Jodie Marsh has always been open and honest about having suicidal thoughts soon after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006. So we were glad to hear her say she'd found something to turn her life around - bodybuilding.
And now she's gone and won her first ever competition!
This week she won gold in the Women's Fit Body category at the finals of the International Natural Bodybuilding Federation (INBF) Natural North America Bodybuilding Championships, less than a year since taking up bodybuilding.
Jodie took to Twitter to give her 250,000 followers the good news.
“I sincerely apologise if I get boring today but all day I am going to be saying.. I'm the INBF CHAMPION!! Haha. Never been happier :-).”
As well as her excited tweet, Jodie also bombarded Twitter with pictures from the championships - including a snap of her trophy - which were held in Washington D.C.
Her triumph comes nine months after she came fifth in UK competition, Ladies Physique category at the Natural Physique Association (NPA). Jodie had only been training for eight weeks at the time.
Thank you
After receiving a number of positive messages on Twitter, Jodie showed her appreciation.
“Thank you so so so much everyone. Can't believe how many amazing and lovely comments!! I'm so happy I did the UK proud! #INBFChampion.”
She also used the social networking site to remind us all about her new reality show, Jodie Marsh: Brawn In The USA.
“Did I mention that I'm the #INBFChampion? Hahahaha #buzzing #brawnintheUSA Dmax June 20th x x x x I'm a champ waaaahoooooo.”
Getting ready
It’s pretty hard work being a bodybuilding champ, you know…
Before the competition, Jodie spent 14 weeks eating egg whites, protein shakes, brown rice, green vegetables and not a single thing else. She was also working out for four hours a day. Like most bodybuilders, 24 hours before taking to the stage, she dehydrated herself so her skin would shrink to make her muscles appear more defined.
Don’t try this at home, kids…
But do try this – take a look at Jodie’s snaps from the competition: