Has it actually solely been eight years? In that point, Janet Layug has finished nearly every little thing one can probably do in the sport of professional bikini.
Since profitable the 2013 FLEX Bikini Model Search, she’s collected sufficient {hardware} to fill a small room – high 10 placings in all 16 IFBB Professional exhibits she competed in, together with wins on the Arnold Basic Australia (2015), Arnold Basic in Columbus (2019), and naturally, her crowning achievement because the 2020 Bikini Olympia Champion.
And now… she’s exiting stage proper. Layug introduced earlier this 12 months that she is not going to be defending her Olympia title subsequent month. However she’s not leaving the sector. The 32-year-old from Lakeland, Florida, will nonetheless be concerned within the sport, simply in a distinct capability.
“I really feel like I’ve a lot forward of me,” says Layug. “My character is the sort to take one thing on and go all the best way with it. After which after reaching a objective, it’s like, ‘Okay, I wish to do one thing else. What extra can I do?’ That’s how I really feel now. I all the time stay hungry.”
On this unique interview with M&F, Layug discusses why she determined to step away from competing, what her future alternatives in health may appear to be, and the opportunity of a future comeback to the Olympia stage.
What have been the primary causes you determined to not compete in 2021?
For a very long time, I saved saying to myself, Oh, that is going to be my final 12 months. After all, being second place 3 times on the Olympia, that’s actual motivation to maintain going since you’re good there. Lastly, final 12 months I used to be capable of earn the title after a few years of competing… seven years within the Olympia. Clearly, my greatest objective was to win the Olympia title. And I’m on the level in my profession the place I’ve advanced, I used to be capable of accomplish all these items, and I really feel actually fulfilled from that.
I really like competing, however there are such a lot of opportunities in the fitness industry. Working with different ladies is a very massive factor for me, in addition to specializing in with the ability to encourage the brand new technology in ways in which transcend the aggressive stage.
If you say you wish to pursue different alternatives, would having your individual present be a type of?
Yeah. Having the ability to give again and having my very own present, being part of different individuals’s journeys, and likewise connecting with different corporations inside the business – there are such a lot of different enterprise alternatives and different methods to attach and interact with followers and followers. There’s a lot extra than simply displaying up and competing.
Are there any particular enterprise alternatives you’re capable of talk about at this level?
There’s some issues within the works, however I’m sort of maintaining that on the low proper now. I’m undoubtedly getting concerned lots with the NPC facet of the business, with seminars and instructing and guiding these athletes to be the very best that they will and provoking them any means I can. That’s actually the massive factor I’m doing now.
You talked about new audiences. What particular viewers do you suppose must be higher served? Is there a sure demographic you keep in mind?
I’ve all the time been an enormous ladies’s supporter. I wish to do something I can to provide again and assist assist different ladies to construct their self-confidence, to indicate them that girls can do something, and that we’re bigger and better than just the stereotype that typically sticks to us. But in addition, I’ve a 12-year-old daughter, so I discover myself doing initiatives that I can do extra together with her. With the youthful technology, they see lots on social media, they’re getting info faster and sooner, and a number of them wish to compete, too. It begins with that youthful technology, being a mentor and somebody they will look as much as.
Talking of social media, it will get overwhelming with all of the health “influencers” – some legit, others not a lot. What kind of presence do you attempt to have in your social platforms?
Quite a lot of occasions on social media, individuals get carried away, and it sends the fallacious message, particularly to the youthful technology. I believe it’s so essential to stay genuine by means of your social media and what you set out to the world and the knowledge that you simply’re making an attempt to ship to your viewers. You by no means know who’s watching. There are individuals all around the globe taking every little thing you publish very severely. I all the time wish to guarantee that I’m posting what I really feel is correct info and what I really feel is genuine to myself, not making an attempt to be one thing I’m not. I believe that’s crucial.
How a lot did household, particularly your daughter, play into your resolution to step away from competing?
She’s seen me from the start and has seen me accomplish a lot that I need her to see me accomplish much more than simply competing. I need her to study that it’s not like athletes in different sports activities. You may play within the NFL or WNBA or no matter, however does your profession finish when you’re not truly within the recreation or on the ground? No, it doesn’t. It goes past that. What you learn from competing on the stage – that course of and journey, self-discipline, being relentless and decided – you possibly can apply to different elements of your life.
Your occupations over the past 10-plus years have been well-publicized: knowledgeable bikini competitor, a health mannequin, a nurse, on-line teaching by means of JanetLayugFitness.com, and naturally, you have been a server at Hooters previous to competing. Can the totally different skillsets you discovered from these occupations aid you going ahead?
Oh my gosh, completely. Particularly with Hooters. Individuals suppose, Oh, it’s only a waitress job, nevertheless it’s greater than that. If you work within the restaurant business, you study individuals, you study social expertise, you study prioritizing, you study customer support. And in addition, profitable the
[Hooter’s International Swimsuit] Pageant confirmed me that what I used to be doing was inspiring different ladies to tackle different alternatives different than simply working on the restaurant. It’s larger than that. You study every kind of organizational expertise that carry over into every little thing else that I do. And with nursing, there’s clearly so many expertise with that, however all of them overlap. It doesn’t matter what job you do, you possibly can take these expertise and apply them to any facet of your life. It doesn’t restrict you to that job. Each job has an even bigger objective than you actually suppose.
What’s going to your coaching be like within the fitness center now that you simply’re not competing? Will you again off somewhat or maintaining going onerous?
Clearly, while you practice for a present there’s a really strict routine, and it goes somewhat additional than the common one who trains within the fitness center. However for me, I’ve been doing it for thus lengthy, it’s instilled in me each time I hit a exercise. I’m all the time going onerous and giving it my all and placing within the depth. For me, I’ve all the time cherished health and coaching. That’s part of me, so it doesn’t matter what, I’ll be all the time coaching.
Would you ever come out of retirement and compete once more?
Effectively now, I didn’t say retire. I simply stated I’m stepping off the stage and stepping again from competing this 12 months. The phrase “retirement” feels such as you’re utterly taking your self out of the business. I’m not too keen on that phrase.
So we might see you once more on the Olympia stage someday?
You by no means know. I’ll simply say that. Everybody likes a comeback, proper?
