IT took just weeks for dedicated Samantha Hauberte to transform herself into a professional bodybuilder after simply deciding to “try something new”.
The competitive 24-year-old, from Portlaoise, took part in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling for 10 years before deciding to swap the mat for the weights room in search of a fresh challenge.
She said: “My friends and family were very shocked at how quickly I’ve changed but they all expected nothing less from me as they have seen how much work and dedication I had put into the sport.
“They are all extremely proud of me and have accepted my new lifestyle as it’s what I’m extremely passionate about.”
Samanta said it is an expensive sport to take part in with custom-made outfits and hotel stays costing thousands annually.
She added: “The prices for a custom-made outfit usually range from €350 to €700 in Ireland, but you can obviously buy one as well, which would be slightly cheaper depending on the bikini.
“But looking at overall expenses, you’re probably looking at €1,500 or €2,000 to do a show because you have to consider your registration, your stay at the hotel, your bikini, makeup, hair, tan and food.
“You need special high heels as well that we wear on stage so it’s not the cheapest sport but it’s the most rewarding sport you would ever do.”
And she told how she has to make sure she’s EXTRA prepared for heading away on trips to avoid any added costs.
She added: “So like let’s say if I had the show in Dublin, you’d usually book your hotel the night before and that’s when the base layer of tan gets put on.
“So this is why it’s important when I do stay in a hotel, I always bring spare bed sheets.
“I always have about three big suitcases for a trip because you don’t want to ruin the hotels, apartments, bed sheets that you have booked.
“You also bring your own towels, you bring all your food, I mean your weighing scales, your salt, chicken, rice, rice cakes… you bring everything with you.”
Samanta also admitted she’s had to make a lot of “sacrifices” to get ahead in the game – and has even suffered some side effects.
She said: “Most people that are close to me find my new lifestyle hard to understand as it is a very regimented way of living.
‘WEIGH OUT EVERY GRAM’
“It requires a high level of discipline and consistency meaning I have had to make a lot of sacrifices in order to succeed in the sport.
“I’m not able to go out for food and social events as I have to weigh out every single gram of food that goes into my body.
“I can’t spend as much time with friends and family as a lot of my time goes into food prep, the gym and making sure I get my step count done every day which is 12.5k steps, and then if I do have time I prioritise that for my recovery and rest.
“A couple of weeks before a show when you’re in prep has also led me to be more irritable and moody being around people so I like to spend more time on my own during that time.
“And then there’s the physical strain – my body being sore and losing my period due to having a low body fat percentage.
“But my coach Adam, who is the best at what he does, has made a reverse diet which has led me back to feeling strong, energised and I’ve got my period back.”
‘EYES ON ME’
And she revealed people look at her when she’s working out in the gym.
She said: “I always feel eyes on me in the gym especially when I was on prep as I just went in with my headphones on and got my workout done to the highest intensity and push that was needed to achieve my dream physique for the stage.”
And asked what reaction she gets from men in the gym, she said: “I’ll be honest with you, no random man has ever approached me in the gym so I suppose maybe they are intimidated by me just ever so slightly.”
Samanta, who believes consistency is the key to success, told how everyone thinks she’s been bodybuilding “for years”.
She said: “So my main background is Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling.
“I’ve been doing jiu-jitsu since I was 14 and I love the sport, but I just felt like I’d like to try a new sport and I don’t really like team sports. I never really liked football or hurling, I kind of like individual sports.
“I was always into the gym and I thought I’d give bodybuilding a try and I fell in love with it and I’m still doing it. I’ve done five shows now.
“I only properly started bodybuilding in February.
“Everyone thinks I’ve been doing this years but no I literally only started.
“And they’re like, ‘But you won four gold medals in the space of a month?’
“I’m just so dedicated to the sport and obviously you have to be very consistent in the gym and with your food.
“My coach would work out my meal plans for me, so I mean, like I’ve been so, you know, focused on it that I’d weigh everything out to the gram, so do you know, I never cheated with any of my food.”
‘AMAZING EXPERIENCE’
Samanta represented Ireland at PCA Universe last month and said it was an “amazing experience”.
She said: “So there were 30 affiliating countries in the competition. I obviously represented Ireland.
“Unfortunately that day because things were running long, I made a few mistakes.
“I had my four gold medals throughout the month and so I was like, ‘I have this’, but unfortunately I kind of messed up a little bit.
“I still placed in the top eight, and I got an invite then for another show in November, but first I’m focusing on doing another competition now on the 28th of September in Limerick.”
“But looking at overall expenses, you’re probably looking at €1,500 or €2,000 to do a show because you have to consider your registration, your stay at the hotel, your bikini, makeup, hair, tan and food.
Samanta Hauberte
Samanta, who was born in Latvia, said she has gained confidence from taking part in competitions.
She said: “It’s changed my whole outlook on things, I used to suffer with anxiety and I used to be self-conscious about myself or being anxious, like even going to the shop, but it has given me so much confidence.
“You can prove to yourself that you have such a strong mindset and to step out on stage in front of 100 people basically wearing nothing.
“We wear like a sparkly bikini going out and yeah just it’s changed my whole mindset completely.
“I’ve met so many amazing people along the way as well even though bodybuilding is a singular sport, it’s not really.
“The community is so big that you meet so many people that are like-minded that want to do well.”
