Komal Regains Confidence Through Body Building
It is very important to recognise individual’s role when it comes to building the country so such awards is significant because it recognises everyone’s efforts, Komal Raj
Two-time Miss Fiji for the Fiji BodyBuilding competition Komal Raj, is breaking all stereotypes to become the best in her career.
The South Pacific Model Physique title holder was once body shamed for her size as she suffered with her weight.
Now a body builder competing in local and international championships, there is no stopping Ms Raj from achieving her goals.
Last week she scooped the Sports Achievement Award during the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards.
Significance of award
The award was a reminder of all the hardwork and challenges she endured in her journey.
“I was very skinny growing up, I was basically skins and bones so I was very cautious about my figure,” she said.
“I felt like the clothes were not fitting me, people would call me ‘skinny ‘all the time until one of my friends suggested body building that would help me build muscle mass and increase my appetite.”
Ms Raj is a lawyer by profession completing her masters in international law at the Auckland University.
She also graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Law at the University of the South Pacific.
She said the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards was a great platform to inspire others to work, focus and achieve things in life.
“It is very important to recognise individual’s role when it comes to building the country so such awards is significant because it recognises everyone’s efforts,” she said.
With the help of a friend, Ms Raj’s journey to body building involved a lot of consistency in training at the gym.
“My friend taught me the ropes of body building and I started training with him and that was when I started seeing muscle development improve in my body,” she said.
“Seeing the improvements really helped build my confidence.”
“When I started competing, I had to wear a bikini. It was my first time to wear a bikini and when my family saw me on TV, some of them were not so happy but they are used to it.”
Future plans
After completing her masters, she hopes to set up her own organisation to provide legal advice to women.
Her inspiration comes from her personal experience.
“I got divorced at the age of 23 and being that young, I was not well-educated about my rights and it was difficult for me to go through the whole legal proceedings not knowing what my rights were,” she said.
“I hope to set up this organisation to provide legal advice for free to women who need to know their rights.”
Ms Raj practiced commercial law for the past for years.
She is taking a year break from practicing to complete her Masters in International Law.