Female bodybuilders add a touch of beauty to the brawn

Hayley Barends, a passionate 31-year-old Afrikaans teacher and ‘piloxing’ (boxing, pilates and dance) instructor, recently added bodybuilder to her resume. Barends first started training and lifting weights in 2015, which helped her to tone and define her muscles, ultimately preparing her for the body-building journey she would later embark on. In this episode, Barends speaks candidly on occupying this male-dominated sport, overcoming body shamers and learning that everything starts with discipline – from physical fitness to mental well-being. She took part in her very first bodybuilding competition at the IBFF Cape Classic on 29 July 2023. She won the Miss Bikini category and finished runner-up for Miss Wellness.