A mum from Harpenden, who is gearing up and stripping off for October’s Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation Championships in Nottingham, is hoping to inspire other women to do the same.

Jennie Bliss, 37, will be competing in the Masters Bikini-Fitness category for over-35s at this year’s competition after winning the London and South-East qualifiers in May.

Having always taken a keen interest in her fitness, Jennie decided to start entering competitions when she met former Mr Olympia, Eddie Abbew, who owns the Olympian Gym in Hemel Hempstead.

She said: “I have been weight-lifting since I was 15 years old. Every evening I would work out in my bedroom. My mum thought I was crazy.”

After having her son, Mason, eight years ago, Jennie decided to turn her hobby into a profession, last year becoming a qualified personal trainer.

“It was from then that thought I would like to compete and Eddie supported me through it,” she explained.

“It was very hard. We started by working on changing the shape of my legs. I did my first show in April and came third, which I was pleased with but Eddie wasn’t. So he entered me into the South-East qualifiers a few weeks later and I won.”

Those qualifiers mean that Jennie will now be competing in the UK championships, and she is keen to inspire and help other mums get back into shape after having children.

She said: “It absolutely can be done. I’m proof that it can.”

Eddie, who has been training Jennie for a few years at his gym, remembered Jennie’s first time on stage.

He said: “It was her first competition and she just forgot everything she had learned – it is quite daunting; it is human nature to feel daunted.

“But the second time she was a lot better. Her confidence was up, along with her self-belief.”

Jennie is now on a strict six-meals-a-day diet to prepare for the finals and is working hard with her training group, Team Savage, who have been helping her with everything from tanning and make-up to poses.

She said: “I get really nervous. I was shaking the first time. But when you go on to the stage you just have to compose yourself to compete.

“It doesn’t matter if you do not place; you are a winner for making the stage, for doing what you set out to do and knowing you gave it your all.”

Jennie says that her son, Mason, who will be joining her on stage in the Fitmum category in competition in September, is “really excited to be part of it”.

She also urged any aspiring fitness models to get in touch via UKBFFModelAndTalent.com.