Meet Ahna Maglinti

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ahna Maglinti.

Ahna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a competitive bodybuilder in the Bikini division, however, my career as a fitness athlete has been 10 years in the making. Most of my life, I was not active. I was not allowed to do sports or athletic activities as a child as my mother thought it would interfere with my studies. But it was something I really wanted to do. As a young adult, I was not a gym-goer or someone who did outdoor activities like hikes or runs. Most of my “exercise” was dancing at night clubs during college. Fast forward to 2006, I gave birth to my son. I am very petite at 5’0″. At the time, I became pregnant I was 125 lbs and at the time of childbirth, I was 154 lbs. While not a huge jump in weight, any added weight to my frame is noticeable. The pregnancy weight was definitely bothering me. I knew I had to do something to get back to my normal size, but I also wanted to be able to keep up with my son. So, once given the clearance to workout, I got a membership at a local gym in Las Vegas (where I was residing at the time). I had zero idea of where to start. I bought fitness magazines and followed all the nutrition and workout plans in them. Once I felt more comfortable, I started taking group classes at the gym yo add more intensity. After a year, I dropped the additional 10lbs of pregnancy leftover and physically more fit.

I joined a boxing gym nearby to change up my routine. I would attend 1-2 classes a day at 60mins each. My body was changing drastically. I was a member for three years at the boxing gym. One of the trainers at my regular gym noticed my physique changing and she suggested I “compete” in bodybuilding. I didn’t know much about the sport except the typical chicken and broccoli diets, steroids, and tons of cardio. Luckily, there was a girl I went to high school with who started competing. So, I asked her some questions and she advised me to talk to her coach. I did and signed up to compete for my first time in 2011 as a Figure athlete. I competed twice that year. I placed 3rd in October 2011 and 1st in November. I competed on and off from 2011 to 2014 placing Top 5 in all my categories.

However, competing takes a toll not only on your body but your life. Once you start competing, it literally becomes your whole life. From dieting to training, to resting. That’s all we do. You stop being social because you can’t eat like everyone else or you have to train at 3 am, or you are just plain exhausted from all of it. Being a single mom, it was affecting my son. So, I took five years off. During that time, I relocated to Arizona from California and established a new career as Director of Administration for a small franchise development company. I was able to enjoy life a little.

In the Fall of 2018, I decided I wanted to try and compete again. I was 42 years old and wanted to see if I could do it one more time. I contacted a good friend of mine, Davin Suguitan, who was coaching a small group of athletes. We made a plan for a comeback show of February 2019 in Northern California. I stepped back on stage on February 23, 2019, and walked away with 5 trophies and the Masters Bikini Overall. Now for those who don’t know the sport of bodybuilding, the Overall is given to the best physique in that category amongst all the 1st places winners. I won it. Three months later in May, I stepped on stage again, taking home another Overall.

In my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would be where I am today, now 43 years old, and still competing… and winning.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Many struggles along the way. Mostly life events from a divorce, to moving to a different state, to career change… all have impacted my path in fitness. Mentally it takes a toll as well. You become addicted and consumed by competing. Everything takes a back seat to competing because you want to win. Not only win but dominate. The sport of bodybuilding is harder on those closet to us. Family and friends have a hard time understanding what it takes for us to achieve the physique necessary to get on stage. We lose a lot of people in our lives and it’s difficult to find balance. It’s necessary. to take a step back or some time off to gain perspective again.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
In my professional life, I’m Director of Administration for a small franchise development company (based in Scottsdale) that specializes in health and wellness. I am most proud of the fact, I have been on this team since its inception and have helped not only build out several locations within our development region of Washington but helped pave the way for the growth we have seen in the last year and a half.

What were you like growing up?
As a child, I was very much a tomboy. I was always jumping off furniture pretending do Kung Fu. The irony is, my first name actually came from an actress in a Bruce Lee movie “Enter The Dragon”. I was an only child for 12 years, so I was primarily by myself using my imagination. I would play tag or race some of the neighborhood kids. My mother was very strict, as a Filipino immigrant. So, I wasn’t allowed to do much except stay in the house when I wasn’t in school.

I had a very feisty personality (still do) and I loved playing with Transformers or army toys. As a teenager, I was obsessed with fighter planes. I had posters all over my room, much to my mother’s dismay.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: miss_ahna

Image Credit:
NPC News Online, MuscleSport Productions, Adeline and Grace Intimates

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