I grew up in Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. As a child, our family did many activities together. In the winters we would cross country ski and in the summers we would go canoeing and bike riding. I found one of my passions early in life, gymnastics. I was watching Nadia Commenci during the 1976 Olympics, and said, "I want to do that!!" From there, my gymnastics career began. I still continued dancing, cheerleading, softball and piano lessons until the seventh grade. After that, I began to concentrate fully on school work and gymnastics. In junior and high school I was allowed to leave early to go to my five hour gymnastics practice.

My junior year I was introduced to weight training to help strengthen a weak back. I enjoyed it so much that I competed in an Olympic weight-lifting competition. Much to my surprise I won the state and national championship that year! Still my full concentration was gymnastics and earning a scholarship for college.

Since I competed at the elite level for four years, I had several schools offering scholarships, However I selected Michigan State. I studied exercise science and competed in every single gymnastics meet for four years. I was voted the Spirit award my senior year and president of the Varsity S Club.

I began personal training in 1992 just prior to receiving my bachelor's degree.During graduate school I earned a scholarship as a graduate assistant, and had the opportunity to work with two excellent mentors that helped me get started in the training industry.One worked with the MSU basketball team as well as the general public.We creating a traveling personal training unit. It was the first of its kind in the area I resided and is still in business today! I learned from another who worked with many pro hockey players during their off season. He concentrated much of his training by incorporating plyometric drills.He also focused on periodization, which is very important to the athlete on and off season. When I completed my master's degree in exercise science, also from Michigan State, I moved south.

Since living in the Atlanta area, I formed my own personal training business named "Mak Attack Fitness Pro". I have successfully completed the National Strength and Conditioning Association's (NSCA) requirements to earn a certificate as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). This type of training certification is a required for strength and conditioning coaches who work with collegiate and professional athletes.

Although I enjoyed personal training, I was missing out on the competitive aspect.By encouragement of close friend, Leonard, who has since past, I began a fitness career. After three auditions for the Atlanta Hawks dance team and two for the Atlanta Falcons cheerleading team, all of which I made to the final round, my muscular physique was too much for them to blend with 16 to 20 other girls.

I then began competing on a fitness level which blossomed my fitness career by winning the Gold's Gym classic in Virginia, hosted by Eric Hillman of Europa, which qualified me for the 1997 Nationals in Dallas, TX. That wasn't my show so I decided to try again in 1998. I trained hard, polished my routine, and changed my physique.

I continued to climb the rankings as an amateur, placing tenth at the USA's, third at Team Universe, and finally a win in the tall class at the 1998 Nationals. The best part of earning my IFBB Fitness Pro card was doing it in my home town with my family and friends to witness the thrill and excitement!

I then began mass promoting and networking myself, which paid off as I then graced two covers back to back; Natural Muscle in November 2000 and Oxygen in March/April 2001. This motivated me to continue building more friendships in the industry where I was then placed on the covers of Optimum Nutrition Spring 2001, Natural Muscle August 2002, and Bodysport's final issue April 2002.

-Laura Mak