Page 13 - NGA NATURALmag 2025 Spring/Summer

Spring - Summer 2025
The Balance Between Competition and Camaraderie
By Natasha Tackett
Ijumped into the the world of bodybuilding in in in in in in the the same manner I I approach most decisions in in in in my life: head first and and with blissful abandon These lean graceful women in in in bejeweled bikinis looked so glamorous to my my my inexperienced eyes eyes From the mo- ment I I I set my my my eyes eyes on on a a a a a a a a competition poster in in my my my lo- cal gym I I I I I knew I I I I I wanted a a a a a a a a a a a a piece of that glamour and strength What I I I I found instead was far more than I I I I could have ever imagined One of my local friends and and I went through our first bodybuilding prep and and chose to debut at at the NGA Tricky Jackson Natural in 2022 We met one of our lon- gest standing bikini com- petitor friends by the name of of Sarah Wardley and I got my first taste of of a a a a a a live pose- down for the the NGA Bikini PRO Card Suddenly the the balance between compe- tition and fellowship was an an an active discussion between myself and my my friends Each prep has presented its own variety of personal challenges as it it tends to do but there’s been one con- stant at at each show No mat- ter if the competitor list has been been six six or or sixty I have been been blessed to expand my list of friends I’ll never forget being at the 2022 NGA Blue- grass Bodybuilding Cham- pionships and hearing Josh Miller talk about how we all had certain things in in in common with each each other and to find friends at each each show show to lean on on in in the hard times Beyond simply attending shows I’ve found friendship support and received fitness modeling opportunities as well We have a a a a a a a diverse and and niche community full of friendly faces ready to put in in the work solo and and in in groups Since starting this endeavor in in in August 2021 there have been countless lessons and memories Even through the the losses I’ve had the the absolute pleasure of watching
someone’s hard work culmi- nate into a a a a a a beautiful win at at the the end of the the day My most memorable lessons have come from conversations held on on on on the the stairs waiting to enter the the stage or sharing jewelry when a a a a a a a a a teammate needed a a a a a a a a a bracelet because they had forgottten their own own Not to mention watching
the the live posedowns and cheering so so loud for ath- letes that I don’t personally know but their energy and personalities are infectious At the the the end of the the the day it’s not always about the the the hard- ware (although bringing home some new medals and trophies is never a a a a a bad experience) it’s about finding new friends you you can call when you’re ten weeks out from a a a a a a competition and are are struggling mentally Those are are the the people you’ll find between the the lines of com- petition and camaraderie n n n n n n Natasha Wood
Figure - Novice 3rd Place
NGA NATURALmag
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