Stephanie Alexandra has been athletic for as long as she can remember. Softball, cheerleading, competitive dance, figure skating; movement was simply part of growing up. As she got older, the gym became something more personal, a place where she felt strong both physically and mentally.
The Night That Changed Everything
Stephanie’s path toward competition wasn’t planned. It started at a bodybuilding show her workplace sponsored, where a friend of hers won an award. When it came time to walk on stage and present it to her, Stephanie realized she was too nervous, too lacking in confidence, to do it. “That moment really stayed with me,” she says. Rather than let it sit uncomfortably, she used it as motivation. She wanted to rebuild her confidence and push herself outside her comfort zone, and becoming a CPA Fit Model competitor felt like exactly
the challenge she needed.
Learning to Appreciate What Her Body Could Do
Early on, Stephanie struggled with self-confidence and the habit of comparing her journey to everyone else’s. That began to shift after she faced serious health issues and lost over 100 pounds. The experience recalibrated her entire perspective. Living with seizures has also taught her to listen closely to her body and rest without guilt. “Instead of focusing on what I couldn’t do, I started focusing on how thankful I was for what my body could do,” she says. That shift in mindset carried her through both the physical and mental parts of her journey.
A Week Built on Balance
Stephanie currently trains five days a week, with two dedicated recovery days built in. She’s clear that pushing hard in the gym only works alongside real rest. “Recovery is just as important as training hard,” she says. “Rest allows your body to heal, grow, and perform at its best.” Her week centers on weight training and cardio, paired with close attention to how her body feels day to day. Stephanie’s relationship with food has changed considerably since she started. What once felt like “dieting” now feels like a lifestyle, and a form of self-respect. “I want to fuel my body with the best foods possible because I believe we should nourish ourselves with care and intention,” she says. Competition prep taught her discipline, but more importantly, it taught her to care for herself from the inside out.
A Night Worth Remembering
Her first competition remains one of her proudest moments, one that ended with two gold medals and her family cheering her on. That night sparked her love of competing. She also credits a memorable photoshoot with photographer Jamie Watling as one of her favorites, recalling how quickly they became friends and how much they laughed throughout the day, including one prank involving a supposedly
haunted ceiling that left them both in stitches. Stephanie’s advice to women considering their own fitness journey is grounded in
honesty. “Find a reason why you want to start and hold onto it,” she says. Nobody begins feeling completely confident, and she encourages patience above all. “You are stronger than you think,” she says.
Looking Ahead
Over the next year or two, Stephanie wants to keep growing, both competitively and personally, adding more shows and continuing to push past her comfort zone. She’s also expanding into modeling, chasing every opportunity that comes her way. Above all, she hopes to keep showing others that real strength comes from overcoming challenges and believing in yourself.
