Jayla England has dreams of one day attaining her pro card. (Submitted photo)

By Nigel Maxwell

Bodybuilding

Prince Albert bodybuilder wins top prize at regional competition

May 7, 2024 | 2:15 PM

Prince Albert’s Jayla England says she felt like she was on cloud nine when standing on stage and posing in front of her peers and judges.

The 19-year-old competed last weekend in Regina at the Saskatchewan Regional Classic and won first in a number of categories and divisions including women’s natural wellness.

“I was really in my element up there and it felt like that was exactly where I was supposed to be,” she told paNOW.

Although England has been training hard in the gym for about three years, last weekend’s event represented her first ever bodybuilding competition and she dedicated the past year to prepare.

“I watched the Sask Classic last year in 2023 and was amazed by everyone on stage and it sparked a fire in me,” she said.

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Jayla England with her coach Dillon Phaneuf. (Instagram/ @brandonseye)

It was at that same show England’s coach Dillon Phaneuf also approached her and told her he believed she could be on that stage the next year.

“And his words were you have the potential to go extremely far in this sport and I want to be the person to guide you there,” England said.

The next day, the pair started working together and spent seven months building muscle and putting on size and then did a 20-week prep for this show.

When asked what was the biggest challenge, England replied it was the last six weeks of prep, when in her words the crunch really began.

Bodybuilding is as much about spending time in the gym, as it is focused on diet. So when England’s cardio got picked up, her food came down and she was still training five days a week on top of this.

“It got very exhausting mentally and physically spending hours in the gym between my own workouts, cardio, posing, and getting all of my steps in for the day while also minimally eating in a strict diet.”

England added it came to a point in the last four weeks where she was spending more time at the gym then she was in her own bed.

“It definitely helped having as big of a support system as I did from my family and friends. I don’t think i would have made it this far without their constant and endless support. I loved every part of this challenge and learned a lot from it. There isn’t a thing I would have changed and I can’t wait to do it again,” she said.

Jayla England on stage. (Instagram/ @brandonseye)

Reflecting back on the competition and the number of people in the audience cheering for her, England said there were so many she forgot that it was even a competition.

“It really just felt like i was up there for fun putting on a show for my people. I can confidently say that there was no better feeling then finally being able to showcase months of hard work in front of such a supportive crowd,” she said.

A top three placing at the SASKCLASSIC qualifies athletes to register for the prestigious Toronto Pro Qualifier, Vancouver Pro/Am Qualifier and Canadian Nationals, in pursuit of the famed IFBB Pro card.

While excited about the prospect of competing at Nationals, England explained she and her coach have decided to go into another off season to put on more muscle and size before stepping on stage again in 2025.

“From then on we are going to work very hard towards getting my pro card in this sport. This was just the beginning for us,” she said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell