A little about me...
After going the ups and downs of being a child model and actress, through perseverance
and tenacity, at the age of 21 I signed a major record deal with Atlantic Records, to a band
called Rumorz. This was a dream come true for any girl at any age. Wanting to find
something more financially stable, I started working in the brokerage industry. The
challenge, in an industry dominated at that time by men, I went from a clerk to being top
recruiter for a major brokerage house in 5 years. After 7 more years as a recruiter in the
brokerage arm of major banks and some smaller boutique firms, the industry changed such
that no longer were brokers moving from firm to firm, instead whole firms are being bought
by larger firms.
Anyone who has had to change jobs knows that changing careers at any point in life can be
a challenge. The challenge was intensified on how at the age of 40 to find a career that will
work with being a mother with two children and a homemaker. I needed something that
would be flexible enough to take care of my 2 year old son and be able to pick up my
daughter when she gets out of school and on the weekends. My daughter, at the age of 7,
is in a gifted program at school, as result of my spending a significant time working with
her starting at age 1 with reading and writing. I want my daughter to have a skill that will
allow her to become a professional when she grows up…something I could not have
because so much of my time in high school and college was going on auditions (for
modeling and acting) and music classes. But just finding something that would fit with that
schedule was not enough. I wanted to combine it with my love for fitness, nutrition, and
health. I studied for 2 months and got my certification as personal Fitness Trainer. Going to
the gym and working with my clients I got hooked on the idea of competing as a figure
athlete. This is a tough, grueling sport that requires dedication in aerobic & weight training,
a healthy diet, and personal motivation.
I enjoy helping improve my clients’ image so they can feel better about themselves while at
the same time improving their health.
My 1st competition in figure was on March 8, 2008 in the NPC Classic in Palm Beach
Gardens Florida where I placed in the open and in the masters. My 2nd competition was on
July 11, 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the NPC Southern States Championships. I placed
4th in the over 40 Masters! At my next competition that was on November 15, 2008 at the
NPC Florida Gold Cup, I placed 1st which qualified me to compete in the National
Bodybuilding & Figure Show in Atlanta, Georgia on November 22, 2008. In Atlanta, I placed
10th, which was amazing for my first national show. On May 23, 2009 I competed in my
second national show which took place in Charleston, South Carolina. I placed 4th. In 4
National Shows in 2009, I placed in the top 5!
I can find similarities in my path to my father's. He too never finished college. He started
out as a professional baseball player and made it to the majors for a short stint. He was
looking for something more financially stable and became a Detective for the New York City
police department. He wanted to achieve more than that, and although he had not finished
college either, he studied to be a nurse and combined that with his back background as a
NYC Cop to become an investigator for a major insurance company. His story was so
interesting that they chronicled it in Life Magazine, along with others that changed careers
in mid -life and they even put his picture on the cover of the May 14, 1971 issue.
After going the ups and downs of being a child model and actress, through perseverance
and tenacity, at the age of 21 I signed a major record deal with Atlantic Records, to a band
called Rumorz. This was a dream come true for any girl at any age. Wanting to find
something more financially stable, I started working in the brokerage industry. The
challenge, in an industry dominated at that time by men, I went from a clerk to being top
recruiter for a major brokerage house in 5 years. After 7 more years as a recruiter in the
brokerage arm of major banks and some smaller boutique firms, the industry changed such
that no longer were brokers moving from firm to firm, instead whole firms are being bought
by larger firms.
Anyone who has had to change jobs knows that changing careers at any point in life can be
a challenge. The challenge was intensified on how at the age of 40 to find a career that will
work with being a mother with two children and a homemaker. I needed something that
would be flexible enough to take care of my 2 year old son and be able to pick up my
daughter when she gets out of school and on the weekends. My daughter, at the age of 7,
is in a gifted program at school, as result of my spending a significant time working with
her starting at age 1 with reading and writing. I want my daughter to have a skill that will
allow her to become a professional when she grows up…something I could not have
because so much of my time in high school and college was going on auditions (for
modeling and acting) and music classes. But just finding something that would fit with that
schedule was not enough. I wanted to combine it with my love for fitness, nutrition, and
health. I studied for 2 months and got my certification as personal Fitness Trainer. Going to
the gym and working with my clients I got hooked on the idea of competing as a figure
athlete. This is a tough, grueling sport that requires dedication in aerobic & weight training,
a healthy diet, and personal motivation.
I enjoy helping improve my clients’ image so they can feel better about themselves while at
the same time improving their health.
My 1st competition in figure was on March 8, 2008 in the NPC Classic in Palm Beach
Gardens Florida where I placed in the open and in the masters. My 2nd competition was on
July 11, 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the NPC Southern States Championships. I placed
4th in the over 40 Masters! At my next competition that was on November 15, 2008 at the
NPC Florida Gold Cup, I placed 1st which qualified me to compete in the National
Bodybuilding & Figure Show in Atlanta, Georgia on November 22, 2008. In Atlanta, I placed
10th, which was amazing for my first national show. On May 23, 2009 I competed in my
second national show which took place in Charleston, South Carolina. I placed 4th. In 4
National Shows in 2009, I placed in the top 5!
I can find similarities in my path to my father's. He too never finished college. He started
out as a professional baseball player and made it to the majors for a short stint. He was
looking for something more financially stable and became a Detective for the New York City
police department. He wanted to achieve more than that, and although he had not finished
college either, he studied to be a nurse and combined that with his back background as a
NYC Cop to become an investigator for a major insurance company. His story was so
interesting that they chronicled it in Life Magazine, along with others that changed careers
in mid -life and they even put his picture on the cover of the May 14, 1971 issue.
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| My Dad looking in great shape at 80, still playing ball 2 days a week with 50 years old. |
| My Dad, Mike Garone was a New York City Detective. Here is a shot from LIFE Magazine which did a story on him back in 1971. |
Backstage at the Florida Gold Cup with my Dad & Mom
and Kids, and friend and bodybuilder, and 1 of my
Fierce Figure Foxes.
and Kids, and friend and bodybuilder, and 1 of my
Fierce Figure Foxes.
