Former cowgirl, motocross racer and now fitness model Trinity Sure was among more than 30 models competing in the Tropic Beauty International contest held in conjunction with the Calgary Stampede in Calgary earlier this month.
Trinity says she wasn’t among the top nine contestants chosen to go on to compete at the world competitions in Las Vegas later this year, but attending the event was a great learning experience.
“It was amazing,” Trinity says. “It was a really huge event and we were treated like VIPs.”
The two-day event took place in a large outdoor tent at the Cowboys Casino in Calgary. In addition to the 30-plus contestants selected to compete, Trinity says fitness supermodels joined in to help host the event.
Trinity is the daughter of longtime rodeo competitor Norma Sure and Wallace Rich and came into fitness modeling by way of her passion for sports.
“I grew up on a ranch about 35 minutes out of town and have been riding since I could walk,” says Trinity.
Until the age of 14 she competed in barrels and break-away roping on the BCRA and WIRA circuits with her family.
Then when she was 17 she developed a passion for motocross racing. Her dad, who is a welder and mechanic, helped her to get into the sport.
Mom Norma says she gave up team roping with her sister Irene to take Trinity around the motocross racing circuit.
Trinity races a Yz250F Yamaha four-stroke.
“It was very scary when I started but there are more women racers now,” Trinity says.
She was a member of the WL Dirt Riders Association and the Canadian Motocross Rider’s Association for the first two years.
At 18 she started racing professionally. Unfortunately in her first professional year Trinity bottomed out on a jump and tore all the ligaments in her right leg.
After reconstruction surgery she was in a wheelchair for a week and on crutches for another five weeks before she could start training again.
The whole experience was very painful and the strength in her right leg still hasn’t fully returned to what it was.
“It was hard because I’m very active,” Trinity says.
Rather than go back to motocross racing Trinity decided to concentrate on school and training to become a fitness model.
She did her public schooling at Mountview Elementary and graduated from Columneetza Secondary.
This year she has been training as a fitness model, holding down two jobs and taking upgrading prerequisites to start the Applied Business Technology program at TRU in the fall.
She works part time at Walmart and at Fit City where she also trains.
She has worked in the modeling industry off and on since she was 12.
Living in the Cariboo Trinity says keeping a career going in modeling is difficult but the internet has made it easier for people anywhere to get into fitness modeling.
“It’s fun to be able to do it right from here,” Trinity says.
At 18 she had a portfolio of photographs made up by photographer Tom Hopkins in Vancouver to send around to clients.
In May of this year Trinity was invited to the Bahamas along with 13 other models to a shoot for Tropic Beauty International with photographer Gus McTavish. Her photograph from that event won her a spot at the contest in Calgary with about 30 other contestants selected to compete based on their photographs.
She says the wardrobe for the contest in Calgary included cowboy boots, a dark blue bikini, white shorts, jean shorts, a western shirt, and the required six-inch, clear stilettos.
“I’ve worked my way up in heels so that I can feel comfortable in six-to-eight-inch heels,” Trinity says.
She says the top nine contestants in Calgary were chosen to compete in the world finals in Las Vegas in January where the contest will be expanded to include dresses, speeches and interviews.
“Personality is just as important as how good you look. You have to be friendly and able to talk to people,” Trinity says. “I always just try to be myself - friendly and make everyone feel comfortable in my presence.”
She says the whole experience in Calgary was new to her.
“I was quite shy,” Trinity says. “It was totally different from what I am used to.”
While she didn’t place for the world competition, Trinity says she did meet a lot of people in the modelling industry and the exposure was good for furthering her fitness modeling career.
At five feet, six inches tall Trinity says she is not tall enough to be a regular clothing model but the criteria is different for fitness modelling with an emphasis on a healthy, fit look.
She says she tries to maintain a healthy, balanced diet rich in salads, fish and chicken but doesn’t starve herself or deprive herself of treats and enjoys a steak once in a while.
“I really try to stay away from fats and sugars (and salt),” Trinity says.
“But I am definitely a cake and cookie girl off season.”
She doesn’t count calories because she finds it an added stress she doesn’t need. She just tries to eat well and keep a balance between food and exercise.
“I never recommend people to starve to look a certain way. I like to eat and I don’t drink or do drugs. I need to be a role model as well.”
Her fitness regime includes weights and running as well as cardio workouts.
She works out regularly several times a week but for the four weeks before a big shoot or show she will train six days a week breaking up the training into small parcels during the day.
For a change of scene she also trains at the Williams Lake Boxing Club twice a week.
“It’s a nice change from the gym and a really good workout,” Trinity says.
Her fiance Stuart McLellan is a professional boxer so she also spars with him sometimes. They also enjoy taking their dog for walks and runs outdoors together.