My name is Zoraya Judd. My mother is Argentine and as barbaric as they come. My father is Swedish from a very proper, high class upbringing. I guess you could say I come from 2 very different worlds. My first language was Spanish. I am the third child of 6, 5 girls and 1 boy.

I am a mother of 2 little boys. I have been training in the art of pole, pole dance, pole fitness for a little over 3 years now. I started pole after the birth of my second son.

My husband and I had talked about having 4 children; we thought it would be a good idea for me to get back down to pre-pregnancy weight before getting pregnant with the next baby. Boy did my thoughts change after the first 2 children.

We wanted to make sure everything was perfect for the first child. We wanted a healthy baby and healthy me. Nic cooked me 3 meals a day. I lived off Gatorade for the electrolytes, and I was extremely careful with all my activities. After having my baby I gained 67 pounds. To loose the baby weight I did an extreme amount of cardio training and nothing else despite my husband’s council. I lost all the baby weight after 3 months, but I was very unhappy with how my body looked. I still couldn’t fit into my “skinny” clothes. I guess you could call me “skinny fat” lol. When my first baby was 3 months old, I found out I was pregnant with my second. This time around Nic and I changed everything!! We decided to approach it differently. I ate a healthy diet and worked out the whole pregnancy. Unfortunately, it didn’t help much (giggles). Second baby I gained 62 pounds. I guess I am just one of the prone-to-be-big girls when pregnant. LOL. More to love I guess :) After the birth of my second we approached my exercise routine completely differently.

Nic had done excessive research and schooling in health and fitness. This was his passion and his field of expertise. He created a program specifically designed for my body and my goals. Surprisingly, it had ZERO cardio involved. It didn’t take me the same 3 months to loose the weight, but when I reached my original pre-pregnancy weight, my body was in better condition than it ever has been my whole life. I saw muscles in places I didn’t even know were possible. Because of the way Nic coached me, I was able to be a little more lenient with what I ate. I now began to eat because I loved it, not because I had to. I thank Nic immensely for this.

One day while I was at the gym, a dear friend and “regular gym goer” approached me and invited me to a fitness class 45 minutes north from where we lived. Without asking what it was, we went. When I got there I was SHOCKED that it was a pole studio and that I was the only female in an all-male advanced class.

I was so amazed at the power and control each man had, to hold their body out and flip up the pole with such grace. I was HORRIBLE and couldn’t do much, but I never stopped studying their movements and soaking it all in. I love a good challenge—I was instantly hooked. I only attended once a week for the first 4 months, never missing a day. I was too sore to go more than that. Even then, the first few times going all I did was spectate, trying a few moves only once or twice. Over the next 2 months I began to gain strength and started to go twice a week. At 6 months I took over the class and began instructing. I found a lot of joy in helping my students attain their goals and find the passion I had previously discovered. I was so excited I had found something I was so passionate about. I had found something that was so empowering and beautiful. Without being sexual, I felt sexy and in control. These emotions created a drive within me to conquer this sport to my best abilities. Pole changed my life and my body in ways I would have never imagined possible.

After almost a year of teaching, the studio owner approached me and told me she had entered me into the first-ever Utah pole fitness competition, in the advanced division. I about had a heart attack. The competition was in 2 weeks and I had NEVER been in front of an audience of ANY kind for ANYthing. I had ZERO dance background and NO gymnastics training. I never even tried to do a bunch of pole combos for any amount of time in a row. The competition required a 3–4 minute routine. Because I was so uncomfortable with floor work or any kind of dance I created a little over 3-minute routine and only ON the pole. Those 2 weeks were the first time I had ever trained more than twice a week, if you can call teaching a class training at all. I trained so hard I lost most of the skin behind both my knees. With bandages and a REALLY high cut boot, I was able to cover it up at the competition. 

The anxiety and nerves I got were indescribable and almost addicting. I created an alter ego to step out of my head for the performance. Man did it help. I won first place in the advanced division in the first-ever Utah Pole competition. My first competition created a monster in me. The adrenaline I got from it was incredible. Shortly after, I entered into my second competition, got accepted and received my “Pro Status.” I then exchanged emails with a cirque troop that I found breathtaking and inspirational. I was invited to audition at an event with them at Zen Arts (http://www.zenartsla.com/) in Southern California at an all day event in front of 5,000 people. The fit could not have been easier. They seemed to be my family already, a home away from home. 

My fifth competition was held in Zurich, Switzerland, where I became one of the top 10 pole dancers in the world. Immediately after Nic and I went to Tokyo to compete for the international title, and I won the it, “International Pole Art Champion 2011.” In the 2 years of competition Nic had proven himself to be an amazing manager and lifestyle coach. To top it off, he was also the perfect best friend, husband and father to my children. We get to travel the world together and are now in a place where our children can come with us from time to time.

I love spreading the love of pole through example, performances, competitions, workshops and private instruction. We have met the most amazing people and have the most amazing sponsors and supporters. My fans make this journey breathtaking and I thank them and you for believing in me. I am 3 years into this and pushing hard. I can’t even imagine where I will be in just another few months.

Find something you are passionate about and CONQUER IT. You CAN have it all. It won’t be easy, but it is ALL worth it. I want to thank you guys for taking the time in reading this, for your support and for the drive you all give me. You make this such a rewarding journey.