Libby Angus: from non-athlete to fitness star & business owner
Libby Angus took the plunge into small business ownership to pursue a career in bikini training and social media management. At 21, she found a gap in the market that was not only profitable, but also vital to the health and wellbeing of young women.
An unlikely candidate
My journey is a little different to most of those in the fitness industry. I was never a sporty kid; athleticism didn’t come naturally to me. I tried to kick around a football, but never found my niche.
I left high school a year early, and made my way to a student town famous for its unhealthy and alcohol-fuelled lifestyle.
My teenage life was all fun and games – until I broke my foot. Being stuck in a moon-boot for 3 months made me realise I had been taking my body for granted, and I became determined to not let my health suffer any longer. I decided to change my life for the better and joined the gym.
I found both my mind and body being challenged in my newfound exercise regime. Going to the gym gave me a sense of accomplishment. Plus, it was a great stress release!
My partner Andrew was studying Sports Science and I became his protégé. Together, we worked on gaining strength and muscle through performance-based movements.
I found I really enjoyed this challenge, and loved my training, but was feeling directionless.
I’d gotten my body where I wanted it to be aesthetically. But what did it all mean?
Levelling up
I needed a new challenge. I wanted to focus on a goal, rather than simply working out to look a certain way. That’s when I decided to compete in my first Bikini Bodybuilding competition. The next few months involved serious dedication, motivation and (if I’m being honest), a little deprivation.
In May 2014 I took to the stage for the first time, and came away with a second place medal. Although I was happy with my achievement, I knew there was more to be done. This was just a taster.
So, I signed up for the New Zealand International Federation of Bodybuilding Pro and Amateur Championships, which was 9 months away.
By March 2015, I had made some serious improvements. I came away with first place out of 30 girls and an overall placing. This is when I knew I had found something I loved and was actually good at!
The non-sporty child had finally found her place.
While training for the NZIFBB competition, I had started my own fitness Instagram. It featured food, training tips and the odd selfie (of course). Through my account, I picked up a supplement sponsor who provided me with protein, in exchange for blog posts and for the rights to use my face on their supplement storefront.
After winning the competition I started focusing more on my social media platforms. I posted frequently to keep my followers interested and up to date. But as my following expanded, so did my knowledge of the industry… and I soon realised there was side of my newly beloved sport that was not so glamourous.
The dark side of the sport
I started to receive messages from other girls who were looking to compete, but didn’t know where to start. This was exciting, but also eye-opening.
Girls were reaching out to me saying that they were unhappy with their bodies.
That their personal trainer had put them on 800 calorie a day diets.
That they were running for hours on the treadmill with no energy in their tanks.
Bikini is a challenge, and around competition time, it can be a real mental battle. Two of my battles were saying farewell to good red wine and a block of chocolate. But that was nothing compared to what these girls were being put through.
I was hearing stories of stress, disorder and exhaustion – and I knew from my personal experience it didn’t have to be this way.
Making a change
I had a new goal. I was really motivated to make a change to the sport – and knew this was something that I could do, alongside my trainer and nutritionist (the brains behind my programme and nutritional guidelines). Both Erin and Andrew studied and really understand the science behind movement and the human body, so I knew I was in safe hands.
And despite the hard work and temporary suppression of burger cravings, I loved the process!
I wanted others to be happy in their process, too. And I knew they could be.
Andrew, Erin and I began our own Bikini training business, built on the tenets of health, physical performance and strength, rather than deprivation and aesthetics-only goals. My role is to train and help our clients with posing, hair and makeup, while Erin and Andrew focus on their nutrition and workout programmes.
We’re creating healthy guidelines for our clients based around eating lots of good food, and working out with performance in mind. Our clients’ goals can be measured in ways that exceed physical appearance. This method is proving very popular – probably because you don’t feel miserable doing it!
From a passion to a business
When we began training clients, I was working a full-time job in Auckland. I got up at ridiculous hours of the morning, squeezed in a rushed workout, and ate in the car as I drove an hour to get to work every day.
I woke up one morning and thought “something has got to give.” I had no time to enjoy what I loved. So I decided to leave the security of my full time job, and pursue health and fitness full-time.
I now have over 13,000 Instagram followers, and thousands of followers on Snapchat and Facebook. My aim now is to help girls all over the world reach their goals – whether they’re competing or not.
Shortly, I’m bringing out a Bikini Guide that offers a new approach to training, aiming for a strong physique to be the result of balanced eating, and performance based training. We’re trying to reinvent our sport, and offer a healthy and safe way to achieve your goals that looks at the bigger picture – your hormones, your mood, your mental and emotional well-being.
We want bikini girls to love the process, and encourage them away from a life of deprivation.
Being a business owner isn’t easy, but I’ve found that if you’re doing something you’re passionate about, you’re much more likely to swim when thrown in the deep end. There’s a lot ahead of us – 2017 is going to be huge! – but here’s what I’ve found so far:
- Be 100% committed and passionate about what you’re thinking of pursuing. Although it’s cheesy, I wholeheartedly believe that what you put into the universe, you get out. As soon as I left my full time job, and put myself out there, opportunities have been coming my way. These are opportunities that I would have never been able to pursue alongside my full-time job.
- It can feel risky going out on your own, but there are so many supportive people out there. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! You’re much more likely to get it if you ask for it.
- Be realistic and start with small goals. Sometimes you can have grandiose ideas, and feel really passionate about executing them. Passion is key – but sit back, mull it over, and take small, realistic, steps towards these goals.
- Get used to not being busy all the time, especially when you’re starting out. Most entrepreneurs are busy bodies… so when you do have a little more time up your sleeves, don’t stress. Use this time to grow your client base, your social media platforms or just enjoy this extra time for yourself. Don’t be disheartened when you have some downtime. Use it to create future opportunities.
- Don’t underestimate the power of social media. Share your stories, spread the word about what you’re passionate about and what gets you going. I’ve met so many like-minded girls through my social media pages, who are now clients and friends!
I’ve found my passion, and found a place to help others. I am able to make a business around my ideal lifestyle, and my morals. And I couldn’t be happier.
