A Mitchells Plain man went from being a skinny model to a geboude bodybuilder in just 10 weeks.
Anthony Walters swapped pageant sashes for baby oil and barbells and last weekend took part in his first bodybuilding competition.
The Mr. South Africa 2020 semifinalist has won numerous pageants since he started modelling in 2017.
But on Saturday, Anthony, 24, competed in the Puma Classics in Nelspruit and claimed sixth spot out of 20 in the Mr. Physique 177cm height division.
Anthony counts himself lucky to have made the top 10 in his first ever competition.
“It was an amazing journey even though I did not take first place.
“It is however my first big competition and the competitors I stood next to have done numerous competitions with years of training and wins behind their name.
“So it was an honour going up against them.”
He explains: “They judge the top part of you only, so you’re in board shorts and not underpants. You are judged on your V-Taper,. Your shoulders to your waist ratio needs to be big, so you have to have a tiny waist and very broad back and shoulders.
Anthony says he had a coach to help him prepare.
“I trained for three to four hours a day, every single day for 10 weeks and no rest.
“On the seventh day, I took a rest day and my rest day consists of cardio.”
He says he’s always embraced a healthy lifestyle, so eating foods such as cauliflower rice, chicken breast, and cucumber, supplemented with various vitamins was fine.
Anthony, who works as a lab technician and quality controller, says he decided to try bodybuilding because he was falling into a rut and wanted to challenge himself.
“I needed to do this for myself because I found myself just going to work, training and coming back home on a daily basis, and found myself in a place I don't want to be – the comfort zone.
“I never thought I would stand on the stage for bodybuilding,” he says, adding that he will now continue with this journey to see how far he can get.