Hi guys, I’m Coco—your coach—and here’s my story.

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My fitness journey started when I was 16. I had no training history, no background in athletics—moving my body just wasn’t my thing. But I wasn’t happy with how I felt in my own skin. I was skinny fat—no muscle, no real strength—and I wanted to change that. My goal? Get stronger and finally have abs.

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I tried everything—different diets, hiring a personal trainer, training hard—but no matter what I did, I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted. At 17, I decided to push myself further and compete in the IBFF. It proved to me that I had discipline, but after the competition, I struggled. I didn’t gain much weight, but I developed a fear of food and started restricting myself. I thought controlling my diet was the answer, but it wasn’t.

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Determined to learn more, I decided to study personal training—not just to help others, but to finally understand how to build the body I wanted for myself. At the same time, I was chasing a dream of becoming a model. But life had another challenge in store for me.

I was born with a congenital heart defect, something I knew would affect me for life. I had my first open-heart surgery at 7 months old. I never let it hold me back, but just after finishing school—right when I had committed to becoming a PT—I found out I needed a second open-heart surgery for a pulmonary valve replacement. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced, but it gave me a new perspective on struggle, resilience, and the power of the human body.

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I had to adapt my training completely, learning when to push myself and when I was just making excuses. Five months post-op, I stepped on stage again, proving to myself that I was capable of anything. That experience shaped my approach to fitness forever. It wasn’t just about how my body looked—it was about what it could do.

After qualifying as a personal trainer, I moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town to pursue modeling and coaching full-time. I dedicated the next five years to helping people find their confidence and build their dream bodies. But even then, I hit another wall.

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In the modeling industry, I was constantly told I was “too athletic,” “too muscular,” “too this, too that.” So, I changed myself again. I pushed my fitness to the extreme, dropped to 48kg at 5’10, and became anorexic. I struggled with body dysmorphia—I couldn’t see myself as I really was. My family became worried, and I was forced to gain weight.

That’s when I discovered Stephanie Buttermore’s ‘All In’ journey—and it changed everything.

I made a decision: I was done with restriction.

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I stepped away from the mirrors, stopped counting every bite, and committed to fueling my body properly. Over the next few years, I gained 30kg+, but for the first time in a long time, I felt free. But then, I found myself in a body I didn’t recognize—a body I wasn’t confident in. My habits had become unhealthy in the opposite way, so I started again.

Today, I finally feel strong, healthy, and confident— I don't abs, but I feel good in my skin. I’ve experienced every extreme—too thin, too muscular, too soft—but through it all, I’ve learned one thing:

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A great coach isn’t someone who just reads a textbook.

A great coach is someone who has been through the struggles, faced the setbacks, and come out stronger.

I’ve been through it all—from being skinny fat, to having open-heart surgery, to gaining 30kg, to finally becoming strong and healthy. That’s why I can relate to my clients on a deeper level and guide them through their own transformations.

I never want other women to go through the exhausting up-and-down cycle of trying to “fix” themselves. That’s why I’ve designed a bulletproof coaching program to give you all the tools to feel your best—physically and mentally.

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If you’re ready to break free from the cycle and step into your most confident, strong, and healthy self, book a consultation call in my calendar.

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Let’s build the best version of you.