Blyth woman earns place at world’s biggest bodybuilding event in Vegas

Chelsey Warnes began bodybuilding when she was 20-years-old after falling in love with the gym, eventually moving from amateur to professional.

After initially competing in bikini, she has now qualified for Ms Olympia in the wellness category where she will be the only woman representing the UK.

She said: “It’s crazy, It’s an honour. I’m speechless to be honest. I’ve achieved a goal that I had thought wasn’t possible.”

Taking place in Las Vegas from September 24 – 27, Ms Olympia is the highest professional women’s bodybuilding competition.

“I’ll be backstage with Ms Olympia and all of the best athletes in the world, not just in my class, but in bodybuilding in general,” Chelsey added. “

"That is just insane to me. The only thing next to this is winning the Olympia and for that you have to be the best in the world.”

Chelsey will be taking her family with her to Vegas who have been her biggest supporters throughout her bodybuilding career.

“I’m so excited that they’re coming along with me,” she said. “Back when I was doing bikini, my mum used to make my bikinis for me because it costs so much money.”

On advice she would give to other young women who aspire to be bodybuilders, she added: “It’s a lifestyle and it’s something you live every day and it doesn’t pay you.

“If you go into a show thinking, ‘I’m a better version of myself than I was the last time I stepped on the stage,’ then that should be enough to make you happy.”