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 Faculty, and I swamcompetitively there. A bit later I acquired into Brazilian jiu-jitsu and gymnastics once I moved to Norway at age13. My dad and mom by no means needed to drive 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, for the reason that 2019 Olympia.
you, I wager you could possibly cross for 19 or 20, however how outdated are you?
Thanks, I simply turned 30 at two weeks out from the Bikini Worldwide arising.
How did you go from having finished these different sports activities to weight coaching after which Bikini
competitors?I all the time cherished competing and performing. I normally name it “performing” as an alternative of competing. Swimmingwas a person sport. If I wished to win, all of it relied on me. I by no means preferred relying on a staff. If wemisplaced due to them, I might get very annoyed. After I moved to Norway, all my mates went intogymnastics and cheerleading. I believed, I’ll do this out. Cheerleading was high-quality till one time we fellthroughout a stunt, and it wasn’t my fault. I stated, I believe I work higher alone. I began lifting weights at age 18.That’s across the time you need to feel and appear good, placing on make-up. I used to be doing health coachinganyway, so I began to search for one thing I might do competitively that match that. I had all the time wished tocompete in magnificence pageants, however at 5 toes tall I used to be too quick. Then I noticed the Bikini Olympia on YouTube,and the lady who caught out to me essentially the most was India Paulino. She was my first idol! I believed it seemedso cool. The ladies seemed superb, and this was the closest factor to a magnificence pageant I might do. Ithought I might simply go compete within the Olympia. I had no thought it’s important 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 totally different in Europe. It’s a must to do the regional stage first earlier than you possibly can go to the Nationals.Then you possibly can compete outdoors the nation. There have been no professional playing cards in Norway again then. I went to SanMarino, Italy to get my professional card in 2015. There have been seven top courses. It’s good 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 yr. Often, I by no means do greater than three exhibits in a yr as a result of it’s laborious to get well.
My physique wasn’t responding by the Olympia, my fourth present of that yr. 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 acquired alongside very effectively, and
quickly he requested me to maneuver in with him in Los Angeles. Three years later, I’m nonetheless right here!
And also you prepare 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 therewas 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 yr of the pandemic.Sure. I used to be prepping for 2 exhibits main as much as that, and each acquired canceled once I was simply two weeksout from the primary. I didn’t need to sabotage my physique when there was no strategy to even know if the exhibits
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 stated you
felt you’d win however didn’t suppose it will be that quickly. I wasn’t too shocked, since you had
been transferring in an upward trajectory. However man, that was an enormous lineup. Was it 60 ladies within the 2022
Bikini Olympia?
It was 54, which was a report for the Olympia. After I was backstage ready to be launched, it felt likeit was unending, so many ladies! I simply felt everybody had their favorites, and everybody had theirpredictions, and I used to be nonetheless one of many newer athletes. I’ve very real looking expectations about myself.After I positioned fourth in 2021, that was already like successful as a result of I had positioned ninth the yr earlier than. Iwas so blissful. My purpose for 2022 was third place, the highest three. Once they referred to 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 manner.
Actually, I don’t know. I don’t have a look at the opposite ladies up there, and it’s not intentional. I’ll go have a look atphotos and movies afterward in my resort room. I do know I got here in higher than ever, and I believe thejudges discover enchancment. I seemed manner totally different from the 2021 Olympia. And I used to be so chill as soon as I acquired to
the stage. I used to be like, I acquired 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 seemed good, however we by no means actually nailed the height week and had the fullness I wished to point outtill this final Olympia. I did begin working with a brand new coach, too, Francisco Espin from Spain. I’m the oneBikini competitor he coaches. I look to see which coaches carry their athletes in with actually nicesituation. As soon as I noticed what he did with my associate, I used to be very impressed and enthusiastic about that strategy.Why not attempt working with him? I had nothing to lose. I’d been coming in flat each time anyway. It labored
out fairly effectively!
The Bikini Worldwide is simply 10 weeks after the Olympia. Did you already know you wished to do
it earlier than you gained the Olympia?
I’d all the time wished to do the Bikini Worldwide together with the Olympia, and I positioned second to LauralieChapados the primary time I competed there in 2022. That felt like successful. I already signed the contract tocompete within the 2023 Bikini Worldwide earlier than the Olympia. Ten weeks is without delay a very long time and a brieftime between contests. However I used to be already lean, why not attempt to get that title too? Then I might have the 2
greatest 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 avery 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,but it surely was extra energy, and I did have one cheat meal per week. Now I see that is the perfect strategy for
me: an extended prep however with extra meals.
How a lot does your weight fluctuate 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 will have by no means been a lot heavier than that?I did attempt bulking as soon as. My regular low season weight is 53kg/116, and that point I acquired as much as 65kg/143kilos. I used to be consuming six meals a day with meat and rice, 100 grams of fries, simply attempting to bulk like abodybuilder and acquire some muscle. I couldn’t breathe! I used to be getting out of breath simply going upstairs. It
was manner 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
stress than ever to win now?I’ve been getting this query lots. I’ve a special mindset than most. My purpose was to win the Olympia.
Now that I’ve finished that, I nonetheless hustle the identical, however I can benefit from the course of extra.
The large 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 beneath contract, and now it appears to be like like they’re
returning to their roots. How did you develop into a part of the staff?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 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 MuscleTechon the LA Match Expo. I went to that and met Scott Welch, and all of us linked very effectively. Now I’m a
MuscleTech athlete!
I’m simply curious, did you go proper again onto your weight loss plan after the Olympia, or did you chill out 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 listing. I
did cardio on daily basis, 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 perfect of luck in Columbus.
Thanks a lot!
POSTSCRIPT:
“Generally we win, generally we lose. That’s a part of the sport. All I can do is maintain working laborious and
present up with poise and satisfaction.”In the long run, Maureen was narrowly defeated by a margin of simply two factors to defending Bikini Worldwidechampion Lauralie Chapados, precisely the best way it had turned out a yr earlier than in Columbus. She posted
this the subsequent day:
“In fact, the purpose was to win the title, however second place is nice too! Our purpose was to come back in a bit
tighter than my Olympia form and we undoubtedly achieved that. I do know I did all the things I might, and the
relaxation is as much as the judges. Generally we win, generally we lose. That’s a part of the sport. All I can do is
maintain working laborious and present up with poise and satisfaction. Big congratulations to all my girls this
weekend!”
Instagram @maureenblanquisco.professional
Contest Highlights
2016 Olympia Beginner San Marino – Winner – Earned Professional Card
2018 Alicante Professional – Winner
2018 Dennis James Basic 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 professionalwins together with the Boston Professional in 2022 and the Tampa Professional in 2019. One other profession spotlight for Maureenwas this yr when she joined the staff of MuscleTech ® athletes, and Maureen lately shared with MD
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