Full Name: Natalie Miller
Age: 25
Federation: PCA & NMFUK
Past Federations: 2brospro, UKUP
Coach: Laura Baker (GirlGainzBlog)
Where are you from: Kent
What is your occupation/work ? Financial Institutions Full Time but am also a Qualified PT and Nutrition Advisor and am slowly building up my online client base.
When did you start to compete and WHY? 2019 - I used to run a lot and injured my knee. I heard that weight training could help strengthen it. When I got into the gym lifting weights I loved it and never looked back!
Have you done any other sports before? Yes, I used to Row at Cambridge University and also used to be a Marathon Runner.
What was the reaction of your friends and family when you decided to compete? They thought it was weird and it was just a 'phase'. Little do they know I have already competed twice this year and have another 3 shows lined up for the end of the season!
Do you remember your first time on stage? Yes - it was only this year! But one never to forget, the show was horrendously delayed and I didn't step on stage until 11pm :O
What changed since? I have put on quite a bit of muscle mass and was a lot more conditioned for my second show, I am also in a good place now and am going to be even more conditioned next time around!
Which did you competition you enjoy the most and why? UKUP - it was such an easy going vibe, very chilled and very well organised. Everything stuck to time and I had a blast on the day!
What was / is your biggest success on stage or in personal life ? In my personal life getting into Cambridge was a massive achievement for me. I came from a very small primary state school, was told I had dyslexia and told I wouldn't make it far at university. I then proved everyone wrong and ended up getting into Cambridge - I was hysterical when I found out and still remember that moment. In the competing world, wining my British final qualifier for UKUP was a very proud moment - cannot wait to see what we can bring at the end of the year!
What do you think girls should know before they will hit the competition stage? Make sure you have a strong support network around you - you will find the process and the journey 100% more enjoyable if you have people to share it with. Don't expect your friends and family to understand straight away, but equally you need to make the effort to help educate them. They will find it weird and strange and hard to understand so don't get annoyed, be patient and take time to explain everything- give them a chance!
Who is your bikini idol? My coach Laura, she has a fantastic physique!
How was your last prep and how did you manage your diet? It was pretty awful, not going to try and sugar coat it! I didn't leave myself enough time so I was running on empty by the end trying to get the conditioning I wanted. This time around I have plenty of time so am in a good place now
How often do you practice your posing ? At the moment I am 11 weeks out and I do at least 5 minutes every day at home and then once a week I will do a longer session, ideally in a studio.
Your favourite bikini colour? I went for red Bikini BKB by Bikini Mama for my first one - I think red is like the jeans and white top of the bikini world - it is timeless and never goes out of fashion! But watch this space for my next amazing creation from Kat - I cannot wait!
What is your next plans? I am currently prepping for NFMUK in September, I then want to have a go at PCA in October and I have the UKUP finals which I qualified for at the end of October. So a busy end to the year but this season was all about me trying to find my feet and find a federation that best suits me. I am planning on taking the whole year off next year and hitting the stage again in 2021.
Do you have any other hobbies outside work and gym? I have a puppy, Lola, who keeps me very active! She is my world and I love taking her on long country walks. I also love coffee (and cake!) and love nothing more than going out to cafes and catching up with friends. I am also building up my PT/Coach business in my free time. I love to learn and am currently taking my next modules on clinical fat loss and behavioural change.
Natalie's amazing transformation below:
Who you would like to say thank you or give a shout out? I met two amazing people this year, Carly and Laura. We actually met at a posing seminar and are now inseparable. So much so that we created a podcast called 'threepeachesinapod' you can find us on instagram, SoundCloud and Itunes. These girls have kept me going through prep and I cannot thank them enough! If you have some spare time doing your cardio give the podcast a listen - we are very raw, open and honest and there is no question we won't answer!