Don’t let her doll face fool you, Julia Vins is a powerful young woman. The 20-year-old is a powerlifter who started the sport to improve her self esteem when she was 15. One of the coaches at the gym saw she had talent and the potential to become a competitive weightlifter. Julia may be known as “Muscle Barbie” but she is very confident of who she is. “I have these big, beautiful eyes and wear make-up. But at the same time, I’m strong,” says Julia. The Russian is often criticized for choosing a sport deemed unfeminine but Julia sees it as her true calling.Julia Vins is your typical 20-year-old who loves fashion and hanging out with her muscle friends.
Julia trains four times a week, anywhere from three to five hours at a time.
She eats about five to six small meals a day to keep up with her rigorous training.
Her meals usually consist of chicken, rice, vegetables, cheese, and eggs.
Her strong and muscular physique has earned her a strong 200,000 followers. And the numbers keep growing.
The 20-year-old receives both a lot of admiration and criticism for choosing this sport.
“There will always be people who respect my choice, or simply adequately explain why they don’t agree with it, but there is nothing to be gained by trying to defame someone who is following their dream,” explains Julia.
She can deadlift almost 400LBS.
She won the 2014 World Powerlifting Championships in Moscow, Russia.
She also broke three world records in squat, bench press, and deadlift.
“I’m no ordinary doll. I hope everyone finds their true calling in life like I did,” says Julia.
She was born in Engels, Russia on May 21, 1996.
“I want to become as big as possible,” explains the athlete.
“Because of my facial features, people have always said I look like a doll. And I was a good, academic girl for so many years. I studied music, was well-read, participated in various school competitions and was skilled at art,” explains Julia.
Julia says she, “never felt like I had any particular objective in life. My body was not in harmony with my soul – it wasn’t the right one for me.”
The über athlete still likes to wear make-up and get dressed-up.
Despite wanting to be stylish and chic, it can be a bit complicated for Julia. “I like fashion too but it’s very difficult to find nice clothes as my size is not standard,” she explains.
Julia admits her parents are not involved in her sports career.
Life has not always been easy but Julia relies on her training to keep her strong and focused.
“I don’t like to think of what I would have become if I wasn’t muscle Barbie,” explains Julia.
