POWERLIFTING AIN’T PRETTY
I have worked in the hospitality industry for over 35 years. Without fail, someone will ask me a question about my appearance. Prior to becoming a Powerlifter, it usually had something to do with my hair, my tattoos, or on my style. Since powerlifting became my jam, the question has now become, “What do you do?” Some days I don’t feel like explaining what powerlifting consists of and I pull from my mental Rolodex of smart-ass answers. “Me? I am a professional knitter (as I flex my forearm)”. “I play for the US badminton team.” Or the Pro Wrestler Christina the Crusher at times. More often than not, I just answer with, “I am a competitive Powerlifter.” Most people think I get on stage in a sparkly bikini without knowing that what we do is basically the opposite of this. And then the comment that women love to hear…I bet you look HOT. But as we know, Powerlifting Ain’t Pretty!
Here is where I stop them in their tracks
“That depends on what you find ‘hot'”. If a singlet and knee socks with a fat leather belt pulled so tight I look like I have two stomachs, all while covered in chalk (for me, a LOT of chalk) and making a face that would scare Mike Meyers is your thing…then yeah. I am super hot.
For the record, it is nearly impossible to look cute while lifting heavy, and it is a major reason I love what I do. Society has always dictated what is sexy for women (and men). Hop on Instagram for 30 seconds and you know what I’m talking about. The Fitspo world has exploded with video after video of flawless looking people in the gym in the most expensive gear out there. If that’s your thing, be you Boo. But that was never me.
My First Meet
My first powerlifting meet was a little confusing. Although I wasn’t into having my hair done up right or the cutest singlet/sock combo I could find, I didn’t want to look like I was a vagabond. In a borrowed singlet from Stephanie Tomlinson, a pair of my dad’s tube socks, I was standing in front of 100 people alone on a platform with all eyes on me. I felt I had put SOME effort into looking decent, and I thought I had pulled it off, until the professional photos came back. GULP. I didn’t know my face was capable of that distortion, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the 97 veins I had protruding from my no neck. Susan Salazar was my first coach (lucky me) and neither she nor Leonetta Richardson warned me of this phenomenon . They have since been forgiven.
I Love It!
This was, however, the moment I also fell in love with this hobby we call a sport. I didn’t care that I literally looked like the Joker and that I was simultaneously urinating in front of the crowd. I felt strong. That feeling trumped any inadequacy society could put on me. And I am not alone. My favorite lifters are the souls who make the gnarliest faces. We laugh at ourselves. We have group threads sharing our squat and deadlift faces to poke fun at our cross eyed, open mouthed, idiotic looking selves. My friends make side by sides with some hideous lift face of mine with a monster or animal, and I couldn’t love this more. For shits and grins, if you really want to see something spectacular, record a bench from above and slo mo that bitch down. Pure comedy.
At this point I am comfortable in my cut up slogan shirts and bandana that would make Axel Rose envious. If my hair is even washed, it will be tied up into a mess you can’t even imagine. I am in the gym to work hard and get STRONGER. I believe women should be allowed to be strong without the “sexy” piece to the puzzle tacked on. This is where I mention that there are people out there that do find this look sexy. Again, if that’s your thing, excellent.
POWERLIFTING AIN’T PRETTY FOR NO ONE!
Jeff Frank is a professional photographer for meets, but also a competitor himself. At first, he would edit the pictures and only send the shots he felt competitors would like. After sending some of the not so glamorous shots, he found that they were even better received. Turns out we like looking at ourselves with puffy cheeks, beet red faces and bloodshot eyes. It validates the effort we put into all the training and preparation which leads us to that one day we get to show ourselves what we are made of. No grit, no pearl as my friend Ryan DiPompeo would say.
Amanda Wolff and Amber Hansen are two of the many top elite level athletes that I deeply admire. First for their extreme love and passion for the sport, and second for their ability to laugh at their look of horror while lifting. You can feel the intensity in that, ahem, face. Men aren’t off the hook here either. Joe Gray and DiPompeo have shots that have left me in tears. And yes, I do think that’s hot, in a HOT DAMN YOU ARE BADASS kind of way.
So if you are thinking of touching your toe into the powerlifting water and aren’t afraid to laugh a little, DIVE RIGHT IN. Get in touch with your former child self who loved a good ugly face making session. Be ok with not looking ok. It will set you free…and you might just get real f*cking strong.
Wrap Up
POWERLIFTING AIN’T PRETTY was written by Christina Leonatti. She is the founder and President of Pull Your Heart Out. She is a competitive powerlifter, active GGC athlete, and all around awesome human being.
