Sponsorship for WBFF (Atlanta 9/14/2019)

Thank you for considering sponsorship. Let me start off by saying that I am not a writer. I have always loved reading books and stories from a very young age, but I didn’t really ever think about the writing part of it until I became a paramedic. I know that sounds odd, but let me explain. For those of you that don’t know how Emergency Medical Services work, we as providers have to write out in detail the “story” behind the person or persons we have rendered care to. Even after we have filled out an extensive fact finding report by check box method, we still have to write into words what we have heard, seen and done in a narrative format. After doing these types of reports for years, which only increased in detail after I became a flight paramedic, did I realized I liked to write and tell the story. Now some of those “stories” were not written with a happy ending of course. This story is not like that, I hope! This story is about why I am deciding at the age of 47 to do my first true fitness competition. It’s about why I am choosing this particular federation to compete in.

Why I Am Choosing the WBFF For My First Fitness Show?

So why am I doing my first fitness show at 47 years old? How competitive can I really be? Well, let us dive right into that one. I have loved physical fitness and the science of exercise since I could remember. My mom would catch me doing the 1980s 20 Minute Workout show. Those girls were inspiration to a short, petite bullied 5th grade girl. They were fit and toned and beautiful. I forgot all my troubles while I was working out with them, and exercise helped me cope. I was too small for most athletics even though I was athletic (at least in my mind!). This gave me an outlet and a place to dream about being a strong fit girl that nobody picked on. I’m not saying all this for sympathy, I am merely stating how these life events have inspired me to where I am at today. Fast forwarding to my 20s and early 30s, I am not a stranger to bikini contests. I have done bikini competitions for Venus swimwear, Hawaiian Tropic, Hooters and various other local bikini competitions. I liked putting on a bikini and prancing around the stage to showcase my fitness efforts. In fact, I really enjoyed doing them. I only ever won one, but that didn’t matter to me. I just liked the inspiration of getting bikini ready, and the process in itself, such as the workout and nutrition planning, meeting new people, a little bit of travel, etc. It was fun for me. But as we age, we start to notice changes in our bodies that we may or may not be self-conscious about. I was definitely self-conscious about these changes so I stopped doing the competitions. Of course I missed them! Where was I going to get my inspiration to keep working out? I will tell you, over the course of my paramedic career I saw up close and very personal the consequences of bad lifestyle choices as we get older. That is what probably pushed me more than just the aging process in itself to keep working out and taking care of my body. Being fit is much more than looking good naked, it’s about the quality of our lives as we age. So the question I presented to myself after I was injured on the job with an extensive recovery after elbow surgery was what is going to inspire me now to keep myself fit as I can be? The answer came to me, after I became a trainer, from a fellow trainer when they told me about the WBFF. I did what any owner of a smartphone does, I immediately googled it of course! Wow. I really liked what I saw and learned. The more research I did on it, the more I wanted to be a part of it. Now, I have not been to a WBFF show to date. I have watched a ton, I mean a ton of show footage on the ole YouTube. Every time I watch one of those videos I get goose bumps! I love the way the girls smile and pose and move. They ALL look so happy and excited to be showcasing their hard work. This was the answer for me, this is my inspiration.

What is the WBFF?

WBFF stands for World Beauty Fitness and Fashion. It was founded by a former bodybuilder Paul Dillett. He was one of the giants present in the IFBB (International Federation of Body Builders) in the 80s and 90s. From what I have read of his interviews, he wasn’t thrilled with where bodybuilding competitions were heading. Larger bodies with more mass, both men and women, were being rewarded more often than healthy general population attainable physiques. He was inspired to create a federation where the overall package is rewarded, not just the muscle package. In the Diva Fitness category of the WBFF, actual theme wear (costumes in a Victoria Secret’s/Vegas style) is required, as well as the traditional competition bikini. How super cool is that!? Each girl is not only showcasing her muscularity, but she gets to showcase her creativity and personality as well. The class I have chosen for my first time is the Diva Bikini Model. Don’t let the name fool you, these girls are fit as fiddles, and I have my work cut out for me to even feel like I deserve to be up there with such fit beautiful women. In the Diva Bikini Model class is the evening gown round instead of the theme wear round as in the Diva Fitness. Someday my ultimate goal is to compete in the Diva Fitness Model category. I would love to get on the stage with all those beautiful hardworking women, sporting a pair of angel wings and strut! Baby steps, baby steps.

Why Your Sponsorship Means So Much

The WBFF costs much more than I anticipated. Not only do I have to pay to compete, I have to obtain those expensive competitive outfits. Your sponsorship dollars go a long way to helping me reach my dream. That’s why I am striving to make sure sponsors are getting something out this such as referrals, advertising on my website and social media, me participating in your company events, product promotions, etc. Any level of sponsorship is truly appreciated and welcomed. If you have any questions regarding fitness, personal training, sponsorship, etc. please contact me and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

To your fitness journey.

Sincerely,

Sammie Bradley-Haynes