Family
I’m a 70s bi$ch born in the small town of Kamloops, BC Canada. My home was in Alberta, Canada until I was eight, getting my start in life in the small towns of Sundrey, Olds and Calgary. In 1983 I moved to Victoria, BC where I dominated for 27 years.
My mother is disabled, and it’s through her loving heart and unconditional kindness to everyone she meets I have learned to see life as a gift, never to be taken for granted. I have three Dads, cause my momma is so fricken sweet. My first Dad loves to hike mountains and works with wood building things for fun. My second Dad is 20 years older than my mom and he's an excellent cook, as he was a chef in the Army back in the day. I learned from him the importance of recycling and to work hard for everything you want in life. My third father is a wonderful person, and truly the perfect match for my mother. He is 10 years younger, and works painfully hard and long hours for every penny. It’s disheartening to me to see the Canadian government deduct money from my mothers handicap pension when my Dad makes more than a certain amount. Definitely a case of the rich get richer and the poorer get poorer.
My brother is a VW Mechanic, and I am pretty sure he is also part elf. My aunt Mary Coutts-Bendsen is a pretty famous basketball player, and is now in her early 70’s, which is the new 50. Especially since she took up pole fitness classes when she turned 71.
I have been married twice and divorced twice. Sounds like a common story right? Well I will share with you an interesting fact. Are you ready? My first marriage was to a man, and the second was to a woman. Today I am living my 20s again, going after my starlet dreams of performing in a Las Vegas Show, starring in more movies and having a baby. Even if I have to make my own show, my own movies and use technology to make my baby, it’s going to happen. You can learn more about me in my upcoming books.
I have been to various cities across Canada including Whitehorse, and have enjoyed visiting both coasts of Mexico, Jamaica, various cities in California, Nevada, the north and south coast of Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Hawaii, Washington, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky. In Europe, I have enjoyed working in Antwerpen, Belgium; Prague Czech Rep, Cannes France and Zurich Switzerland. For six months Nassau, Bahamas was my home. I love travelling, meeting new friends and learning about different cultures.
My Athletic Background
In elementary school I ran cross country and the 800m. I also played numerous team sports, but enjoyed volleyball most. In 1994 fresh out of high school, I began working as an exotic dancer, and with no prior dance training I performed my way to the top of the Canadian exotic dance circuit. 18 months later I quit, leaving for a guy, and never looked back until the recession in 2008. Yup, 12 years after retiring from dancing I stepped back on stage trying to walk in these new shoes called platform heels, lol. Needless to say, I teach in bare feet and leg warmers so that’s my excuse (for crawling most of the time on stage) and I’m sticking to it. In 95’ I began weight training on a regular basis, read everything I could that pertained to fitness and nutrition and submersed myself in the world of bodybuilding. I earned my group fitness and personal trainers certification and kept it current today. In 2001 I attempted to take up golf, by taking lessons with Lori Randle (Pro), but have only been to the driving range, pretty sad I know. After 25 competitions I happily enjoy my life as a studio owner, pole dance instructor, and CEO of Pole Expo, my newest project. I weight train and do cardio a few days a week, and teach 3 - 6 classes a week. Trying to keep my life simple, though that’s simply complicated at times.
My Start with Weight Training
Fawnia Mondey, 1998
At the age of 13 with two 5lb dumbbells, (which I asked my grandmother for Christmas) I simply moved them around any way I could. Doing curls, shoulder presses and lying on my back and working my chest was my first workout.
At 16 I was starting to gain weight but didn't notice until turning 18. I gained some muscle during my first two years of dabbling with weights, but with my unbalanced diet (too many carbs) I also gained fat. My weight was 140 lbs. When I lost weight from dancing (down 30 pounds), I saw that I had potential to build a nice physique. Joining a gym and learning about food was my ticket to my current condition. Today I balance my job as a pole dancing instructor with my passion for weight training and running.
For my first show in 1999, I found out what I was made of (physically and emotionally) and placed 1st in the women's light weight, Muscle & Fitness Mania, in Burnaby, BC Canada. In Sept 2003 I competed a second time, but in figure rather than bodybuilding, and earned a spot in the Canadian Nationals! I am hooked, though it's not always a piece of cake. Sometimes it's the whole cake!
In 2004 I placed 9th at the Canadian Nationals, and in 2005 placed 5th at the Emerald Cup. My prep for the Emerald Cup was a combo of weight training and pole dancing. Teaching pole dancing 20 - 30 hours a week kept me lean but I know that for my next show, I will need to include other forms of cardio… I have competed many times since 2005 and have placed 9th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st at the Canadian Nationals and 2nd in Fitness America. In 2010 I placed in MGM Grands Wet Republic HOT 100 contest in Las Vegas.
My Start as a Fitness Model
In 1998 I started a basic portfolio which quickly grew. Shooting with any photographer possible has giving me true sense of how to work with both the camera and person shooting. Until 2002 I had appeared in a few magazines such as Oxygen's back cover for Muscle Marketing USA, and Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness's last page for Cardillo Weight Belts. In Feb 2002 I decided to give modeling all I had, by entering the yearly model search for Malibu Body Wear. I was one of the two female winners and in June 2002 shot with photographer Alex Ardenti. My previous shooting came in handy, and I had my first shoot with a top fitness magazine photographer. In Oct 2002, I shot with Alex a second time with Canadian pro bodybuilder Mike Platz, for the cover of MuscleMag. This photo became the cover for March 2003s MuscleMag International!
With that cover, I had gained the confidence to go after my dream of becoming a recognized fitness athlete and model offering guidance, inspiring others to take better care of their bodies.
Fawn Facts and Favorites
- I went by my middle name Louise until the age of 12. Fawnia is my birth name, however many people were calling me Sonia or Tonya, so my mom choose to use my middle name and gave me the option when I was older.
- When I was 9 years old I would dance for the other classes during lunch break, busting a move to Madonna songs like Lucky Star. The girls seem to enjoy it but the boys were rather bored.
- I have been on my own since the age of 15.
- My first job was at Yogen Fruz, and I have also worked at Tim Hortons. I've never waitressed, but that would have been better than the yogurt and donut shops!
- Being the vice president of the student council, I graduated high school with honors and 27 credits. (18 are required to graduate)
- I was the dance choreographer for singer Joanne Pennock.
- I have never taken a dance lessons…I learned to dance by watching and imitating stars like Madonna.
- I was a soft 140 pounds when I was 18.
- In 2000 and 2001 I played the lead in two films shot in Prague, Czech Rep. (Dakota Bound released in 2001, and Cries of Innocence release date in Spring 2004)
- In summer 2003 I was stuck in the largest black out in American history just three weeks before my figure show, and stuck to my diet and training as best I could. I was in Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario. Try searching for chicken every three hours with no power! I placed top 10 at the Canadian Nationals that year.
- Since January, 1988 I have kept a diary. (age 13) I have a record of every day of my life since then. My mother kept one, which is how I started my ritual.
“With that cover, I had gained the confidence to go after my dream of becoming a recognized fitness athlete and model offering guidance, inspiring others to take better care of their bodies.”
I Need to Thank
Photographers Sarah Lyons, Eva Simon, Justin Price, Shane O’neal, Ferry Teunisse, Adam Jay, Christopher Donald, Sam Green, Nina Reed, Don Curry, Alex Ardenti, Terry Goodlad, Ralph DeHaan, Robert Rieff, Eric Freimanis, Bill Dobbins, Michael Palmer, JP Erickson, JC, Larry Niven, Alan Worsfold, Mark Mozzier, John Stutz, George Kontaxis, Danny Fittro, Jennifer Chamberlin, David Ford, David Bohn, Christa Rivington, for your time spent with me, and your talent behind the camera! A special thank you to (the late) Robert Kennedy from Oxygen and American Curves and to Jeff Everson of Planet Muscle, and to the staff at Weider publications of Flex and Muscle & Fitness, for publishing me in your magazines.
Thank you BodyBuilding.com, for offering the best in fitness information and products, and for standing by me since 2002, and to my current fitness sponsor Twin Lab.
For my first fitness show in 1999, I found out what I was made of (physically and emotionally) and placed 1st in the women's light weight bodybuilding at the Muscle & Fitness Mania, in Burnaby, BC Canada. In Sept 2003 I competed a second time, but this time in the Figure category, rather than bodybuilding, and earned a spot in the Canadian Nationals. 10 shows and a first place National title later I have expereinced the highs and lows of competing, and want to thanks to my family and friends for their support. And thank you to my partner Kathy for accepting my obsession with dance, modeling, and accomplishing endless hours of office work. I know it’s never done! I am looking forward to seeing you all at The Arnold Sports Festival and Pole Expo each year!