Shannon Hartnett is a former competitive bodybuilder who now runs her own women-only gym in California. I got out of competing because it had very little to do with sport or skill, and everything to do with how you looked. All the judges are men and it's totally subjective. That's why I signed up for Glamazons, because there's a clear set of rules. I've always enjoyed sport and I began to realise physical strength gives you self-esteem, makes you less depressed, more focused, more in control.
Control is a recurring theme with contestants.
Oh no, that's not the issue in bodybuilding now, not among women at any rate. Now it's all about plastic surgery. Bodybuilders have to reduce body fat, but now there's a requirement for female contestants to have Erin Brokovich-style breasts. Low body fat and large breasts cannot exist in one physique, it's not possible. So more and more girls are paying for implants.