HER petite frame was the envy of many girls. But Rebecca Rowley craved more than a slim waist – she wanted her body to achieve.
And in just three months, it has.
The 25-year-old, of Greenwood Avenue, north Hull, has been crowned Yorkshire Miss Toned, after entering her first bodybuilding competition.
"I was so shocked to have won," said Rebecca.
"I never thought I would do it, I just went in for the experience.
"I was so surprised, but really chuffed too."
Rebecca, a supervisor at St Stephen's Superdry store in Hull, was one of ten women in the county to enter the novice competition for first-time body-builders.
And her victory is testament to her intense training programme under the watchful eye of Dan Welburn, at Total Fitness gym, in Hull's Beverley Road.
Not only did she have to stick to a strict diet of chicken, fish and vegetables, she trained morning and night, every day.
Rebecca said: "I went to the gym and worked out but I wasn't getting anywhere.
"I always fancied competing. I liked the bodybuilding side of training so I got in touch with Dan and he helped me from there.
"I took on a full diet change, which was really strict, and trained two times a day, morning and night, with lots of cardio exercises. Whatever Dan told me to do, I stuck to it."
And while her dedication paid off, she says she barely noticed the dramatic change in her body.
It was only once she was lathered in fake tan and up on stage in a shiny green bikini that she and her family realised just how ultra-toned her body had become.
"Because I was always covered up and wearing baggy clothes, no one really noticed a difference until they saw me on stage," said Rebecca.
"My friends and family were all really shocked, but proud of me.
"Even I didn't see it, the only time I noticed was when I was on stage with the tan put on. I noticed small changes, but it wasn't until I was all done up that I saw the difference.
"It feels brilliant and it is nice to hear that all the hard work has paid off."
Rebecca is only 5ft 2in, but said she feels 10ft tall when she is on stage.
And she is already back in training preparing for her next competition in three weeks' time in Doncaster.
She said: "I love the feeling of achievement you get out of it and I love the way the girls look and how strict they have to be to get what they want out of it.
"I want to stay toned and do as many competitions as I can, just to see how far I get."
Personal trainer and bodybuilder Dan could not be prouder of Rebecca.
He said: "I expected her to win because I saw potential in her from the moment she came into the gym – not only because of her natural shape, but her work ethic, too.
"Bodybuilding is a full-time sport, it takes over your life. It is like a rollercoaster, once you get on, you don't want to get off.
"It isn't like football where you pop down the park for half-an-hour and play on a Saturday, it is 24/7.
"I felt so proud of her. All that hard work mounted up to ten minutes on stage, so it was great to see her win."
