Alectra Kelley is determined to go Pro. But unlike other big names in bikini (e.g. Candice Perfect), Alectra actually has more than just good looks to bring to the table. This Alaska native brings a nice amount of muscle and balance as well. She trains regularly alongside fellow Bikini Star Zlata Sushchik and she continues to placer higher.
We're proud to announce that two more great champions have submitted their videos to the StrengthAddicts/FigureBikini audience. Please be sure these great clips. Paola Terry, one of the champions of The Alaska Four (a highly talented pool of Alaskan Bikini Stars you should all keep your eyes on), submitted two greeting videos - on in English & one in Spanish. Paola is of Peruvian desecent and lives in Anchorage, AL.
Carolina Granados has been a longtime friend to our sites and is a great champion in her own right. She's competed both in Figure & Bikini and continues to be a threat on whatever stage she steps on. This Las Vegas local, always brings a stellar look - and she, like Paola, will be mixing it up at this year's NPC USA Championships.
Something's happening in Alaska, especially in NPC Bikini, with huge stars like Alectra Kelley, Paola Terry, Candice Perfect, and of course... Zlata Sushchik, who will be doing an interview with StrengthAddicts/FigureBikini in the near future.
What I find incredibly promising about Zlata (as well as the other great stars mentioned), is that she's a young woman that understand the value of hard work. It's not easy making it in the fitness industy. Whereas the Men are divided into divisions, the Women are divided into five! And while that factor alone may prove troublesome to the Pros, it's even more of an issue for NPC Stars that are winning shows but not earning any prize money to show for it. This is an expensive sport, one that requires almost complete dedication to training, nutrition, and supplementation. Most sports have an off-season, even bodybuilding has one. But the Men that compete in Physique - and the women of Figure & Bikini, they seldom venture off their diet or training for more than a few days. There are literally hundreds - if not thousands - of women trying to place, trying to get noticed. This is serious work - and women like Zlata Sushchik are on their way to the top.
Zlata - and many of the women mentioned and/or reading this article - started competing in their teen years. When their friends may (or may not...) have been out partying and getting smashed, they were in the gym 5x a week and eating clean year-round. This is not meant to dissuade ladies in their 20's, 30's, or even in the Masters from competing. But it should serve a wake-up call to those ladies (like Men in bodybuilding and physique) that just plan to show up at a show for fun. Zlata and many of the ladies of her generation take the stage very seriously. They work hard to do battle - they're going there just for fun.
Name: Paola Terry
Age: 25
Ht: 5’4¼”
Wt: Regular & Contest: 126 regular, 120 contest
Hometown: Lima, Peru
Current City : Anchorage, Alaska
What got you started (training and competing)
A couple of years ago, after kickboxing class at the local gym, I was standing in the lobby and I saw a bunch of athletes checking in for an event. A friend of mine mentioned it was for a bodybuilding, fitness, and bikini competition. I had no idea what the competition was all about, but my friend said, “you should do it”. I love trying new things so I jumped in. I won on my first time competing in the bikini division, and then I got hooked learning more about the competitions and training for them. I was competing locally on and off for couple of years until December 2011 when I really committed to training harder. When I committed to this 110%, my competition and fitness passion stepped up to the next level.
What the process has been like.
Training for competitions has been an amazing experience. It has not only taught me how to train for a competition, but also how to have a fit and healthy life. Eating right and working out regularly has become a lifestyle. My passion for fitness has increased and I don’t only love learning about it for myself, I also enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences to motivate others.
Do you train on your own, with a team, or do you have a trusted spotter/workout partner?
I go to the gym 5-6 times a week and I train with Valentina Chepiga (former Ms Olympia 2000). I also love working out with my best friend Fabiola, we both spot each other and enjoy doing cardio at the end of our intense workouts.
What's your diet like (you can list what you eat or speak as to the topic in general) –
My diet is very balanced. I eat 6 times a day. It is based of 50 % proteins, 30% fats and 20% carbs. My diet is based on my rate of fat loss and the amount of lean mass I have at the moment. I like to mix and match my meals including witch typically consist of chicken, ground turkey, white fish, egg yolks/whites, avocados, salmon fish oil, broccoli, grapefruit, raisings with oatmeal, brown rice, yams, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and blueberries.
What are some favorite cheat meals?
My favorite “cheat” meals or type of food is definitely Italian food. That’s right, pasta! Chicken & shrimp Carbonara is one of my favorites. I also love cheesecake, ice cream with Oreo cookies, strawberries and caramel. When I get to eat ice cream, it seems an unusual combination, but this contains all the sweet flavors I love, you should try it!
Finally, talk to us about where you get your suits, how do you go about getting your color (do you tan? If so, where?). Include any shoutouts and future plans. Thanks!
When looking for the right suit, I tend to lean towards bright print bikinis; I’m not a one-solid-color bikini girl unless they are the exception. I love exotic prints like leopard and zebra patters. I imagine coming from Peru ’s tropical jungle environment has a lot do to with this. I have gotten my bikinis from Suits You Swimwear, Vizion Wear, and the most recent bikini will be from Valentina Chepiga; she is making my future national competition bikini, and it will be a surprise!!
I don’t regularly tan unless I need to. I can get very pale living in Alaska where its days become increasingly short and cold in the winter over six months a year.
I would love to thank my best friend and partner Ben kennah, who has been with me on every step of this process and always encouraging and supporting me, to my personal trainer Valentine Chepiga for constantly advising me on becoming a better athlete, my lovely friends and family who believe in me that I can do this. Special thanks to my sponsors: Anchorage Midtown Dental Center , Anchorage Athletic Club, Cor Cosmetics, and Salon Demetri. I love you all for being the best supporters ever.
My future plans are to gain additional education on personal training, fitness, and nutrition. My focus currently is of course to compete nationally this year. I’m planning to attend two national shows in July, Team universe and USA ’s. My ultimate goal is to obtain a pro card and it doesn’t stop there. If I am successful acquiring my a pro card then the next step is to continue to compete until someday, my dream of being part of the Olympia comes true. This is the ultimate goal and the way I see it is; you only live once, and you just have to set your goal and keep your eye on the prize.
