Miss Bikini finalist’s inspiring story

A LOCAL mum from Blanchardstown has been chosen for the finals of Miss Bikini Ireland, and she’s hoping her inspiring story will remind women that they deserve to be beautiful, happy and confident.

Zanna Ivanova from Blanchardstown was born in Latvia and raised in an orphanage where she endured a difficult childhood.

“I felt that nobody loves or needs me, I felt abandoned and alone,” she says.

Zanna arrived in Ireland back in 2004 after Latvia joined the European Union and before long met a man she believed would respect, accept and support her.

However, the relationship didn’t work out and ended badly, leaving Zanna devastated and alone again.

“I thought it was normal, because I never had a family to compare this relationship too,” she recalls.

“I was too shy to ask for advice or help, my confidence was so low.”

Zanna has overcome her struggles in life and now she’s a happy mother of two girls, aged 16 and 10, and a four-year-old boy.

She juggles the role of being a mother with part time work at a grocery shop, but still manages to squeeze in at least 15 hours working out at her local gym.

Zanna always loved training but her passion was rekindled in her mid-30s when she decided she wasn’t as fit as she wanted to be after giving birth to her three children, who she describes as ‘wonderful’.

“Fitness was always my passion,” she says. “I didn’t exercise as much as I wanted too and I always trained just for myself, to feel better and become more confident.”

After her relationship broke up two years ago, Zanna realised that now she was not just a mother, but also a role model for her children, so she started to work even harder in the gym.

“It’s never too late to start working out, never too late to build your confidence and be a role-model for somebody,” she says.

“Being a finalist and winning Miss Bikini means the world to me – it’s not about money or popularity – it is a reminder to every woman out there that you deserve to be beautiful, happy and confident and it is never too late to start to love yourself!” 

When asked how challenging is to maintain her amazing figure, Zanna joked: “It’s hard for me to say no to chocolate and cupcakes, we have a very strong bond!”

Zanna is asking Northsiders to vote for her, so she can win Miss Bikini and represent Ireland in US Swimsuit International, which takes place next month.

“Winning Miss Bikini will help increase my confidence and self-esteem, but most importantly, it will allow me to share the message to every single woman that reads my story that no matter how hard life is, it is never too late to start exercising, loving yourself and becoming a role model to somebody else, even to yourself,” she says.

“The past two years since I started working out more regularly, I feel how my self-worth, health and happiness increased. Every woman deserves this!”

Northsiders can help Zanna realise her dream by following her on Facebook and Instagram (Zanna Ivanova), sharing her story and helping her to win Miss Bikini by texting BIKINI 101 to 57003.