. These are invaluable life skills I’ll utilize long after the competition is over, and what I consider to be the greatest benefits of Built 2 Win.

Justin, thank you for your encouragement and close attention to my progress throughout the past month. I’m happy to say that although I’m writing this before the competition, I'm feeling like a winner already!

Marleah Martin

A SWIMSUIT CINDERELLA STORY

Vanessa Bissanti never thought of entering a beauty pageant until a flyer landed in her dorm’s mailbox at Southern New Hampshire University. Entering the contest purely for the fun of it, she borrowed a friend’s dress and wore a one-piece swimsuit from the back of her top drawer. In November 2003, and weighing in at 147 lbs, Vanessa strutted her 5'7" frame in front of a panel of judges at the Miss New Hampshire USA pageant, winning their hearts and ultimately, the title.

She then realized her biggest challenge awaited her: competing against the rest of the country at Miss USA live on NBC...in a matter of months...in a bikini. So, she set her sights on the national competition and took full advantage of the pageant’s fitness sponsor, Built 2 Win, a company owned by personal trainer Justin Popovics.

As the official fitness trainer of five states for Miss USA, "transforming women's bodies to fitness magazine quality is where Justin works his magic" says one pageant industry insider. Everyone was in agreement that Vanessa needed to not only drop several pounds, but her physique needed to be reshaped so that the result was tight, toned, proportioned, healthy and balanced. They went to work immediately.

ACE-certified as both a Personal Trainer and Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant, Justin custom-designed a 5-day/week workout routine focusing on weight loss while preserving and encouraging muscle tone and definition. Each body part was looked at individually, and Justin "prescribed" certain exercises to meet their criteria for a flawless end product. He also reviewed food diaries, modified Vanessa's food choices, and offered recommendations to help her eat better late at night during long study sessions, so as to not fall prey to the dreaded dorm vending machine!

About 4 months (and countless egg whites, protein shakes, cans of tuna, home-made trail mix and fruits and vegetables) later, Vanessa arrived at Miss USA in Los Angeles at a beautifully buffed 125 lbs. Her confidence, spark and excitement to just make it to the national level was enough of a thrill for her...

During the live telecast on April 12, 2004, however, something shocked even those who have been following pageants for years. Taking a spot next to "heavy hitter" states like Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas was none other than Miss New Hampshire USA, Vanessa Bissanti, only the fourth delegate from her state in 53 years to advance to the semifinals.

"I can't even explain the feeling I experienced that night when New Hampshire was called into the Top 15," says Vanessa. "My wildest dreams had come true thanks to the confidence and physique Built 2 Win helped me to achieve. Thank you so much."