SHE’S only 5ft 4 inches but can deadlift the weight of an adult male lion.
Powerlifter Julia Vins, 26, has already broken three world titles and says no amount of trolls will stop her incredible rise to fame as ‘Muscle Barbie’.
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The Russian fitness fanatic, who weighs 10st, has gained over 1million followers on Instagram and says her only goal is to keep piling on the muscle.
While boyfriend Sergei loves her physique and works out alongside her, she admits some men tell her she is too hench but insists they are just “jealous”.
“”For me, there is no limit. I want to become as muscly as possible,” she explains.
“You can’t seem beautiful to everyone. And everyone has a right to look and feel comfortable by expressing themselves in different ways.”
Fitness journey
The athlete from Engels, Russia, began her fitness journey aged 15 after realising she had an “abundance of energy” that needed to be channelled.
“At the time, I was also studying for exams, and my restlessness was affecting my concentration,” she says.
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“While I had a very full schedule and a list of hobbies including art, music, and reading, I never felt like I had a true purpose in life.
“My body didn’t feel like it was in sync with my soul – it just didn’t feel right. It was then that I discovered powerlifting.”
Julia explains that while she saw some progress in her first year of training in 2012, it wasn’t enough.
But a year after picking up the dumbbells, she met a coach who helped her to “understand the science” of training effectively.
“We delved into the specifics of exercises, weight selection, and the impact these decisions have on results,” she says.
“I believe that before you can achieve results, you must first have a solid understanding of the process.
“Hard work and dedication are certainly important, but it’s equally crucial to know how to use them effectively.”
Julia also transformed her diet, eating five to six small meals daily, consisting of chicken, eggs, cheese, rice, and vegetables.
She practises intermittent fasting, but allows herself one cheat day a week.
“I made a lifestyle change by adopting a twice-daily meal routine, and it turned out to be the best decision I’ve made for my health,” she says.
“Intermittent fasting has been a staple in my routine for many years, not only freeing up a considerable amount of time in my day, but also improving my overall well-being.
Muscle Barbie
Julia entered the World Powerlifting Championships in Moscow in 2014 and won the competition.
She achieved three world record lifts – 180kg in the squat, 105kg in bench press and 165kg in the deadlift.
She has previously explained how she feels it is important to look sexy even when she’s pumping iron.
She said: “I always wear make-up, even when I’m squatting. I think it’s important to look attractive in any situation.
“I make sure my hair is done up in cute plaits and ribbons.
“I like fashion too but it’s very difficult to find nice clothes as my size is not standard.”
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Alex Bellotti
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