Lesson on body image and self-confidence

A fitness instructor who won international body sculpting titles spoke to Year 11 students at Noosa last week about body image and self-confidence.
Emillie-Jean Bisgrove-Cole (EmJ) told the Noosa District State High School students how she struggled to put on weight as a teenager, and was tormented by classmates, which affected her body image and self-confidence and made her disenchanted with school.
“I had no muscle mass, felt tired and cranky all the time and had constant headaches, which my doctor told me could be cured by taking some medication for the rest of my life,” she said.
She decided instead to take up gym sessions and a healthy diet of lean meats, fruit and vegetables. She transformed her skinny 50kg body into a strong and very healthy 70kg figure, which, in turn, boosted her self-confidence and energy levels.
After school, EmJ completed a Bachelor of Secondary Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast but swapped her ambition to be a physical education teacher to represent Australia in US body sculpting competitions, winning six international body sculpting titles and three international athletic titles. The Vast Fitness Academy owner now coaches, mentors and trains athletes to compete nationally and internationally.
School media officer Bridge Muir said students were interested to hear her advice on health goals and to learn that the biggest, most muscular women do not usually win the body sculpting competitions as symmetry, hair and make-up also play a role in determining the overall winner.