You Won't Believe What This 71-Year-Old Grandma Did to Become a Fitness Finalist!

OAKLAND, Calif. - At 71 years old, Bette Vargas is challenging societal norms and redefining what it means to be fit in her golden years. A highly accomplished bodybuilder, Vargas is currently competing in the national Ms. Health & Fitness competition, where she is among the top vote-getters as the quarter-finals draw to a close.

As of Thursday, Vargas was holding strong in 6th place, just hours before voting ended. The winner of this prestigious contest will not only earn a cover photo on Muscle & Fitness HERS magazine but will also receive a cash prize of $20,000. In her entry, she highlights her journey as a champion in both USA and Global natural bodybuilding competitions, stating that she is "redefining strength, discipline, and longevity, raising the bar for real fitness."

A Journey of Rediscovery

Bette Vargas's story is one of resilience and inspiration. A mother of four, all now in their 40s, Vargas put her fitness aspirations on hold for many years to prioritize raising her children. While physical activity was always an integral part of her life, her focus shifted entirely to her family during their formative years.

"I was actually discovered as a bodybuilder when I was in the gym," Vargas shared. "But at that particular time, my focus was on getting my children into college. And so that was not something that I was really interested in. So this bodybuilding competition for me was a dream deferred."

Despite the detours in her life, Vargas found her way back to fitness in her late 30s and early 40s, initially taking up race-walking. It was a pivotal moment that led her to become a champion in that discipline. "I became a race-walk champion," she said proudly.

As she remained committed to her fitness journey, Vargas eventually seized the opportunity to compete in bodybuilding competitions, approaching it with an open mind. "I said, ‘Okay, let me just try and see where I land,’" she recounted. To her delight, she won multiple titles, including the USA and world championships in natural bodybuilding.

A Holistic Approach to Health

Vargas’s fitness routine is both consistent and comprehensive. "I do a four-day split. Two days for lower body, two days for upper body, and the rest is active cardio and stretching," she explained. As a vegan, she is disciplined about her nutrition, further emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet in her overall health strategy.

Beyond her personal achievements, Vargas is deeply committed to helping others achieve their fitness goals. She serves as a wellness consultant, holistic health coach, and personal trainer, and is currently pursuing certification as a yoga instructor. Her platform as a content creator includes her YouTube channel, Crazy, Sexy Menopause, where she shares her expertise.

Vargas is particularly passionate about supporting women navigating midlife transitions. This summer, she plans to launch a community-based membership group called Crazy Sexy Circle, aimed at empowering women during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause through three key areas: mindset, meals, and movement.

Her advice? "Your life is yours. Live it well. Move more. Your mindset can change anything, as long as you make the decision to make that change, and then eat to live." Vargas exemplifies her belief that it is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle, urging others to "just start" no matter their age.

Vargas emphasizes that while it may be easier to establish healthy habits at a younger age, the opportunity for change exists at any stage of life. "You can reverse many of the maladies that we have," she insists. To that end, she has coined the phrase "LEAP," which stands for love your body, eat to live, adjust your attitude, and play every day. "Once you get all of those together, then everything is gravy. I mean, not gravy, but you know, vegan gravy."

The voting for the quarter-finals of the Ms. Health & Fitness competition concludes on Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. For those wanting to support Vargas, the opportunity to vote is just a click away.