About Shannon Dey IFBB PRO & Founder of the Bombshell Figure & Fitness Academy

Thank you for visiting bombshellfitness.com.  I feel extremely fortunate and blessed to actively promote a sport and lifestyle that has brought me so much personal pleasure and taught me so much about myself and life in general.

Throughout my competitive career, I have learned many lessons about myself and the tribulations that come from competing. The greatest lesson I learned is that personal determination and commitment to a goal is critical for success. Nothing works according to plan. The competitive life is filled with ups and downs. It is your ability to learn from mistakes and adapt to needed changes that separates a good athlete from a champion.

I am not a fitness athlete that is gifted with flawless genetics. To the contrary. Physically and genetically speaking, I should not be a National Fitness Champion or a Pro Fitness Athlete. I am genetically tall and thin with absolutely NO muscle! Every pound has been a struggle! The reason I overcame these obstacles is through determination and commitment and the encouragement and guidance of a select few special friends and my husband. I hope you enjoy my story and I hope that it serves as inspiration to those athletes that share my less than perfect genetics.

I was born in Olathe, Kansas. A small rural town outside of Kansas City, My family moved to the country when I was 4 years old. The closest convenience store was a mere 30 mile commute. When growing up in such a unpopulated area, you must learn to adapt. Friends were a scarce commodity because of the distance. Needless to say, I learned to entertain myself. I spent countless hours pretending I was a classically gifted ballerina or Pat Benatar the queen of rock. When I look back at my childhood, I pity my poor brother who was 10 years older than me for having to endure my daily performances that my Mother insisted he watch.

Following high school graduation, I attended the University of Kansas. My Father and Mother were diehard Kansas Jayhawk Boosters. I thrilled them when I made my selection of the University of Kansas. Ever since I was a child, I would sit in front of the TV with my parents during football and basketball season and watch the Jayhawks play. I was not in awe of the players, rather, I was in awe of the girls on the dance squad. It instantly became a personal dream of mine to make the Jayhawk Dance Team. I had some dance training but nothing intense enough to qualify me as a shoe in to make the squad. I traveled 2 hours a day for several months to take lessons that would increase my skill level and chances to make the squad. I went into the tryouts with complete confidence that I would make the squad. Unfortunately my dance skill level did not make the grade.

In my second year of college, I continued my 2 hour commute for dance squad training. I was confident that a full year of training would assist me in reaching my goal. Once again I attended tryouts with confidence bursting at the seams. Again, I failed to make the squad.

After my second failure to make the dance squad, a very peculiar thing happened. I was not discouraged, rather I became even more motivated to make the squad the following year. I stepped up the intensity of my dance practice and began teaching aerobics to increase my endurance and performance. The third year was the charm. My dedication, commitment and hard work finally paid off. I was an official Kansas Jayhawk Dance Squad Member.

I danced for the Jayhawks in both my junior and senior year. I had the opportunity to perform at two Final Fours and danced at the Hula Bowl in Hawai. Making the squad helped to develop my confidence and stamped a strong imprint in my mind that if you want something bad enough, go for it with all the passion you can muster.

Following graduation, I entered the Graduate Program at the University of Kansas. My college dance career had come to a close, but, this girl wasn’t about to stop dancing. It was a natural progression and decision to take my chances and try out for the NFL Kansas City Chief Cheerleader Squad. Ironically, I made the squad on my first try. For five subsequent year, I cheered in the NFL and was the Captain of the squad my last three years.

During the years that I cheered for the Chiefs, my fellow squad member IFBB Fitness Athlete Lovena Tuley, introduced me to the world of fitness competition. The first show that I attended was the Arnold Classic. I was simply awestruck by the incredible physiques of the fitness pros. When the two minute fitness routine round was completed I knew what direction my life was going to take. I was going to be an IFBB pro Fitness Athlete. I left Kansas with a Masters Degree in hand and headed South to Florida to begin the next chapter in my life.

I moved to Tallahassee, Florida with absolutely no idea of how to get started toward my fitness goal. Within the first week of living in Tallahassee, I met my future husband working out at the gym. People in the gym informed me that he was a former competitive bodybuilder and possessed the type of knowledge and expertise that I was searching for. We instantly became great friends. When I told him I wanted to be a fitness pro, he chuckled. At 5’7 and 113 Lbs, I can now look back and appreciate the humor in his response. We started training together and once he saw my determination I had him sold.

I weight trained six days a week and practiced fitness moves three times a week for two full years before I entered my first NPC Fitness Show. The weight training was the easy part. The fitness training was pure torture. Since I had no background in gymnastics, I had to teach myself the required moves in fitness. I emphasized learning the strength moves and combining them with my dance skills in order to present a good balance of artistry and execution. Many a day, I went home with the worst bruises and chronic soreness. I just kept telling myself that I had to do what it took to reach my goal.

After training with my future husband for 18 months, we became managing partners in a full service fitness club in Tallahassee. Working 16 hour days became the norm. I fit my training schedule in anywhere I could. These long days took a toll but it was not going to deter me from becoming a pro fitness athlete

My first NPC fitness show was the Gold’s Gym Southeastern Classic in Rainbow City Alabama. Ironically I was not nervous. I practiced hard, trained hard and followed my nutritional plan to a tee with the exception of my once a day morning cookie. I looked the best physically that I could at this point in my early career and the judges rewarded me with the overall title. I was on my way!

One of my idols in fitness has always been Debbie Kruck. Her annual fitness competition in Daytona Beach, Florida is one of the most prestigious shows in the country. It has a history of producing pro fitness athletes. I knew that the depth and quality of this show was a big jump for me so early in my career. I set my sites on this show and immediately went back to training to improve my physique and improve the difficulty of my routine. I was pleasantly surprised with a second place finish in the tall class.

My next competition was the always difficult NPC Florida State Championships. Florida has always been known as one of the top Pro producing states in the country. The level 5 shows in Florida are always very tough. I entered the show with complete confidence. I was awarded the overall title and was flabbergasted.

It was at this show that I met one of my dearest friends, NPC District Chairman Pat Sporer. He has a the warmest soul and a kindest heart. Pat was not judging on this evening. He was the promoter of the show. His encouraging words after the show help boost my confidence to give the NPC Nationals a go of it.

Lets see here. I won my first show, placed second at the Debbie Kruck and won the Florida State title. Not to shabby I thought. Now lets kick some tail at Nationals. So I packed my bags and headed to Atlanta.

I was backstage at Nationals full of confidence until my fellow competitors stripped off the sweats and revealed the most awesome physiques I had ever seen. I have to admit that I wasn’t the same confident girl walking out on stage this time. I was amazed at the quality and quantity of my fellow competitors. I knew I was in way over my head. Things didn’t get much better in the routine round. In warm ups back stage, I saw fitness and gymnastic moves that floored me. It was going to be a very long weekend. Needless to say I placed dead last. Not second to last, but last.

I retreated to Tallahassee pretty shaken. Could or would I ever look and perform like those girls? My future husband at the time consoled me and told me that if I kept up my training and continued to give the effort I have given that good things would happen. So, once again, just like the Jayhawk tryouts, I went back at it determined to be a fitness Pro. My next show would be the NPC USA’s in Las Vegas in 8 months.

After 8 months of gut wrenching training I entered The NPC USA’s. My physique had improved but once again I was not in the league of these girls. My disappointment in the body round carried over to the routine round where I gave the worst performance of my career. All that hard work for another dead last placing. I was now at the lowest part of my fitness career and my goal of becoming a Pro began to feel unreachable. These girls were just better. And I mean better genetics, and better skill levels.

When I returned to Tallahassee I did some serious soul searching. I was fortunate that I had a very supportive cast to help me through this low point. Special friends such as Pat Sporer, Robert “Billy Jack” Haines and his wife Dodie, NPC judge Jack Harley and of course my ever supportive husband Rob were instrumental in keeping me focused. This gal was not done yet.

I took an entire year off of competing following my USA debacle. I spent this time strength training and following the advice of Pat Sporer on what I needed to do to complete my physique. I practiced diligently on my fitness moves and made the greatest improvement of all the previous years combined. I was one determined gal.

My next show was the NPC Jr. Nationals in Chicago. This show has a national judging panel and I wanted the national judges to see the improvements that I made since the previous year. I also wanted to knock their socks off with a routine that caused a stir. I was awarded first place in the routine round and placed second overall in the tall class. My year of hard training and practice paid off!

Nationals was five months away. I visited my confidant Pat Sporer for advice and direction for the Nationals. I took his advice back to Tallahassee and resumed my training. I decided to do Peter Potter’s NPC Southern States show as a tune up before Nationals. The morning of the show I looked my all time best. I thought that this title would look great on my competitive resume heading into Nationals.

Everything was going great until disaster hit. About two hours before competing, my entire body went into a series of intense and painful cramps. I changed nothing in my contest preparation. I thought to my self that this should not be happening. My body had gone into rebellion. I tried everything to stop the cramping. I drank water, I took several teaspoons of salt, I even ate two bananas for the potassium. Nothing worked until Pat Sporer recommended that I chew three to four aspirins. It was a miracle. The cramping was gone. I could stand up again. However, the damage to my physique from consuming so much water and sodium was too apparent. This was not going to be my night. As a consolation, I did win the routine round and placed second overall in the tall class. I learned a valuable lesson. Always travel with aspirin!

I headed into Nationals confident that my preparation and attitude would produce a top ten finish. I was shocked in the first body round when I was the second athlete called out. Could this be happening to me? I had to sleep on this unexpected turn of events. I was in the running to get my first top five finish at Nationals. The following day was the routine and one piece round. I had to nail my routine. The butterflies were fluttering. I said to myself that this is just another practice in the aerobic room that I executed a zillion times prior to Nationals. I nailed it! It was the performance of my career. Only one round left. I was so close to that top five finish.

In the one piece round I was the third athlete called out. That meant that in the body round, I might be somewhere in the top five. I had no idea if I impressed the judges enough in the routine round to secure a top five finish. When the top five girls names were called out at the evening show and I heard my number I was so thrilled. I was going to place in the top five at Nationals! When the 5th through 3rd placings were announced, I was in shock. It never occurred to me that I could win. When my name as the winner was announced I became numb. I did it! I was an IFBB Fitness Pro. It was the routine round that saved me. I won that round.

In the Summer of 2005 I received the greatest reward of my competitive career. My good friend Pat Sporer asked me if he could change the name of his 28th annual NPC Southern USA Championships to the NPC Southern USA Bodybuilding Championships and the Shannon Dey Fitness and Figure Classic. What an honor! I think only my husband and Pat know how much that meant to me.

In 2006, the Shannon Dey Fitness and Figure Classic produced one of the largest NPC Figure and Fitness shows in the East. With over 60 competitors, the show made a strong first impression. The 2006 show attracted a National caliber list of athletes. The Figure winner, Elisha Archibold went on to earn her Pro Card five months later at the NPC Team Universe.

Since earning my Pro Card, I have had the opportunity to guest appear at countless shows throughout the country. Here I get to meet the wonderful promoters who work so hard at promoting our sport and my wonderful fans and competitors who make all my efforts worthwhile. You guys are now the source of my motivation.

In 2005, my future husband and I sold our shares in the Tallahassee fitness club and we moved to the Daytona Beach, Florida area to open our own fitness club chain. We now have four “Boom Fitness Clubs” located in Ormond Beach, Florida, Daytona Beach, FL, Cocoa Beach, Florida, and Valdosta, Georgia. We enjoy the industry and feel fortunate to earn a living doing what we love. On October 14, 2006, Rob and I were married at our beach home in our backyard on the beach. It was a small affair and the best day of our lives.

Upon relocating to Daytona Beach, my husband and I launched the Bombshell Figure & Fitness Academy.  In two short years the academy has grown to over 100 NPC Figure and Fitness students/athletes.  The fun and success that the Bombshell athletes have experienced is something that can not be replaced.  The Bombshell Girls have built life long friendships with one another and they serve as emotional support for everyone on the team.  There just nothing like having another Bombshell Girl backstage with you at a show.  You never feel alone.

The greatest single show accomplishment for Team Bombshell was the 2007 NPC Florida State Figure & Fitness Championships.  The Florida State Championships have always been famous for an extremely high level of athletes and the titles associated with the show gives an athlete instant credibility.  At the conclusion of the show the Bombshell Girls won 5 of the 7 division championships.  Way to go girls!:)

During the summer of 2007 NPC Vice President Peter Potter surprised me on stage where I was giving a guest performance in Miami and presented me with the official position of Florida NPC Chairperson for Figure & Fitness.  I am truly honored to hold such a prestigious position with the Florida NPC and will continue to give the NPC the best that I have.

During the Summer of 2007 My husband and I took a leap of faith and purchased the long standing regional Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure magazine "Southern Muscle Plus".  I can honestly say that this endeavor has been a blast.  It is a wonderful feeling to spot a future IFBB Pro athlete in the early stages of their NPC competition and watch them grow into a top star in the sport.  We also get inspiration from so many athletes who have overcome adversities in life and conquered their fears through the sport.  Reporting on this subject brings a great deal of satisfaction to the both of us.

In closing, life throws obstacles in your way on a regular basis. Whether its athletic competitions or coping with the unexpected stresses in life, a positive attitude is a must to keep your personal dreams alive. Through determination and personal commitment anything is possible. How else can a gal from a small rural town in Kansas with sub par genetics become a National Fitness Champion.


Remember to live the Bombshell Motto:  "Someday is not a day of the week!"