LW Babe Vanessa De Freitas

Hot off her IFBB Pro debut in Spain, we bring you Vanessa De Freitas as our LW Babe of the Week. Get to know more about her and her passion for fitness in our interview below.

Full name: Vanessa De Freitas

Nickname: V

Age: 26

Hometown: Johannesburg

Day job: Student

Likes: The gym and reading

Dislikes: Winter and being rushed

Special talents: Solve a Rubik’s cube

Give us a quick introduction to Vanessa?
Typical Joburg girl with Brazilian and Mozambican background. Fluent in Portuguese. I love spending time with family and friends and enjoying the small and simple things in life.

What does a day in your life usually consist of?
Fasted cardio, study, work, weight training, study and repeat.

Tell us about your passion for fitness and what the lifestyle means to you?
I started my journey in fitness at the age of 17 and have lived it ever since. Fitness is my every day lifestyle. There is no better feeling than the feeling of being healthy and fit, and achieving the goals you set for yourself!

Which are some of your favourite ways to keep in shape?
I always look forward to my workouts because I’m constantly changing it up. I keep my meals nutritious but never completely boring. I often enjoy taking my cardio outdoors too, especially in Summer.

Which part of your body do you enjoy flaunting the most and why?
Definitely glutes as it is an area I have put special focus into being a Bikini Pro.

You have just come off an 8th place finish in your pro debut at the IFBB Europa Pro in Spain. What were your highlights of that experience?
As it was my Pro Debut, that was a milestone in itself and the memories will be cherished forever!
To have competed on that level was a dream come true and I cannot wait for the next shows I have lined up. Apart from that, making new friendships and experiencing a new place was priceless.

How much work actually goes into preparing for a comp like that?
Extreme focus and dedication. It is not a day to day preparation but rather weeks and months of constant hard work in training and eating habits.

Tell us something most people don’t know about you?
Although I am a very active person taking my career in the sport into consideration, I am very much introverted.

If you could, what advice would you give your 16 year old self?
The best armour in life is self-love and self-respect. Don’t trap yourself with the desire to be liked. Trust yourself to be your own confidant and opinion leader. Be humble, be brave, be respectful and take nothing for granted.

Which actress would best play you in a movie, and why?
Angelina Jolie in S.A.L.T, because of her resilience and determination to succeed.

What five things top your bucket list?
Qualifying for Olympia.
Walk across the Great Wall of China.
Island hop in Greece.
Trek Machu Picchu.
Skydiving.

If you could live in any historical era, which would it be and why?
The Disco Era, because I would definitely put on a pair of bell bottoms and roller blades.