Before dawn breaks across Barbados, Shanequa Allamby is already immersed in her rigorous training regimen at Beyond Limits Fitness Centre. The 30-year-old office assistant has transformed her passion for bodybuilding into an all-encompassing lifestyle that dictates her every waking moment.
‘Bodybuilding constitutes my entire existence—everything orbits around this discipline,’ Allamby affirms. Her daily routine exemplifies extraordinary dedication: 3:30 AM gym sessions until 5 AM, followed by her professional work from 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM, then meticulous meal preparation for the following day before retiring by 7:30 PM. This cyclical pattern repeats without deviation.
Allamby’s athletic journey began through familial inspiration, with her younger brother initially introducing her to the sport. ‘My transition felt natural since I’d always been engaged in physical activities—track and field, basketball, and various school sports before committing to bodybuilding,’ she recalls.
Her career breakthrough arrived at the May 2024 Roger Boyce Classic, where she secured her prestigious IFBB Pro card. This achievement propelled her onto the international stage at October’s IFBB Elite Pro Night of Champions in London. Following a strategic off-season, Allamby returned to competition with notable performances at another Roger Boyce Classic and a top-ten finish at a December show in Portugal.
The athlete’s ambitions extend beyond participation. ‘My definitive objective is ranking among the top three at the World Championships—not merely top ten or five, but the podium positions,’ she declares with determined clarity.
However, her path presents significant challenges, particularly as a Caribbean-based athlete. ‘Accessing international competitions remains our primary obstacle since most events occur in distant locations like Spain,’ Allamby explains. Beyond logistical hurdles, she confronts physical and mental barriers: ‘Sometimes your physique appears peak-ready, then unexpected imperfections emerge due to stress.’
She references a competitive setback in May 2024 when she failed to reach finals, responding not with discouragement but strategic recalibration. ‘My team and I returned to the drawing board, analyzing every element for our December appearance.’
This collaborative effort—coach Keliel Marshall, nutritionist Dionne ‘Mummy D’ Clarke, and posing coach Melissa Seaforth—proved instrumental. ‘Through intensive collaboration and constructive criticism, we developed our Portugal presentation. When we saw the final package, we were absolutely astonished,’ Allamby reveals.
Her preparation involves meticulous nutritional precision: ‘We implemented low-carb, high-carb cycles with refeed days, requiring exact measurements—even a single ounce discrepancy mandates adjustment.’
The sacrifices inherent to elite competition are substantial. ‘You essentially sacrifice conventional living—social gatherings, late nights—but when you’re committed to your goals, you consciously design your life around achieving them,’ Allamby states, embracing the trade-offs required for world-class achievement.