Alina Popa
Early life and education. Popa grew up Brăila, Romania. From the age of 12, she competed in track and field, initially to lose weight. In college, she studied English and Romanian for four years, majoring in the former with a teaching degree. Bodybuilding career. Amateur. At the age of 19, she chanced upon a gym in her hometown, where she encountered a young woman preparing for the National Junior Championships. This inspired Popa to begin a training regimen of her own. She would continue lifting for the next two years before a trainer suggested she train competitively. Popa  entered her first local competition in 2000, a regional cup in which she placed second. Later that same year, she placed third in her division at the National Championships. In 2003, upon reaching a weight of she began competing in the heavyweight bracket, representing her country until 2005. In 2006, she relocated to Switzerland, close to Zurich, and has competed for her adopted country as an amateur. She received her IFBB pro card in 2008 after winning the overall and heavyweight at the 2008 IFBB Worlds Santa Susanna.As a pro athlete, she represents her native country, Romania. Professional. Popa  competed in her first Ms. International in 2010 and her first Ms. Olympia in 2011. With the exception of the 2010 Ms. International, every IFBB professional bodybuilding competition Popa has attended has found her placing within the top five. At the 2013 and 2014 Ms. Olympia competitions, she finished second behind Iris Kyle. To date, this is her second highest placing. Her trainer is bodybuilder Dylan Armbrust, owner of Armbrust Pro Gym and husband of professional bodybuilder Heather Policky Armbrust. Due to injuries, Popa did not participate in the 2015 Rising Phoenix World Championships, but returned to competition in 2016 . Popa went on to win both the 2018 IFBB Muscle Vodka Tampa Pro and the 2018 Rising Phoenix World Championships. Personal life. Popa currently lives in Arvada, Colorado, and she is divorced. As of September 11, 2013, Popa started working at Armbrust Pro Gym in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, as a personal trainer, and also poses as a freelance fitness model.