September 27, 2011. Thirty-two-year-old Tammy Jackson from Umhlanga is the reigning Ms IFBB Bikini SA Champion. Earlier this year, she was crowned Ms IFBB Olympia Amateur Champion in London, beating out serious international competition. But Tammy’s not one for sitting back and resting on her laurels, she now has the chance to take on the world, having been invited to compete as part of the South African team at the IFBB World Championships in Novi-Sad, Serbia from October 14-17.
A personal trainer by day, Tammy started competing in IFBB competitions in 2006 after being scouted – and immediately won her first competition. Since then, she has accumulated a host of regional and national titles in her category, building up a most impressive CV, culminating in the Ms Olympia Amateur Bikini win in London earlier this year, her first international title.
Tammy now heads to the World Championships in Serbia with the goal of securing at least a prominent placing – which will allow her to claim her prestigious IFBB Bikini Pro Card and allow her to compete professionally around the world.
Amateur
As an amateur, Tammy is currently expected to cover all her travel, accommodation and training expenses out of her own pocket. She is appealing to individuals and companies to help her realise her dream of becoming SA’s first-ever professional IFBB Bikini competitor by making donations to help get her to the World Championships.
“It’s such an honour to be chosen as part of the team to compete at the World Champs, and I hope to do South Africa proud by doing my very best to bring back the title,” she says. “The IFBB is a non-profit organisation and, as such, is only able to offer competitors a small but welcome subsidy towards their travel and accommodation arrangements. Every little bit of help I can get will be a massive boost and help me achieve my dream of competing on the world stage.”
Anyone interested in helping Tammy on her way to competing at the World Championships can contact her on tammy@bodyguru.co.za.
Tammy’s rapid progression to the top of the sport:
- 2006: IFBB Intergym – 1st place, Miss Physique
- 2006: IFBB Natal Novice – 1st place, Miss Physique
- 2006: IFBB SA Novice – 1st place, Miss Figure
- 2006: IFBB Natal Open – 4th place, Miss Body Fitness
- 2006: IFBB SA Open – 1st place, Miss Figure
- 2007: Fame Regional – 2nd place, Miss Figure
- 2007: Fame Regional – 3rd place, Miss Fitness Model
- 2007: IFBB Grand Prix Muscle Evolution – 2nd place, Miss Fitness
- 2007: IFBB Natal Open – 1st place, Miss Fitness
- 2007: IFBB SA Open – 2nd place, Miss Fitness
- 2009: MS FITNESS CPT – 3rd place, Miss Fitness
- 2009: IFBB Natal Open – 1st place, Miss Fitness
- 2009: Top 15 USN Face of Fitness Cover (For Fitness Magazine SA)
- 2010: IFBB Natal Open – 2nd place, Miss Bikini
- 2010: IFBB SA Championships – 1st place, Miss Bikini
- 2010: MS FITNESS SA – 1st place Bikini round, 3rd place overall
- 2010: NABBA SA – 1st place, Miss Bikini
- 2010: IFBB SA Muscle Evolution Grand Prix – 1st place Miss Bikini
- 2011: MS Olympia Amateur Bikini – 1st place (London)