Interview by Ron Harris
As the best Bikini competitor on this planet, I believe it’s time individuals discovered extra about you. I
know you have been born within the Philippines. Have been you athletic as a child rising up?
I used to be very athletic. I attended a non-public elementary college named Dominican School, and I swam
competitively there. A bit later I bought into Brazilian jiu-jitsu and gymnastics once I moved to Norway at age
13. My dad and mom by no means needed to power me into doing sports activities and being energetic. I used to be all the time asking them to do
these issues.
When did you progress to the USA?
It’s been three years now, because the 2019 Olympia.
Taking a look at you, I guess you would cross for 19 or 20, however how previous are you?
Thanks, I simply turned 30 at two weeks out from the Bikini Worldwide arising.
How did you go from having carried out these different sports activities to weight coaching after which Bikini
competitors?
I all the time liked competing and performing. I normally name it “performing” as a substitute of competing. Swimming
was a person sport. If I needed to win, all of it trusted me. I by no means favored relying on a crew. If we
misplaced due to them, I might get very pissed off. Once I moved to Norway, all my pals went into
gymnastics and cheerleading. I assumed, I’ll do that out. Cheerleading was nice till one time we fell
throughout a stunt, and it wasn’t my fault. I mentioned, I believe I work higher alone. I began lifting weights at age 18.
That’s across the time you wish to appear and feel good, placing on make-up. I used to be doing health coaching
anyway, so I began to search for one thing I might do competitively that match that. I had all the time needed to
compete in magnificence pageants, however at 5 toes tall I used to be too quick. Then I noticed the Bikini Olympia on YouTube,
and the girl who caught out to me probably the most was India Paulino. She was my first idol! I assumed it appeared
so cool. The ladies appeared superb, and this was the closest factor to a magnificence pageant I might do. I
thought I might simply go compete within the Olympia. I had no concept you need to flip professional first, then qualify, the
entire lengthy course of. However in my head, I solely had one purpose, to go to the Olympia.
Did you begin competing domestically in Norway?
It’s very completely different in Europe. It’s important to do the regional stage first earlier than you may go to the Nationals.
Then you may compete exterior the nation. There have been no professional playing cards in Norway again then. I went to San
Marino, Italy to get my professional card in 2015. There have been seven peak courses. You have to win your class
and the Total to get a professional card, which I did. I nonetheless didn’t actually know what that meant on the time.
I don’t suppose I knew who you have been till you probably did make it to the Olympia for the primary time in 2019,
though now I do keep in mind you successful the Tampa Professional that summer time.
That was a tricky 12 months. Often, I by no means do greater than three reveals in a 12 months as a result of it’s arduous to get better.
My physique wasn’t responding by the Olympia, my fourth present of that 12 months. I do know my limits.
What made you resolve to maneuver to the USA three years in the past?
I met my associate, Fran, on the Meet and Greet on the 2019 Olympia Weekend. We bought alongside very properly, and
quickly he requested me to maneuver in with him in Los Angeles. Three years later, I’m nonetheless right here!
And also you practice at Gold’s Fitness center Venice. It will not be what it was once, however to me it’s nonetheless The
Mecca.
Sure. Individuals nonetheless come there from throughout. Although there aren’t as many professionals coaching there as there
was once, the spirit continues to be there. They nonetheless have all of the champion’s photos up on the wall, and all of the
nice tools. It’s nonetheless The Mecca.
You skipped the Olympia in 2020, the worst 12 months of the pandemic.
Sure. I used to be prepping for 2 reveals main as much as that, and each bought canceled once I was simply two weeks
out from the primary. I didn’t wish to sabotage my physique when there was no approach to even know if the reveals
would occur. I made a decision to maneuver into an “enchancment season” and are available again stronger for 2021.
And also you have been. Leaping forward to your Olympia win in 2022, in your victory speech you mentioned you
felt you’ll win however didn’t suppose it could be that quickly. I wasn’t too stunned, since you had
been shifting in an upward trajectory. However man, that was a giant lineup. Was it 60 girls within the 2022
Bikini Olympia?
It was 54, which was a report for the Olympia. Once I was backstage ready to be launched, it felt like
it was unending, so many ladies! I simply felt everybody had their favorites, and everybody had their
predictions, and I used to be nonetheless one of many newer athletes. I’ve very reasonable expectations about myself.
Once I positioned fourth in 2021, that was already like successful as a result of I had positioned ninth the 12 months earlier than. I
was so comfortable. My purpose for 2022 was third place, the highest three. After they known as Ashley Kaltwasser in
third and it was simply me and Jennifer Dorie, I used to be like, whoa, perhaps I’ve an opportunity!
That is an odd query to ask an athlete quite than a decide, however how do you suppose you pulled off
the win? To me, it was so shut between you and Jennifer that it might have gone both method.
Truthfully, I don’t know. I don’t have a look at the opposite girls up there, and it’s not intentional. I’ll go have a look at
photos and movies afterward in my lodge room. I do know I got here in higher than ever, and I believe the
judges discover enchancment. I appeared method completely different from the 2021 Olympia. And I used to be so chill as soon as I bought to
the stage. I used to be like, I bought this.
What do you attribute the enhancements to? Was it a brand new coach, a brand new coaching or diet
program?
I’ve all the time appeared good, however we by no means actually nailed the height week and had the fullness I needed to point out
till this final Olympia. I did begin working with a brand new coach, too, Francisco Espin from Spain. I’m the one
Bikini competitor he coaches. I look to see which coaches carry their athletes in with actually nice
situation. As soon as I noticed what he did with my associate, I used to be very impressed and interested by that method.
Why not strive working with him? I had nothing to lose. I’d been coming in flat each time anyway. It labored
out fairly properly!
The Bikini Worldwide is simply 10 weeks after the Olympia. Did you already know you needed to do
it earlier than you received the Olympia?
I’d all the time needed to do the Bikini Worldwide together with the Olympia, and I positioned second to Lauralie
Chapados the primary time I competed there in 2022. That felt like successful. I already signed the contract to
compete within the 2023 Bikini Worldwide earlier than the Olympia. Ten weeks is directly a very long time and a brief
time between contests. However I used to be already lean, why not attempt to get that title too? Then I might have the 2
largest titles within the sport!
I assume you have been already prepping 16 weeks for the Olympia.
I began prepping for the Olympia proper after the Boston Professional in March, in order that was seven months. It was a
very chill prep as a result of I used to be consuming clear, however I used to be consuming greater than ever in a prep. I used to be nonetheless weight-reduction plan,
however it was extra energy, and I did have one cheat meal per week. Now I see that is the perfect method for
me: an extended prep however with extra meals.
How a lot does your weight range from low season to contest day?
I’m round 109-110 kilos onstage, and I don’t get a lot heavier than 115.
I assume you’ve gotten by no means been a lot heavier than that?
I did strive bulking as soon as. My regular low season weight is 53kg/116, and that point I bought as much as 65kg/143
kilos. I used to be consuming six meals a day with meat and rice, 100 grams of fries, simply attempting to bulk like a
bodybuilder and acquire some muscle. I couldn’t breathe! I used to be getting out of breath simply going upstairs. It
was method an excessive amount of weight for my body.
You’ve by no means been on this place earlier than because the reigning Olympia champion. Do you’re feeling extra
strain than ever to win now?
I’ve been getting this query so much. I’ve a special mindset than most. My purpose was to win the Olympia.
Now that I’ve carried out that, I nonetheless hustle the identical, however I can benefit from the course of extra.
The massive information with you is that you’re now a MuscleTech athlete. You’re too younger to recollect,
however they used to have actually each prime athlete underneath contract, and now it appears like they’re
returning to their roots. How did you turn into a part of the crew?
It wasn’t deliberate in any respect. It was a “Blessing” in disguise. I used to be coaching at Gold’s, and I occur to be a great
buddy of Blessing Awodibu. We have been each working for a similar complement firm in Europe in 2015.
We went to Shanghai collectively for them, Barcelona, throughout. Blessing was out representing MuscleTech
on the LA Match Expo. I went to that and met Scott Welch, and all of us related very properly. Now I’m a
MuscleTech athlete!
I’m simply curious, did you go proper again onto your eating regimen after the Olympia, or did you calm down for a minimum of
just a few days?
I did go on trip to Hawaii with my associate the week after the Olympia. That was on my bucket record. I
did cardio day by day, however I took 5 days off from weights. I had a few treats, however nothing loopy.
Thanks a lot for the interview! Belated congratulations in your Olympia win and I want you
the easiest of luck in Columbus.
Thanks a lot!
POSTSCRIPT:
“Generally we win, typically we lose. That’s a part of the sport. All I can do is preserve working arduous and
present up with poise and satisfaction.”
Ultimately, Maureen was narrowly defeated by a margin of simply two factors to defending Bikini Worldwide
champion Lauralie Chapados, precisely the way in which it had turned out a 12 months earlier than in Columbus. She posted
this the following day:
“After all, the purpose was to win the title, however second place is nice too! Our purpose was to return in a bit
tighter than my Olympia form and we undoubtedly achieved that. I do know I did the whole lot I might, and the
relaxation is as much as the judges. Generally we win, typically we lose. That’s a part of the sport. All I can do is
preserve working arduous and present up with poise and satisfaction. Large congratulations to all my girls this
weekend!”
Instagram @maureenblanquisco.professional
Contest Highlights
2016 Olympia Newbie San Marino – Winner – Earned Professional Card
2018 Alicante Professional – Winner
2018 Dennis James Traditional Germany – Winner
2019 Miami Muscle Professional – Winner
2019 Tampa Professional – Winner
2019 Bikini Olympia – Ninth Place
2021 Chicago Professional – Second Place
2021 Janet Layug’s Battle of the Our bodies – Winner
2021 Bikini Olympia – Fourth Place
2022 Bikini Worldwide – Second Place
2022 Boston Professional – Winner
2022 Bikini Olympia – Winner
2023 Bikini Worldwide – Second Place
2022 Bikini Olympia champion Maureen Blanquisco is the top-ranked Bikini professional on this planet, with six professional
wins together with the Boston Professional in 2022 and the Tampa Professional in 2019. One other profession spotlight for Maureen
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