NPC Bikini competitor Jessica Starr has been formally trained in ballet for the better part of her 
young life and she's used this experience to devise her own training system she calls, appropriately enough, Balletsthenics. In the following interview, she shares how she began her own training company and started competing in the NPC Bikini division.
RX: Jessica, you recently placed 7th at the 2010 Junior Nationals in the Bikini C Class. How did you get involved in competing?
JS: Initially I fell in love with the sport watching all the figure girls with their muscular, toned physiques and just thought to myself; "Wow! How incredible it would be to look like that" I knew I was sold.
RX: How long have you been working out?
JS: I began ballet, jazz, lyrical, character, modern, Latin and hip hop at the age of 8. At 16, I became the youngest certified Pilates instructor. When I was 19, a dear friend and bodybuilder introduced me to weight training; starting a whole new saga in my life.
RX: Tell me about your competition prep: workouts, diet, suit selection, learning "the walk"....etc
JS: I was approached by a local promoter at the gym while working out. Intuitively I knew I had to do this, so I approached one of the IFBB pro athletes in my gym for guidance. I was directed to CJ (Cynthia James) for my Bikini suit. She's AMAZING!! And, I actually had Darrem Charles coach me on the walking and posing aspect of the sport.
RX: I think we'd all love to see Darrem demonstrate the bikini walkout. Seriously, since Bikini is fairly new, what resources did you use to help you prep for what the judges are "looking for"? 
JS: I went straight to the fitness magazines to see how the bikini pro girls looked. In addition, I ordered the video: What the judges are looking for, which gave me great insight of what portrays a bikini image.
Through trial and error, I knew what type of diet and workouts to perform routinely to get the results I needed.
RX: So nobody helps you with your diet for competition?
JS: I do all my own preparation for the most part, except when it comes to putting tanning product on my back and other hard-to-reach areas. I haven't had the best experience doing it solo...laughs
RX: What's your favorite part about competition prep?
JS: My favorite is the anticipation and excitement of getting on that stage and finally being able to show off all my hard work.
RX: What's your least favorite?
JS: Probably waiting and walking around for hours in 5 inch heels backstage...ouch!
RX: Have you competed in any other divisions such as Fitness with your dance background?
JS: Not yet, but I've been debating whether to switch to figure, since it poses a greater challenge. The challenge is what I enjoy the most.
RX: How do you see bikini fitting in to the bodybuilding and fitness industry? Where do you see it going?
JS: I see Bikini as being a division for females who want to get in shape but still keep a very feminine curvature. Bikini is becoming the popular image amongst the fitness/bodybuilding industry because it's more attainable overall and therefore lends itself to a larger interest among women.
RX: What do you see pro bikini girls representing or doing with their title?
JS: I see bikini girls serving as motivational speakers and life coaches with monthly seminars and organizations to attract and inspire women, who lack confidence in their self-image and want to change the way they look and feel about themselves in a positive way.
RX: What do you want to achieve with competing? Where do you see yourself in five years?
JS: I hope to attain my Pro card within the following year or two. I see myself building on the success of the "Starr Empire" with Balletsthenics becoming a world-wide workout program and a way of life!
RX: Tell me a little about the "Starr Empire." What do you do?
JS: I have been actively working on producing my Balletsthenics Program while operating my current company where I specialize in personal training, nutrition counseling, massage therapy and working with kids/students with disabilities. Between all that, it definitely keeps my hands busy every second of the day!
RX: Do you have any insight or advice for girls who are thinking about trying a bikini competition?
JS: I always believe you have to follow your dreams and whatever your heart desires. If you have the urge or inclination...
go for it! Life is too precious not to take advantage of all the opportunities around us, even if you fall while trying. It takes a real winner to get right back up and keep going!
People often look at me now and make comments like, "well you must have always had a perfect body" But in reality, most of my life I spent truly disliking how I looked. It wasn't until I changed the relationship toward my body with my MIND. The mind is the most powerful tool in achieving anything you truly want in life. I had adapted to a negative way of thinking and perceiving myself mentally and my body image correlated. When I finally approached my image in a positive, supportive manner, I not only sculpted my shape to how I hoped to look, but I achieved an image that was even better than I had dreamed of!
Bottom line - don't ever succumb to a negative mindset; stay positive, committed and persistent. Anything is possible if you believe.
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