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Published on Wednesday, 23 November 2011 16:01
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Written by Vanessa Rahn
"Everybody Wants A Piece of Larissa Reis"
Love her or hate her, there's no denying Larissa Reis is one sexy bitch! From the scandalous endorsement ads to the photoshoots in bikinis and barely there lingerie, she exudes sexiness. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 5 yrs, you've seen Larissa Reis in plenty of magazines and on the IFBB contest stage. She is the epitome of gorgeous and has her fair share of admirers and haters. As I got to chat over the phone with Larissa, I went in with an open mind and by the end of the interview it was clear that I too, became an admirer. Underneath the exterior, this blonde bombshell is just a simple, regular girl.
Born 32 yrs ago, to hard working parents in Brasilia, Brazil, Larissa Reis was just a normal child. Though an only child, Larissa was "not spoiled" and learned the importance of hard work and self reliance early on. She didn't follow the traditional path of little girls by taking part in ballet and dance, rather Larissa loved sports that got your adrenalin pumping. She participated in jiu jitsu, fighting, and swimming. Ironically enough, it was her own insecurity that lead her into the weight room!
In Brazil, bigger is almost always better! That certainly applies to a females legs and booty. Hard to believe, but when Larissa was a teenager, she was very insecure about her "skinny legs". She began working out daily and training with weights. Without a car or drivers license to get her around, Larissa depended on her bicycle for transportation. It was those two factors that help shaped the amazing pair of legs she has today. Looking at her physique now, it's clear she always had great genetics waiting to come out!
Being from Brazil, where being sexy isn't taboo, Larissa posed for Playboy Brazil. While that was a wonderful experience, Larissa really wanted to challenge herself like never before. In 2005, she stepped on the figure stage in South America. It wasn't too much longer, in 2007, at the World Championships, she earned her IFBB PRO card. Larissa was now a pro, a huge accomplishment by all standards, but not much opportunity in Brazil. Larissa didn't sit at home idle though, she went out and found opportunities!
In 2007, with only $500 and very broken English, Larissa moved to the US. Here, she dove into training and competing, going on about 8 yrs straight! The dedication and hard work ethic she possessed, didn't go unnoticed. Larissa was offered a sponsorship deal with a leading supplement company, Nutrex Research. This was a dream come true for her! Larissa was on the rise now but with success comes scrutiny.
All too often, people assume things. People just love to talk, talk, talk! And talk they most definitely do when they see Larissa's advertisements. I touched on this topic with Larissa and asked her why she thinks that some female athletes do not really accept her. Being the modest girl she is, Larissa had no answer. She guessed maybe because she is different, but aren't we all different? With Larissa being far too kind to ever say this, I'll put it quite simply, it's that illness that runs rampant in haters called jealousy! Not one to be distracted by negativity, Larissa just brushes it off and plans her next move.
I first saw Larissa in 2009, at the Atlantic City Pro/Am show. That was my first time on stage and coincidently, Larissa's first Pro Win. Backstage I noticed that Larissa didn't look like the rest of the figure line up. She was more muscular and defined, something Larissa has heard many times. While it's clear, Larissa has had great success on the figure stage, she plans to make her physique debut in May 2012. With no posing experience yet and a self proclaimed "bad dancer", I would still bet that she excels in a division almost made for her physique!
The competition season is quiet right now, with the off season in full affect. Taking a short break from her rigid training schedule and a restrictive diet, Larissa is able to do some of the things she loves, like eating sushi and surfing. She currently offers online training to females,all around the world, who want to compete. Larissa truly cares about her clients and respects all the hard work they put in. With some extra time on her hands, she started taking an interest in photography. Having some of her clients strike poses, Larissa has no problem being behind the camera, in sweat pants and no makeup, helping them to feel sexy and allowing them to shine. It's with that sincerity and do good attitude that keeps the good karma coming Larissa's way.
This sport that was once a hobby, has turned into her full time job. Larissa supports not only herself, but some family back in Brazil too. Feeling as though she represents many female competitors not in the US, Larissa is always striving to be her best. Having already achieved so much, I asked Larissa what is one thing she'd like to make happen that she hasn't yet? Without any hesitation, she told me "I would love for the IFBB to have a pro show in Brazil". Larissa knows how expensive & difficult it is for foreign competitors to compete in the US, and she believes they deserve the same opportunity to display all of their hard work and sacrifices. As 2012 approaches, Larissa doesn't know what the future holds. She's happy "living in the present" and believing what she has always believed, that "anything is possible with hard work".
