Suhalia Madison Gant is a Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodian-American raised in the inner city of Chicago’s Northwest side. Her name means “gentle star”.
Ever since she was a little girl all she did was perform and flip around like Nadia Comaneci. Singing, dancing and acting were her past times and she has continued to live her life making her vocation her vacation. She sang in various gospel choirs and was active in many sports and performing arts activities at a local park district called Pulaski Park. Her musical and sports related endeavors all began there. Competition experience stems back to various beauty pageants such as the Miss American Teen, Miss Divine and Miss Star pageants in Chicago. She was a competitive gymnast for the United Stated Gymnastics Federation Elite Team. She competed on national level until tearing her ACL, thereafter; her dreams were put on hold, after she still continued to pursue other goals in high school like playing volleyball and writing for school publication. She danced for the Fischer Dance Center, was a UCA Cheerleader and took part in Teen Street Theater Company’s Production of BoOom that traveled to Germany to perform. You can say that this young woman had passion, but her greatest love was just simply to perform and have a wonderful time doing all the things that god gave her grace to do.
Since her youth, she excelled in school, sport and the arts. She graduated from Resurrection College Prep High School and was accepted to study at University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana. She studied broadcast journalism but realized her passion was in fitness. In 1999, Suhalia had to leave the U of I in Champaign, Urbana due to illness and began focusing on her health & fitness.
Within the same year of her leaving U of I she competed in her first Fitness America competition. Every great athlete has a coach and mentor and Suhalia found her gymnastics coach Beth Horn gracing the covers of fitness magazines. Simple curiosity led her to becoming one of the top fitness athletes in the world with the greatest coaches a fitness girl could have. With the encouragement of Beth and Bob Suhalia had hands on experience on how to change and build a healthy physique. They took her under their wings and gave her fitness wings to fly. She began training clients at Sharper Fitness gym in Chicago alongside Beth horn, IFBB Fitness Pro/ American Gladiator Beth Horn and her coach Bob Dixon. After 3 weeks of preparation, and not having a clue about what was to come she competed in the Fitness Milwaukee Regional in July of 1999. She placed fourth overall and won best routine. “It was such an amazing time for me, because I was now able to continue to do what I love and help people achieve their fitness goals.” Following that show 3 months later she immediately competed in the ESPN Fitness America Nationals placing Top 20 out of 101 women from around the US; Making her one of the top Fitness America Athletes in the USA. This all occurred in a short amount of time and at the age of 19 which made her the youngest competitor in the Fitness America Nationals. Suhalia went on to qualify for the ESPN Fitness Universe Pageant in New York City in 2000. She again placed 20th but in this case she was competing amongst the top competitors in the world.
While training hard in fitness Suhalia never let her passion for performing arts leave her sight. She was an actress in a Murder Mystery Company in Chicago and that same year when she took a break from fitness competition; her love for the arts started a new endeavor. While dancing for the Rap Artist Sole, in 1999 she was approached by a young girl who was in a band who asked her to audition in Georgia. After auditioning a month later Suhalia packed her bags and moved to Atlanta GA to sing in a girl’s pop group called Ella Bella. During the 3 years of pursuing a singing career she continued to train people and change bodies one at a time. After leaving the group 3 years later Suhalia increased her knowledge of fitness and went onto to Miami Dade College where she became certified through the National Council of Strength & Fitness, NCCA accredited as a NCSF Personal Trainer. After leaving Miami, Suhalia moved to sunny California. The Mecca of Fitness. Having lived and trained many professional athletes, artists and fitness enthusiasts in the Los Angeles for over 6 years her passion grew so she set her sights on London.
While in London Suhalia also became a Level 3 Reps Certified Personal Trainer in the UK. . She is certified through Aftershock Total Fitness. Personal training in Southeast London in Bromley Kent at F4L Gym, her experience as an assistant manager there enhances her knowledge and business skill set. Suhalia is determined to touch and enhance the lives of people around the world.
Currently Suhalia is back in Los Angeles California training at The Wilshire Courtyard Club. She is working with musical artists and is also gearing up to compete in the fall in her first NPC Fitness Show.
Her philosophy is to S.M.I.L.E. “Stay motivated in Life everyday” by the very things that drive you and make you smile. Her love and passion for fitness and the arts , family, and career has led her around the world. Her positive outlook on life is evident in her upbeat personality and achievements. It is Suhalia’s motivation to inspire others by demonstrating an example of what hard work and dedication can achieve if you believe.
Ever since she was a little girl all she did was perform and flip around like Nadia Comaneci. Singing, dancing and acting were her past times and she has continued to live her life making her vocation her vacation. She sang in various gospel choirs and was active in many sports and performing arts activities at a local park district called Pulaski Park. Her musical and sports related endeavors all began there. Competition experience stems back to various beauty pageants such as the Miss American Teen, Miss Divine and Miss Star pageants in Chicago. She was a competitive gymnast for the United Stated Gymnastics Federation Elite Team. She competed on national level until tearing her ACL, thereafter; her dreams were put on hold, after she still continued to pursue other goals in high school like playing volleyball and writing for school publication. She danced for the Fischer Dance Center, was a UCA Cheerleader and took part in Teen Street Theater Company’s Production of BoOom that traveled to Germany to perform. You can say that this young woman had passion, but her greatest love was just simply to perform and have a wonderful time doing all the things that god gave her grace to do.
Since her youth, she excelled in school, sport and the arts. She graduated from Resurrection College Prep High School and was accepted to study at University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana. She studied broadcast journalism but realized her passion was in fitness. In 1999, Suhalia had to leave the U of I in Champaign, Urbana due to illness and began focusing on her health & fitness.
Within the same year of her leaving U of I she competed in her first Fitness America competition. Every great athlete has a coach and mentor and Suhalia found her gymnastics coach Beth Horn gracing the covers of fitness magazines. Simple curiosity led her to becoming one of the top fitness athletes in the world with the greatest coaches a fitness girl could have. With the encouragement of Beth and Bob Suhalia had hands on experience on how to change and build a healthy physique. They took her under their wings and gave her fitness wings to fly. She began training clients at Sharper Fitness gym in Chicago alongside Beth horn, IFBB Fitness Pro/ American Gladiator Beth Horn and her coach Bob Dixon. After 3 weeks of preparation, and not having a clue about what was to come she competed in the Fitness Milwaukee Regional in July of 1999. She placed fourth overall and won best routine. “It was such an amazing time for me, because I was now able to continue to do what I love and help people achieve their fitness goals.” Following that show 3 months later she immediately competed in the ESPN Fitness America Nationals placing Top 20 out of 101 women from around the US; Making her one of the top Fitness America Athletes in the USA. This all occurred in a short amount of time and at the age of 19 which made her the youngest competitor in the Fitness America Nationals. Suhalia went on to qualify for the ESPN Fitness Universe Pageant in New York City in 2000. She again placed 20th but in this case she was competing amongst the top competitors in the world.
While training hard in fitness Suhalia never let her passion for performing arts leave her sight. She was an actress in a Murder Mystery Company in Chicago and that same year when she took a break from fitness competition; her love for the arts started a new endeavor. While dancing for the Rap Artist Sole, in 1999 she was approached by a young girl who was in a band who asked her to audition in Georgia. After auditioning a month later Suhalia packed her bags and moved to Atlanta GA to sing in a girl’s pop group called Ella Bella. During the 3 years of pursuing a singing career she continued to train people and change bodies one at a time. After leaving the group 3 years later Suhalia increased her knowledge of fitness and went onto to Miami Dade College where she became certified through the National Council of Strength & Fitness, NCCA accredited as a NCSF Personal Trainer. After leaving Miami, Suhalia moved to sunny California. The Mecca of Fitness. Having lived and trained many professional athletes, artists and fitness enthusiasts in the Los Angeles for over 6 years her passion grew so she set her sights on London.
While in London Suhalia also became a Level 3 Reps Certified Personal Trainer in the UK. . She is certified through Aftershock Total Fitness. Personal training in Southeast London in Bromley Kent at F4L Gym, her experience as an assistant manager there enhances her knowledge and business skill set. Suhalia is determined to touch and enhance the lives of people around the world.
Currently Suhalia is back in Los Angeles California training at The Wilshire Courtyard Club. She is working with musical artists and is also gearing up to compete in the fall in her first NPC Fitness Show.
Her philosophy is to S.M.I.L.E. “Stay motivated in Life everyday” by the very things that drive you and make you smile. Her love and passion for fitness and the arts , family, and career has led her around the world. Her positive outlook on life is evident in her upbeat personality and achievements. It is Suhalia’s motivation to inspire others by demonstrating an example of what hard work and dedication can achieve if you believe.
