Grant has always been pretty active starting with playing sports such as track and softball throughout high school and college. Before that she rode horses and in high school was on the dance and drill team all four years, while she picked up weight lifting for one year.

"While on the Dance/Drill Team, my High School and a few other High School Dance Teams had an opportunity to perform with the Seagals (the NFL's Seattle Seahawk cheerleaders) during half time at one of the Seahawks games. It was a blast! I was so thrilled about that, that I wanted to be a Seagal. I had alway's watched the Aerobics, Cheerleading and Fitness America competitions on TV, and had wanted to try that sometime. I would get goose bumps watching them. So I thought being a Seagal would be a great start and was simular to being on the Dance/Drill Team.

"I was two months too young to be able to tryout for the Seagals, so I figured I would try for the following year. Well two years after highschool I wasn't active in dance or sports and didn't tryout for the Seagals. So I decided I had to get back into some type of physical activity to stay in shape. So I decided to start working out. Muscle and strength had always intrigued me and I wanted that. Also, that's where I met my husband! He was my trainer when I first started. At that time he taught me all the basics of building muscle and helped me with my diet and motivation. Six years later I'm still working out and loving it! It has turned into a permanent lifestyle."

In April of 1999, Grant went to the Emerald Cup Fitness Competition to watch a couple ladies she knew. Watching that show was so exciting for her that she had goose bumps the whole time. At that point she knew that's what she wanted to do, and told her now-husband that she was going to compete there next year. Sure enough, two months later she started training with Marc Castillo for fitness.

"I have even competed at the Emerald Cup twice since then. I really love performing, I feel that it expresses a part of who I am. Marc really pushes you to go farther than you ever thought you would go in a fitness routine. I find that so amazing."

While attending a show influenced Grant, she was also inspired by some of the most well-known names in the industry including Monica Brant, Cory Everson and the ageless Debbie Kruck. And fortunately for Grant, she had the opportunity to meet all of them and was not disappointed in what she found.

"They are all beautiful inside and out and have accomplished so much physically and professionally. I think it is wonderful how much they care for their fans and go out of their way to listen, encourage and support them. Monica Brant has been the most motivation to me. Each year she competed in fitness she improved her phyisque and routine. What I think is so awesome is that Monica did not have a gymnastics background and to learn gymnastics like she did is just incredible! It goes to show you anything is possible when you put your mind and faith in God into it. I've met her a few times and talk every now and then and she always has the most supportive words that really motivate me to keep going in fitness," adds Grant.

She has kept a busy competition schedule and always spent time in the gym to improved her physique.

"I think it is so amazing what you can do to the human body. Shaping and sculpting your muscle, it's almost addicting! Plus getting that awesome pump when lifting makes you want more. Another thing that drives me to keep going is when I have the opportunity to help someone else, whether it's for encouragement or questions on training or fitness. Seeing someone else going for their dreams and goals is very inspiring and that also makes me want to keep going."

Grant may be that focused on helping others because of her sister, Shannon Gill (see photo at right). Shannon starting competing last year and is progressing in the sport quite nicely.

"Watching her perform on stage is so awesome! Her stage presence and fun and sassy attitude just makes her shine out there! It's really inspirational to see my sister enjoying her talents and taking over the stage. You go girl!"

Although Shannon is progressing quite well, Grant must also focus on her own physique. As a National level competitor, the competition is quite tough, but Grant is level-headed enough to know that you can only improve yourself and not worry about others.

"I set goals on how much muscle I want to gain, what bodyfat percentage I want to target for a show, and what improvements to make on my physique from the last show. Also, I set goals in my personal life outside of fitness as well. You need to be grounded in all area's of your life: personal, spritual and fitness, to succeed and be happy," she adds.

Her competitive side come out though as she add "of course I always want to do very well in this sport with all the hard work and dedication I put into it. I'll just keep going as long as it stays fun. If it's not fun then it's not worth it to me. One major and goal that I set out to reach at each show is to inspire at least one person to either try fitness or start living a healthier and fit life," and that is one very worthwhile goal.

So while Grant looks to inspire on stage, she may be doing the same in the gym with her workouts.

"I do like to train heavy, but I don't go as far as maxing out. I really like training biceps. I curl 30 lb. dumbbells in my regular workouts," she adds with a smile.

With the advent of the figure competitions, a new option is now available to athletes like Grant.

"I really enjoyed competing in my last two Figure competitions. It was a nice change from doing a Fitness routine. I did feel that I really needed to work even harder on my physique since there was not a third fitness round to be judged on. The phyisque round counts for most of your score anyway in the Fitness, but to be specifically judged on your phyisque, I think it makes it more challenging in a way. At both of the Figure shows I competed in, there was fitness and I tell ya, it was hard to just sit there knowing I wasn't going to get up there and perform a routine. I had to keep my mind set on just doing the quarter turns and not a routine. I really enjoy being on stage and whether it's with or without a routine, just being up there shining is a great feeling."

There are some differences that may arise in the physiques that are rewarded in figure vs. fitness, and Grant has some thoughts on that as well.

I know the judges are looking for the same physiques for figure as in fitness, but who knows, that could change if this is something that will continue years down the road. This is just a thought, I may be totally wrong on this, but, for example, down the road if you were to compare most of fitness competitors with the majority of the figure only competitors, (who don't have a fitness or gymnastics background), there could be a slight difference in the overall apperance of the physiques.

"Competitors who have a gymnastics or fitness background naturally become more muscular because of the strength and endurance needed to perform the tricks or movements. The figure only competitors may not have as much muscle, depending on if the majority of them do not have the gymnastics or fitness background. Who knows - it's just a thought - I'm not saying that this would be true and everything depends on muscle maturity, someone's background or genetics, etc.," adds Grant.

She does like the new figure division though and thinks it gives everyone an opportunity to compete in the sport.

"I think that's great! The figure division is making more dreams and goals possible for everyone! Also, injuries can happen and that makes it hard to compete in fitness. So you can still stay fit and take it further by competing in the figure division. It's also a great opportunity for someone to compete who may not have a dance or gymnastics background or may not be comfortable performing a rountine and not have to take it to the extremes of bodybuilding."

Those are two good reasons for the figure division and it will just take time to see how things shake out. In the meantime, Grant will continue to focus her efforts on improving her physique and inspiring others to live a more healthy lifestyle.

"I also want to thank my family and friends for being there for me over the past few years of my competitions. Their support and love means so much to me and has helped me to continue in this sport."