TINIAN — On Nov. 6, 2021, Stallion Battalion Commander Cielo Long won her first bodybuilding competition — the bikini division of the Dee Clayton Classic.
Prior to this event, the TJSHS ROTC Public Affairs team interviewed her.
Cielo said her journey began with her interest in fitness. She expressed her love for fitness and also stated that because of this competition, she knew that it would take a lot of hard work and dedication to reach her full potential.
During her trip to the mainland U.S. this summer, she began training her body to achieve the goal she had set upon herself.
She spent month after month at the gym and learned how to change her diet “without restricting what my body needed to consume.”
But throughout her journey, there were challenges along the way. “I love food, as most people do, so it was hard to fully alter my diet,” she said.
Cielo also had to balance her workout times with her personal life. “If this meant I couldn’t spend time with friends, then I would deal with it. I also struggled a lot mentally about not pushing myself as much as I wanted to. This got easier once I got used to the intense training, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
She said the skills she has learned from JROTC helped her in her bodybuilding journey.
“When you prep for a bodybuilding competition you have to be disciplined. There were days when I felt like staying home and eating the biggest pint of ice cream I could find, but I knew that I had one goal to achieve. JROTC taught me how to be focused and motivated even when it feels almost impossible to continue,” she said.
After months and months of training, competition day finally came around and Cielo was ready for it.
In this year’s Dee Clayton Classic, she topped the bikini division. All of her hard work had finally paid off.
“When I entered the competition I did it solely for the experience. I am extremely grateful that I was able to place first and represent my home, but overall, I am just honored that I got to partake in such a wonderful journey,” she said.
She noted that her good friend, Filomenaleonisa Iakopo, had also entered the same competition and finished first in her division.
“We joined the competition together and if it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t have competed at my best this season — I am beyond grateful to have her as a partner,” Cielo said.
“I’ve learned that you can do absolutely anything you put your mind to,” she added. “No matter who doubts you, or any outside influence you may encounter, it is up to you whether or not you want to improve your health/well-being.”
Cielo said she would love to compete in the mainland U.S. and push herself even harder to the next level.
Upon completing high school, she plans to attend a university, study political science and come back home to serve her people.
The Tinian Stallion Battalion wishes her good luck on her future endeavors and would like to remind everyone that if you put in enough effort and dedication into something, you can achieve anything.
C/LTC Cielo Long poses with her trophy after winning the bikini division of the Dee Clayton Classic bodybuilding competition.
