UNCW’s very own bikini bodybuilder, Caroline Mahar, recently competed in the NPC North Carolina State Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini, and Physique Championships April 14 and won the overall in Bikini.

“The feeling was indescribable,” said Mahar. “I’ve actually been in a state of shock all week… It’s an incredible feeling when everything that you’ve put into training and dieting finally starts to pay off.”

Mahar explained the bikini portion of the competition she participates in is judged differently than the normal body building competitions. Women are evaluated on overall muscle tone, conditioning, symmetry, skin tone, poise and stage presence.

“It is a little bit of a more natural, athletic look… Ideally, they are looking for someone who is not overly muscle but also not too lean,” said Mahar.

Her first competition was the Arnold Classic in the first week of March. She placed eighth out of 32 girls in her height class, with a total of 180 competitors.

“It’s an international competition, so it was huge,” said Mahar. “Most people start with a smaller, more local competition, but I guess I just had the mind-set ‘go big or go home’ … so I listened to my intuition and entered.”

Although Mahar trains and diets regularly, she is not going out of her way to overdo it by spending seven hours at the gym or barely eating. She sticks to her work out routine on a weekly basis, taking one rest day, and eats healthy foods every two and a half to three hours.

“I’m there to sweat and push myself as hard as I can. One of the number one tips that I would give is that exercising should be something that you enjoy,” Mahar said. “I cook my meals on Sunday before the week starts and have them packaged and ready to go. This way when I’m running from class to the gym to the library all day, I have the food with me and ready to eat.”

Jessica Ferrer is a Peer Educator for CARE and a friend of Mahar. Ferrer has been able to watch Mahar promote a healthy image for UNCW students and experience her food disciplines.

“Whenever Caroline and I go out to eat, we always try to go to places with fresh ingredients and where there are multiple options,” Ferrer said. “There’s no cutting out certain foods completely, just enjoying them in moderation.”

According to Ferrer, women and students at UNCW can benefit from Mahar’s healthy lifestyle image.

“I think students can look at Caroline and be inspired to go out and accomplish their dreams like she is trying to do, and to be healthy,” Ferrer said.

Mahar is a senior graduating in May with a B.A. in Communication Studies and a double minor in Community Health and Recreation and Sport Leadership and Tourism Management. She is also in the process of attaining her personal training certification.

“I’ve played all types of sports since I was a kid, anywhere from basketball to gymnastics. My parents started taking me to the gym when I was eight years old, and I was hooked,” Mahar said. “Working out and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are very important to me and has been for as long as I can remember.”