Essence Monet - IFBB Figure Pro

Name: Essence Monet

Date of Birth: 12/05/1984

Occupation: Personal Trainer, Administrative and Student

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Hometown: Schaumburg, Illinois (outside Chicago)

I got started on this journey of athleticism, fitness and everything in between at a very early age. I started running with the boys and playing outside more than I wanted to play with Barbie.

I eventually grew into a tomboy that couldn’t get enough of sports and being athletic, especially since I was good at it. I played tennis, I was an ice skater (for a very short period of time), and I played softball, basketball for a number of years, but found my true calling in track and field. This was where I excelled the most and it becomes a huge part of my life. 

Growing up was easy when you have loving parents, go to great suburb public schools and have every opportunity to be the best in the world. Well, in my case, I was a troublemaker once I hit 12 years old and up until I was 17. I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol and would refuse to listen to my parent’s rules and try to be an adult at an early age.

My mom eventually had enough of my young and troublesome shenanigans, so she shipped me off to live in Texas with my Uncles. WOW! What a life changing experience, I found the comfort of track and field again, along with basketball and got my grades up to where they should have been.

It was an experience I will never forget, but I missed home so much and home was back in Chicago. I made the decision to graduate from my former high school and did so in 2003. I went on to college and continued to run track and do well with my studies.

Unfortunately in 2003 I tore my ACL and half of my meniscus and was out for the rest of the season. I had to make a decision after the surgery as to whether or not I was going to participate in track and field again, needless to say, I didn’t return to the team. I decided to just stick with my studies and work.

During this time this is where I met my significant other at the time and little did I know that this relationship would change my path for the rest of my life.

Domestic abuse or violence is something that no one, man, woman or child, should have to put up with at all.

But yes, I Essence Monet was in an abusive relationship for almost 3 years of my life and actually thought that I could change the situation myself. BOY oh Boy! I was a fool! The first incident happened within the first few months of us being together.

I almost walked away but for some reason the young and naive 19 year old girl that I was, decided to stay. I put up with physical, mental and verbal abuse for a great deal of time and never thought that I would ever get out of the situation.

It only got worse over time and even when we would break up, I thought he would change and I would be right back in the same situation again. I never spoke of it to anyone and always had a smile on my face in front of our friends and family.

My mom on the other hand knew something was up, but still I didn’t lead on to the fact that I was getting abused. People just thought I had a very overbearing boyfriend. As time went on, I grew more and more tired of putting up with the same remarks, the name calling, the hitting, the arguing and the constant controlling ways.

When I turned 21, things only got worse and that’s when I knew I had to get out. So, instead of putting up with the abuse, I started fighting back. Hair was pulled out, punches and slaps were thrown, and wrestling matches on the kitchen floor and even some bloodshed. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I started planning my way out and every time that I would try, he would bring me right back in with his sad and pitiful tears. But I had had enough.

And it wasn’t until one fateful night that would change my life… I don’t exactly remember the day but the one thing I do remember that made me finally get out was the gun that was put directly in face after another night of him being drunk and us arguing over me not answering his calls.

THAT WAS IT!

I was out, I grabbed my things called my mom and told her to come pick me up. It was a slow process to get back my self-esteem and figure out what just happened. What the hell did I just put myself through for so long? 

I had a long road ahead, but took it in stride. I was just glad to not have him in my life anymore. So I started over and got a new job at a gym working front desk. I loved it. It was a great atmosphere and I made friends almost immediately.

I had never really lifted weights, but only dabbled in it during track and field workouts. So I got a personal trainer and started lifting. Talk about an instant gratification! I didn’t need a therapist at all, what I needed was right in front of me! I had finally found something that made me feel whole again and that didn’t judge me. Well one day a friend told me that I should get into competing because I had the frame for it.

I did my first competition in 2008 and got 10th place. It was a local show, but I didn’t realize how challenging it would be. I was hooked immediately.

I kept lifting but wasn’t sure when I was going to do another show. I was new to this world and wanted to do it right.

So I hired Kim Oddo, a well known nutritionist that worked with the best. I worked with him for about a year and got 5th place at my second local show. He felt that I need to branch out so I did two more shows under Oddo.

I did the Sacramento show in 2009 and received 5th place. Got some really great feedback and went on to place 1st in my class at the Emerald Cup in Washington in 2010.

I was on a roll but fell onto hard times and had to deal with some personal issues and had to stop competing for the rest of the season.

It wasn’t until later on around October that I decided along with my friend, Jon Crook that I was going to compete in the Arnold Amateur. He had previously helped me do my first show.

Well I went on to receive 4th place! It was the biggest show that I had ever done and I felt like I wasn’t done. As of this year I am currently working with Team Bombshell. I did the Atlantic states in June with them and received 5th place.

I was on the right track but again fell on hard time and just kept training and finally decided to do North Americans in September of 2011. I didn’t expect to win anything considering it was my first National Level show, but I guess I was wrong because I received my IFBB Pro card!

It’s been a hell of ride getting here, but I am looking forward to what is coming next. I have had a lot of support from friends and family and I know that without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. I look forward to representing the IFBB in the best way that I can!

Thanks for reading and stay blessed.