Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, works out her back on a row machine during her final workout before her upcoming competition, Sept. 24, 2014 at Lifetime Fitness in Commerce, MI. “My workouts during training consist of and hour and a half

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, works out her back on a row machine during her final workout before her upcoming competition, Sept. 24, 2014 at Lifetime Fitness in Commerce, MI. “My workouts during training consist of and hour and a half of cardio and an hour and a half of weight training,” says Hernandez.

Livonia, MI resident, Brad Cauchi, 32, takes a look at his girlfriend, Hernandez’s spray tanned abdomen to see if it is dark enough for her competition the following day, Sept. 26, 2014, at their home in Livonia, MI. “It is important to get a really

Livonia, MI resident, Brad Cauchi, 32, takes a look at his girlfriend, Hernandez’s spray tanned abdomen to see if it is dark enough for her competition the following day, Sept. 26, 2014, at their home in Livonia, MI. “It is important to get a really dark spray tan because once you are on stage at the competition, the lights are so bright and can wash you out. You want the judges to see all of your cuts and definition and the tanning helps,” explains Cauchi.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, looks for fake eyelashes with her friend Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, in prep for the next morning when they get their make-up and hair done before their competition, Sept. 26, 2014 at Wal-Mart in Livonia, MI.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, looks for fake eyelashes with her friend Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, in prep for the next morning when they get their make-up and hair done before their competition, Sept. 26, 2014 at Wal-Mart in Livonia, MI.

Hernandez gets ready backstage before the pre-judging competition, which helps judges to arrange the competitors into groups that will help them when making final decisions for the nighttime competition, Sept. 27, 2014 at U of M, Flint.

Hernandez gets ready backstage before the pre-judging competition, which helps judges to arrange the competitors into groups that will help them when making final decisions for the nighttime competition, Sept. 27, 2014 at U of M, Flint.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, high-fives her friend Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, after their last spray tan session, just an hour before the competition, Sept. 27, 2014 at Powerhouse Gym in Fenton, MI.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, high-fives her friend Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, after their last spray tan session, just an hour before the competition, Sept. 27, 2014 at Powerhouse Gym in Fenton, MI.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, looks into the mirror for any final touches after getting her hair and make-up done Saturday morning at 4:30am before having to leave for Flint to get one last coat of spray tan and check-in for the competi

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, looks into the mirror for any final touches after getting her hair and make-up done Saturday morning at 4:30am before having to leave for Flint to get one last coat of spray tan and check-in for the competition, Sept. 27, 2014 in Livonia, MI. “It takes a lot of sacrifices. Your sleep, not eating food that you like, not attending social events, being on the go the whole time, but it is so worth it. For me it keeps me on my toes and proves to myself that I can do it.”

0 0 1 49 284 Central Michigan University 2 1 332 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Hernandez stands before the judges as they place her in the number one spot for ‘figure short’ group during the pre-judging of the Great Lakes Ironman, Sept. 27, 2014 at U of M, Flint. “Coming out on stage and hearing my family and friends yell my name is my favorite part of the show; puts a big smile on my face,” says Hernandez.

0 0 1 37 217 Central Michigan University 1 1 253 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Shelby Township resident, Justine Elian, 29, takes a selfie with her friends, Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, and Mariel Hernandez, 26, before they go backstage to get ready for pre-judging at the Great Lakes Ironman competition Sept. 27, 2014 at U of M, Flint.

Hernandez takes a minute to laugh and be excited about a successful prejudging while out for lunch between competitions with her sister Claudia, 22, her mother Claudia, and her mother’s boyfriend of six years, Kevin Trealout at “The Laundry” cafe Se

Hernandez takes a minute to laugh and be excited about a successful prejudging while out for lunch between competitions with her sister Claudia, 22, her mother Claudia, and her mother’s boyfriend of six years, Kevin Trealout at “The Laundry” cafe Sept. 27, 2014, in Fenton, MI. “My family had a hard time understanding since they are not into this kind of lifestyle. With their support or not, I decided I would do this for myself. The more I do it the more they support and understand my lifestyle decision. My mom and sister were both really proud of me on the day of competition,” explains Hernandez.

0 0 1 56 323 Central Michigan University 2 1 378 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Hernandez takes a quick break after her intense abdomen circuit during her final workout before her upcoming competition, Sept. 24, 2014 at Lifetime Fitness in Commerce, MI. "Living a healthy life makes me feel good, confident and stay on a schedule. I have realized that the discipline required in this has helped me be more organized in all areas of my life,” says Hernandez.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, works out her back on a row machine during her final workout before her upcoming competition, Sept. 24, 2014 at Lifetime Fitness in Commerce, MI. “My workouts during training consist of and hour and a half
Livonia, MI resident, Brad Cauchi, 32, takes a look at his girlfriend, Hernandez’s spray tanned abdomen to see if it is dark enough for her competition the following day, Sept. 26, 2014, at their home in Livonia, MI. “It is important to get a really
Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, looks for fake eyelashes with her friend Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, in prep for the next morning when they get their make-up and hair done before their competition, Sept. 26, 2014 at Wal-Mart in Livonia, MI.
Hernandez gets ready backstage before the pre-judging competition, which helps judges to arrange the competitors into groups that will help them when making final decisions for the nighttime competition, Sept. 27, 2014 at U of M, Flint.
Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, high-fives her friend Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, after their last spray tan session, just an hour before the competition, Sept. 27, 2014 at Powerhouse Gym in Fenton, MI.
Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, looks into the mirror for any final touches after getting her hair and make-up done Saturday morning at 4:30am before having to leave for Flint to get one last coat of spray tan and check-in for the competi
0 0 1 49 284 Central Michigan University 2 1 332 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
0 0 1 37 217 Central Michigan University 1 1 253 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Hernandez takes a minute to laugh and be excited about a successful prejudging while out for lunch between competitions with her sister Claudia, 22, her mother Claudia, and her mother’s boyfriend of six years, Kevin Trealout at “The Laundry” cafe Se
0 0 1 56 323 Central Michigan University 2 1 378 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, works out her back on a row machine during her final workout before her upcoming competition, Sept. 24, 2014 at Lifetime Fitness in Commerce, MI. “My workouts during training consist of and hour and a half of cardio and an hour and a half of weight training,” says Hernandez.

Livonia, MI resident, Brad Cauchi, 32, takes a look at his girlfriend, Hernandez’s spray tanned abdomen to see if it is dark enough for her competition the following day, Sept. 26, 2014, at their home in Livonia, MI. “It is important to get a really dark spray tan because once you are on stage at the competition, the lights are so bright and can wash you out. You want the judges to see all of your cuts and definition and the tanning helps,” explains Cauchi.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, looks for fake eyelashes with her friend Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, in prep for the next morning when they get their make-up and hair done before their competition, Sept. 26, 2014 at Wal-Mart in Livonia, MI.

Hernandez gets ready backstage before the pre-judging competition, which helps judges to arrange the competitors into groups that will help them when making final decisions for the nighttime competition, Sept. 27, 2014 at U of M, Flint.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, high-fives her friend Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, after their last spray tan session, just an hour before the competition, Sept. 27, 2014 at Powerhouse Gym in Fenton, MI.

Livonia, MI resident Mariel Hernandez, 26, looks into the mirror for any final touches after getting her hair and make-up done Saturday morning at 4:30am before having to leave for Flint to get one last coat of spray tan and check-in for the competition, Sept. 27, 2014 in Livonia, MI. “It takes a lot of sacrifices. Your sleep, not eating food that you like, not attending social events, being on the go the whole time, but it is so worth it. For me it keeps me on my toes and proves to myself that I can do it.”

Hernandez stands before the judges as they place her in the number one spot for ‘figure short’ group during the pre-judging of the Great Lakes Ironman, Sept. 27, 2014 at U of M, Flint. “Coming out on stage and hearing my family and friends yell my name is my favorite part of the show; puts a big smile on my face,” says Hernandez.

Shelby Township resident, Justine Elian, 29, takes a selfie with her friends, Lucia Perez-Avila, 39, and Mariel Hernandez, 26, before they go backstage to get ready for pre-judging at the Great Lakes Ironman competition Sept. 27, 2014 at U of M, Flint.

Hernandez takes a minute to laugh and be excited about a successful prejudging while out for lunch between competitions with her sister Claudia, 22, her mother Claudia, and her mother’s boyfriend of six years, Kevin Trealout at “The Laundry” cafe Sept. 27, 2014, in Fenton, MI. “My family had a hard time understanding since they are not into this kind of lifestyle. With their support or not, I decided I would do this for myself. The more I do it the more they support and understand my lifestyle decision. My mom and sister were both really proud of me on the day of competition,” explains Hernandez.

Hernandez takes a quick break after her intense abdomen circuit during her final workout before her upcoming competition, Sept. 24, 2014 at Lifetime Fitness in Commerce, MI. "Living a healthy life makes me feel good, confident and stay on a schedule. I have realized that the discipline required in this has helped me be more organized in all areas of my life,” says Hernandez.

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