A 76-year-old former psychologist has revealed what drove her to beef up her body and appear on this year’s Australia’s Got Talent in an outfit most grandmothers would never dream of wearing in public.
From seeing overweight people with “flesh hanging off their arms”, to struggling with cruel stereotypes and finally finding love with a man 23 and half years her junior, Janice Lorraine said she has faced a tough road to achieve her amazing transformation – but has never been happier.
Janice appeared on Monday night’s Australia’s Got Talent in a daring purple sparkly bikini, shocking the judges as she performed to ‘Hot Stuff’ while flashing her jaw-dropping muscled body.
And now, speaking exclusively to Starts at 60 about her journey to a fit, toned and healthy physique, the gran said while bodybuilding is a term many would link to Millennials, it’s now her new norm, with an impressive collection of trophies as proof of her claim to the competitive sport.
Breaking down the expectations many have of a stereotypical grandmother, Janice went against the norm when she farewelled her academic career and took on weight lifting in the gym – which she claims is still known by many as “a man’s place”.
And while she has always been a gym-goer, the weights area was never a go-to place until one day when she noticed an overweight woman struggling to simply walk.
“I was in the car park and I saw this old woman getting out of the car next to me,” she explained. “There was flesh hanging from her arms and legs, she could barely walk. I thought the poor thing, I’m not going to be like that.”
Janice was 55 years old at that stage, retired and ready to take on a new challenge. But the first step was a little daunting with the weights area largely a male-dominated room.
“They stood over me and said, ‘this is a man’s place’,” the grandmother said.
However, it wasn’t long before Janice was proving herself in the space and, with the help of a trainer, landed herself a spot in a bodybuilding competition in Sydney. It was something she’d never heard of before, but Janice took it in her stride and showed off her hard work alongside women at least 10 years younger.
At that stage seeing a woman over 50 in such a competition was rare and she received criticism for her smaller frame, with one woman even likening her to a “skinny little rabbit”.
“There was a woman, she was about 46 or 47,” Janice explained. “She had a beautiful body, she said to me, ‘Oh, I’ve got two daughters, one’s got a beautiful body like me and the other is a skinny little rabbit like you’.”
Janice proved her wrong though, beating the woman and going on to win 12 world titles. Though the nerves are always there, Janice’s confidence has grown significantly over time with the grandmother able to laugh off clothing mishaps which left her almost half naked on stage.
Speaking about one particular competition, Janice said the usual cheering and warmth from the audience was nowhere to be seen as she stepped out.
“There was this silence and I thought this is funny, they usually like me,” she explained.
Adding with a laugh: “Then I looked down and my left bikini top had deserted its post, it was hanging down aimlessly across the front, down near the top of my legs. So I just picked it up carefully and put it back on.”
Though it wasn’t her intention to become a bodybuilding figure for the over-50s, Janice has motivated and inspired many across the globe, with her words of wisdom encouraging women to forget the stereotypes and follow their dreams.
“I was an academic all my life but what enabled me to get my message out to not bend to stereotypes, live the life you want and take the consequences,” she said.
“I’ve been contacted by people all over the world, they are so excited because they now see a whole different life for themselves, self-worth.”
The new-found love and fame has been made that much easier with the support of her partner of 28 years, David Kendall, who she met when she was 48 years old.
The two had an instant connection, with David quite literally sweeping her off her feet while enjoying a night at a club with her daughter. Their relationship has blossomed over time, with David providing the support needed to embrace the stage with confidence and add to her long list of bodybuilding achievements.
“He’s been so wonderful to me,” she explained. “We just work so well together. A lot of times in relationships, in marriages, the husband or wife is envious of the other but it hasn’t happened here. It’s been absolutely wonderful.”
These days Janice’s workout regime and healthy diet is still fairly strict with meals such as grilled fish, chicken and the occasional piece of steak adding to the perfect meal, alongside some salad and sweet potato.
All of this hard work has led to Janice taking part in Australia’s Got Talent, with the grandma describing it as a “hectic” but “amazing” experience.
Swapping a formal suit for a purple sparkly bikini, the grandmother certainly won the judges over with her posing to ‘Hot Stuff’. With her abs on full display Janice shocked the crowd in the best of ways as she proved bodybuilding is not just for the young-uns.
“The crowd were wonderful,” she admitted. “Every time I did a pose they cheered, it was really nice. Very nerve-wracking, but the people were lovely.”
And as for the cheeky joke with judge Manu Feildel and his flexing of his muscles, well Janice said if she has the chance their are a few words she’d like to say.
“If I had gone back on again I would have said ‘is that hard muscle or soft muscle?'” she joked. “There is a big difference. If I get on the next one I’ll hit him with that one.”
She added: “I’ll ask very nicely of course.”