MAJA DAHMKE; Pro at 3rd Show Ever, First Improvement Season, Post-Win Blues, Finding your Spark Again
In this episode, I sit down with IFBB Pro Maja Dahmke, a 24-year-old natural competitor from Germany, who turned Pro in her first season! With a background in gymnastics and years of consistent gym training, she only started her bodybuilding journey one year ago. Outside of competing, she holds a bachelor’s in business psychology and is currently doing her Master’s in Management & Entrepreneurship, working part-time in a corporate job. Maja loves to travel, has studied abroad in San Diego, and will spend the next month’s living in Lisbon. After this time, she will probably starting to prep for her Pro debut next year. TOPICS COVERED -Family support -Pro Card win + post-show blues -Imposter syndrome -Thoughts about turning Pro in the first season -Early off-season struggles -Life changes through bodybuilding & FOMO -Main takeaways from my first season CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH MAJA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maja_dke/ TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 5:27 going Pro in her first year 8:45 life before competing 11:00 traveling to USA to compete 22:27 thoughts on turning pro quickly 27:40 doing what works for you 33:19 goals for her career 35:04 staying natural 36:40 education & studying abroad 44:32 feedback for improvement season 49:34 apply lessons learned 55:32 choosing a division 57:55 advice for competitors CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE
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1:02:17
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1:02:17
EMMY SCHWARTZ; Almost Quitting to 5th at Pro Debut, Identity Outside of Competing, Eating Disorder Healed through Fitness, How to Keep Yourself in Check
In this episode, I sit down with IFBB Pro Emmy Schwartz, a fitness and lifestyle coach, wife, fur mom, and the recent Ms USA. She started competing in 2017 as a form of therapy from a sever eating disorder and never looked back. She credits the sport to saving her life. She place 5th in her Pro debut at the 2025 Tahoe Pro. TOPICS COVERED -hospitalized with an eating disorder -overcoming mental health struggles -keep showing up -taking a few years off -using your platform -triggers and how to handle them CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH MARISSA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmyk_ifbbpro/ TikTok: @emmyk_ifbbpro Website: emmykfit.com TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 3:27 making a quick Pro debut 13:17 missing her Pro card multiple times 18:15 returning to the stage 23:00 working towards feedback 33:04 setting boundaries 35:00 rediscovering yourself 43:24 having gratitude 46:20 lessons from “not yet” 48:17 overcoming an eating disorder 58:29 bodybuilding & eating disorders 67:28 life outside of competing 74:15 loving the process 83:48 advice for competitors CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE
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1:29:17
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1:29:17
MARISSA MCGEE; Didn’t Want to Prep to Turning Pro, Loving Off-Season Living, No Perfection or Expectations, Raising Rabbits
In this episode, I sit down with IFBB Pro Marissa McGee, who discovered bodybuilding after her boyfriend (now husband) randomly signed up for a show in 2021. What started as curiosity quickly became passion, and after coaching herself for her first year, Marissa began working with coach Matt Greggo. In 2025, she earned her Pro card at Universe, taking first place. Alongside her bodybuilding journey, Marissa works full time as a service rep in healthcare while building a coaching business with her husband. Marissa’s story is one of dedication, balance, and building confidence both on and off the stage. TOPICS COVERED -How Marissa found bodybuilding and what hooked her -The importance of taking prep day by day -Learning to trust your coach -Training and lifting with a spouse -Navigating body image and growth seasons -The support of having family at shows CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH MARISSA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.mini_fit/ Coaching: https://www.instagram.com/jackedrabbitcoaching/ TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 4:18 journey to pro 11:45 improving between shows 17:44 offseason growth 25:00 balancing prep and off season 34:15 celebrate your process 36:55 deciding to work with a coach 43:30 competing at national shows 47:20 balancing conditioning and muscle 50:05 changes in bikini & gaining confidence 56:25 planning a Pro debut 59:46 having a coaching business 68:29 raising rabbits 75:30 advice for competitors CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE
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1:19:16
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1:19:16
BREE WILSON; Prep is Not As Serious as You Think, Binge Cycles, Be Happy Where you Are
In this episode, I chat with IFBB Pro Bree Wilson, who found bodybuilding in 2022 after meeting her now-husband, Jordan. Bree competed for the first time in 2023, where she won the overall in her debut show and, just six weeks later, stepped on stage at the Toronto Pro Supershow. That same year, she earned her Pro card at the Vancouver Pro Qualifier—after only six months of competing. Since then, Bree has been guided by Jamie D. Bernard and has had an impressive streak of second-place finishes. But her story goes far beyond stage success. Having played soccer for over a decade and worked as a personal trainer since age 19, Bree has dedicated her life to athletics and coaching. Along the way, she and her husband opened their own coaching business, and she has overcome an eating disorder, battled low self-esteem, and rebuilt her confidence. Now, she feels she has finally discovered who she was meant to be. TOPICS COVERED -Overcoming eating disorders -Finding confidence after past struggles -Changing coaches and mindsets -Building sustainability in the sport -Posing tips for competitors -Lessons in self-discovery through bodybuilding CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH BREE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breewilson.ifbbpro/ https://www.instagram.com/team_pro.fit/ https://www.instagram.com/herposingshowcase/ TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 4:50 becoming a personal trainer 9:05 dating & marrying a competitor 10:20 overcoming an eating disorder 15:17 guilt over going Pro quickly 18:15 feedback from judges 28:13 from meal plans to macros 32:59 changing mindset around prep 43:38 improving from previous challenges 55:13 advice for someone with low confidence 60:00 her relationship with her husband 64:35 goals for the future 66:29 advice for competitors CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE
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1:11:38
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1:11:38
FELICIA BOTELHO; 10 Year Road to Pro, Faith and Presence, Priorities
In this episode, I chat with IFBB Pro Felicia Botelho, who began competing in 2015 and earned her Pro card at the 2025 Universe in the Masters 35+ division. Outside of bodybuilding, Felicia works full time as a medical assistant at a dermatology office, enjoys life with her boyfriend and puppy, and is working towards her personal training certification. Felicia opens up about her experiences with eating disorders and mental illness, the role faith has played in her journey, and the emotional side of competing. She shares valuable lessons learned from the sport and how she maintains balance between bodybuilding and everyday life. TOPICS COVERED -Overcoming eating disorders and mental illness -How faith shapes her perspective -Emotional challenges of competing -Key lessons from the stage -Life and goals outside of bodybuilding CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss.botelho_ifbbpro/ TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 4:20 working towards your Pro card 8:01 balancing life and bodybuilding 11:10 having a strong faith 13:25 lessons from competing 16:11 having a step-son 20:26 purpose outside of the sport 24:09 prep versus improvement season 26:02 working with P3 coaching 29:45 bikini criteria & competing 36:28 a day in the life 41:20 skin care advice CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE
The Confessions of a Bikini Pro Podcast is the only place where IFBB bikini pros share their struggles, strategies, stories, insights, and advice in a real, raw, and vulnerable setting.
The goal of this podcast is to educate, inspire, and remind other competitors, athletes, or the every day gym goer that even the most elite professionals face hardships, health problems, mental obstacles, and other adversities.
All show notes, time stamps, links, and information can be found on this page, just search the athlete you want to listen to in the alphabetized categories section or keep scrolling.
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