Fighting fit, focused and turning orange
DELAINE Tabb is used to the slightly guiltylooking glances of people trying to be inconspicuous.
But the police senior constable, of Dunedin, is less used to the less subtle looks she has been getting since she started applying fake tan over the past few days, in preparation for the New Zealand International Federation of Body Building South Island Championships Figure Pro Qualifier in Christchurch tomorrow.
‘‘I tend to start getting some weird looks as you slowly start to turn orange throughout the day.
‘‘People are a bit embarrassed to give eye contact — they look at you sideways in the supermarket.
‘‘The advantage, though, is that you suddenly get very white teeth because of the contrast between the tan and your teeth.’’
The 44yearold is hoping to win the overall competition and gain a coveted procard, which would entitle her to compete at highcalibre professional bodybuilding competitions around the world.
It would allow her to compete against people such as fivetime world champion Cydney Gillon.
Snr Const Tabb said it was her first time competing in the NZIFBB after achieving considerable success in National Amateur BodyBuilders’ Association (NABBA) competitions.
In 2007, she became a world champion when she won the NABBA Universe Championship in Spain, and in 2019 she was the overall figure winner at the NABBA New Zealand
National Championships.
She said she was looking forward to competing in the much higher level of competition in the NZIFBB.
‘‘It’s my first time on stage at the NZIFBB so it’s really an unknown.
‘‘I’m hopeful. I’m going for my procard, but it’s not a given.’’
As well as working hard at Olympic Gym in Mosgiel, she had been battling for space in the kitchen with her husband and fellow body building competitor Mike, to create the vast amounts of food needed to put them in ripshape form.
She said her wages should be paid directly to her local supermarket at the moment because every spare dollar was being spent on highquality foods to help bulk up her muscle tissue.