WBFF-PRO bikini fitness model Heidi Blue Ashton was preparing for the World Championships before Covid-19 wrecked her plans.

Here she talks to the The Voice about her incredible journey of highs and lows, a world famous father, being the partner of a Premier League footballer-turned-boxer and her future ambitions…

Explain how excited you were to be competing in the WBFF World Championships in November?

This whole journey firstly gave me a sense of purpose –  to want to have a goal in front of me and not just go to the gym. I wanted something to challenge me, I wanted to prove to myself that I could reach top level.

What is your training regime in terms of diet and general commitment?

The same as its always been, a very long and difficult time! I can’t eat what I would like, there are moments of doubt and loneliness. Ultimately understanding my body going into a whole new look, seeing the changes over the course of time.

What made you take up the sport? What or who was/has been your inspiration?

There have been a couple of people that have been very influential in my life. I’d like to start with my coach, Ian Dowe.  I started this journey way back in 2014. Life was beating me down and I needed to find a purpose.

I competed in my first competition at the Miami Pro Show, I won four first place trophies and was awarded with my Pro Status. Ian has been there with me every step of the way as a former IFBB world master champion – he knows what it takes to be the best.

My dad was a fighter and very talented. He gave me strength to be the same and make him proud.

He’s spent the last 6 years teaching me everything I know, down to my training technique and all the old school diets, he’s definitely been by my side from when I started to now –  and I’m grateful.

Ian has played a significant role in helping me achieve but the other person who isn’t here with me physically but spiritually is my dad Paul ‘Trouble Anderson’. He was a famous international DJ who was admired. Losing my dad was very unsettling, confusing and difficult.

My dad was a special man, very loved and talented. I felt I needed to have some kind of meaning for my own life and I believe now with him passing and seeing how he was respected, seeing that he was a fighter gave me that drive to fulfil my promise.

I found out more about my dad by how others responded and spoke about him after he died. He was a fighter and very talented. He gave me strength to be the same and make him proud.

My last words to him were: ”I’m going for my world title dad!” He was completely unresponsive at that point but he smiled, shed a tear and lifted his arms up. So competing in the postponed World Championships, whenever they happen, will have a spiritual connectivity and I will be giving my all.

Tell me some of the challenges you have faced in regards to the WBFF?

The challenges I face – and still face – are not only a physical strain but emotionally challenging times which provides doubt which can be very lonely place.

I turned pro at the World’s Beauty Fitness & Fashion Federation WBFF in 2018. I have competed in two professional shows, making my debut at the World Championships which took place in the Bahamas in August 2019.

This was a special moment for me but something wasn’t right.

As I got off the plane to face elite level females from all over the world, I knew I was in deep and couldn’t get back on the plane!

I had to make a choice: it’s either all or nothing, you can’t go into shows of this magnitude being half-hearted. I had to put all aside that was making me struggle.

My son, Jamie is my world and juggling with both my professions and family can be tough.

To elaborate, around this time I had lost my dad. I guess this was messing with my mind and affected my energy, I felt a little lost, it wasn’t easy, I had to try and perform.

When you put your body through the months of training, the dieting which really tests your mind to not only feel hungry but to see a difference when you look in the mirror can be overwhelming.

For me, age can be significant at elite level. I’m currently 35 years-old and most of my opponents’ ages range between 20-25, this can be very challenging at times when you know that you are older so I had to and have to work twice as hard.

As you get older your body takes longer to recover, so educating yourself and understanding what works for you is crucial.

What sacrifices have you had to make in order to compete?

When you reach elite levels especially being an athlete is a sacrifice within itself. Family, friends haven’t always understood me. You can have love from loved ones but if there’s a lack of understanding this can put a massive strain on all. I’ve lost so called friends because of this, with them not wanting to understand.

So to be misunderstood while trying to achieve as an athlete can hurt sometimes. I am also a proud mother to my son, Jamie, who is my world and juggling with both my profession and family can be tough. However, with energy levels running on empty, not being able to attend family occasions, friends wanting to do things I couldn’t as I had to fully focus and train to the best of my ability.

I had to make a choice: it’s either all or nothing, you can’t go into shows of this magnitude being half-hearted. I had to put all aside that was making me struggle.

The people that are supposed to be in your life will be in it regardless of challenges, I’ve realised it doesn’t always work when you’re trying to reach the best you can be, some people will be with you and some won’t.

The hardest thing for me personally is the after effects when competitions are over. My body goes into shock, body dysmorphia is something I struggle with because it takes months to feel slightly normal again.

How has Leon’s careers helped, inspired or motivated you?

My partner is special and he also plays a role that I really appreciate. He is loving, caring and has an athlete’s mind understanding all the dedication it takes to succeed as he himself was an elite athlete in two different sports; a Premier League footballer to a championship boxer is special and holds legacy.

Leon is all about fighting back and reinventing himself again and again. He is deeply passionate about mental health awareness and again has shown me a different type of fight especially through challenging times. The timing of Leon being in my life is priceless.

I learn something new every day with him, he’s patient and loving even on the bad days and overall I know he has my back. 

What do you hope to achieve at the World Championships?

Just being there knowing I’ve given my everything will be satisfying. No shortcuts, just dedication and hard work with the right love and support goes a long way, so no matter where I’m placed I feel like I’ve given my all so that’s winning.

What would you say to other women who would like to compete but feel it might not be for them?

What I would like to say to all women is:  never put yourself in one box and stay in it. Find a way to climb out of it.

I’m a mother, the sacrifices I’ve had to make have been hard but I made it work. I’m an air hostess for British Airways which is my 9-5 job, the work that keeps me active. This job took a long time for me to complete. I finally got it and have travelled the world.

I’m looking forward to giving my all one last time at an elite level and then putting my experiences into people, fitness, making BodiesByBlue a major force.

I’m also very involved with the fitness side of things being a PT which has now led me towards starting my own brand, BodiesByBlue.

What I’m passionately saying here is if you want to do something like this you can, you can be all above. The emails and messages I get from women are overwhelmingly expressing how inspired they are, how I’ve changed a lot with the way they think which falls into mindset.

I truly believe because I’m doing it all myself, being a mum, having a normal job and still giving my all to compete in a competition of this magnitude, proves it is possible so never keep yourself in that box, climb out and see what you can do!

What are amongst your future ambitions?

My future ambitions are to never look back and say ‘I should’ve done that or I shouldn’t have done this’. Everything I’m doing now has a purpose for what I want to achieve again and be fulfilled.

So I’m looking forward to giving my all one last time at an elite level and then putting my experiences into people, fitness, making BodiesByBlue a major force while inspiring others to want to be better, be fitter, create a mindset that drives you to be all you want to be.

Most things seem unreachable and sometimes we don’t reach them and that’s fine too, because it’s all about timing and what’s supposed to be at that time.

Leon’s motto is to try anyway because when you try in life, you never fail.