Mercedes Khani - IFBB figure Pro and International Fitness Model

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Interviewed by Amjad Vanimal

Dedicated to the health and fitness lifestyle, Mercedes Khani found herself embarking on a new venture when she relocated from her home town in Amsterdam (Holland) to the Sunshine State, Florida, in Miami Beach. This is where she found her motivation to start lifting and to train for her first competition.

After a huge amount of hard work, Mercedes Khani became popular as an international fitness model and figure competitor. She could make her presence in the mainstream fitness industry within a  short span of time. In an exclusive interview, Mercedes Khani talks to our Editor Amjad Vanimal about her rapid rise to the pro ranks, pro debut, and her future plans in the fitness industry.

Let’s start things off by giving the readers some background on yourself:

• When and where were you born?
• I was born in Zwolle in Holland, Feb 2 1984.
• Where do you live now?
• In Amsterdam, I spend here almost all my life.
• Your family?
• My mother and brother live here too, the rest lives in Iran.
• Your early schooling?
• I graduated from HAVO and tried 4 different studies after that, but I wanted to travel the world first so I took time for that.
• What’s your height?
• I am 165 cm.
• Your contest and off-season weight?
• My contest weight is 54 kilo. Off season I am around 60 kilo.
• What’s your contest history?
• [Presently preparing for first professional competition]
  Received Professional Status
  
  May 2006 - NP, IFBB European Championships in Viterbo, Italy – Figure
  
  April 2006 2nd place NBBF/IFBB Dutch Championships (Nationals) – Fitness
  
  May 2005 - 13th place IFBB European Championships in Yalta, Ukraine – Figure
  
  April 2005 2nd place NBBF/IFBB Dutch Championships (Nationals) – Fitness
  
  March 2005 -1st place NBBF/IFBB Open Eemsmond Cup (Emerald Cup) Fitness
  

International Fitness Model, IFBB Figure Competitor, and Fitness Expert. This is how Mercedes Khani is well known worldwide. How do you feel about it?

Well I feel proud to know that I have achieved this title all by myself from hard work and a lot of dedication. I also feel flattered whenever I notice people appreciating what I do and what I have done. I hope to be able to give back to the people some day, in whatever way I think will be best later on.

How did you get started in these industries? What inspired you to become such a Great fitness competitor?

‘I went to a gym while I was in Miami and saw Miss Olympia heavyweight bodybuilder Yaxeni Oriquen. She was so muscular, but also so beautiful. She is originally from Venezuela. She has a beautiful face but also round curves everywhere. I was truly inspired by her and as I became friends with her cousin and later with her, she told me I have great genetics to compete and to do well. With their help I prepared for my first show, and right away I won! After that I thought; I like this!

You followed your dreams and live in your own world. In fact, what’s the inspiration for having such a dazzling confidence?

I really don’t know what the reason is. I just feel very confident and happy with myself. I believe that if you want to achieve something, if you believe in yourself and you really go for it, you can achieve anything. I think that counts for everybody. I realize that, and I realize nobody is better than I am, and I am not better than anybody else. We are all equal and everything is possible.

“I believe that if you want to achieve something, if you believe in yourself and you really go for it, you can achieve anything. I think that counts for everybody. I realize that, and I realize nobody is better than I am, and I am not better than anybody else. We are all equal and everything is possible”

What motivates you to keep competing?

This is a very tricky question, I ask myself this many times. I feel very confident so I don’t feel like I am doing this to prove anything to anyone. I am doing it for myself, because I want it and because it makes me feel good. Women don’t get money in this sport; it even costs us a lot of money to compete (dieting, training, traveling, hotels, flights, posing suits, nails, hair etc). Why do I go through all this effort then? The best answer I can come up with is that I really like looking in the mirror. And I am curious to see how far I can get, how high I can place in my competitions. Once I see, this is how high I can place and if I want to place higher I will need to work a lot harder to improve myself, maybe my curiosity will be over. Or maybe it will fire me up even more to overcome that obstacle and to win the biggest competition in the world. We shall see.

What’s your current training programme? Does this differ in any way from the previous one?

I train only three times a week, always have. Almost all other athletes train 5 or 6 times a week. I do well can get away with training only 3 times, resting is also important. Plus, unlike the male bodybuilders, being a woman I don’t have a big sponsor to pay me so that I don’t have to work and can train as often as I want. Maybe if I did I would train 4 times a week, possible 5 times. But that is not the case. I usually train back and arms on Monday, legs on Wednesday and chest and shoulders on Friday. Then I also do cardio 4 or 5 times a week.

What do you consider to be your greatest competitive achievement? Any disappointing moments?

My greatest competitive achievement would be winning my first competition, being on the cover of a magazine and earning professional status so quickly. That is something to really be proud of. Disappointing moments were placing 2nd in the National Championships and only needing 1 more point to win, but placing 2nd because I just got started and didn’t know how to pose yet. Also the next year was disappointing, when a girl with a lot of cellulite on her legs won 1st and I was 2nd again, while I had lines and separation on my legs as it should be. I needed 3 points more to win, but got 2nd because she was training with 2 of the judges. I was very upset about that.

How is your modeling career going on?

Very good! I just did a photoshoot yesterday with an art-photographer who flew to Amsterdam all the way from San Francisco in America, just to shoot with me. I was very, very flattered! Fitness modeling also doesn’t really pay, so this is one of my major hobbies as well.

What are your thoughts on supplementation?

They are very good and really necessary to get all the vitamins in and to help with losing fat and gaining muscle. Your diet and training must be right for them to work, but if they are they will really help if you choose the right ones.

“Once I see, this is how high I can place and if I want to place higher I will need to work a lot harder to improve myself, maybe my curiosity will be over. Or maybe it will fire me up even more to overcome that obstacle and to win the biggest competition in the world. We shall see”

Any sort of supplements that you feel are better for female competitors?

Yes. Multi-vitamin, vitamin C and E, HMB, CLA, calcium-magnesium and a good fat burner.

What do you want to be in future? Do you have any particular plan to accomplish that dream?

I would like to start buying houses and do real estate. Of course I would like to win the biggest competition, the Olympia, but we will have to see if that will happen. I would just like to live a peaceful, happy life with someone special. I believe that life will be beautiful then no matter what you do.

How do you spend your leisure time?

I love going to the movies and of course shopping! I have a thing for jewelry and I love buying things for the house. I also enjoy going to the beach, meeting up with friends and going on vacations to the sun!

In your opinion, how much a fitness magazine is helpful for people who are fitness conscious?

Very much. You learn a lot from fitness magazines about nutrition, training and everything else you need to know. Personally I like to learn more about the different athletes, how they eat and what they do in life. I like to read about that in the magazines.

I have read somewhere that Mercedes loves surprises, so let me give you a chance to surprise your fans. Can you tell me something about you that nobody knows so far?

Hmmmm, well, I bet you didn’t know that I used to compete in Judo and I know how to hold someone down or how to get out of being held down!

Being a pro figure, competitor, what message do you have for young girls who are trying to follow in your footsteps?

Get a person (trainer and/or nutritionist) you know and you trust to help you! There is so much information that you don’t know about unless you have many years of hands on experience. And you don’t want to waste time experimenting or not doing it right.

Thank you so much for spending your valuable time with us. Is there anything you would like to add?

I would like to add: always take care of yourself and your body and you will feel much better with yourself. When you do, you can be better in everything else in life too!
The pleasure is mine. Thank you!