NAME: Sylvia Ferrero HOME: Miami Beach, Florida OCCUPATION: Personal Trainer & Nutritional Consultant AGE: 31

Sylvia was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. At the age of 3, her family moved to Toronto, Canada where she grew up and eventually earned her degree in Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario. Her parents always encouraged her to try different sports. These days, she'll try anything daring (despite her fear of heights)..she's into blading, scuba diving, windsurfing, rock climbing, sky diving and bungee jumping! Always looking for a thrill she has backpacked and worked her way around the world visiting and living abroad in many countries extending from Europe, North & South America and the Caribbean.

Sylvia first competed in the WTF in 1999 on the advice of friend and trainer at the time, Lisa Marie Varon, who is now a wrestling star. Over the course of the last few years, she has crossed paths with some of the top coaches in the USA, including Al Rosen, Kevin Creegan, Brian Glaspy, John Atherton, and Gus Hernandez (who is also her best friend, husband and mentor). With the support and guidance of this incredible team and her family, she has seen numerous successes! Sylvia placed 3rd Overall in the 2001 WTF World Challenge in Las Vegas out of 144 girls. Not to mention winning her category in most events and walking away with the 1st place trophy in Physique and Dual Fitness. At the 2002 South Beach Challenge, she won the Grace & Physique, Dual Fitness, Dual Fitness Optional and Overall Fitness Skills.

Sylvia has recently graced the cover of Natural Muscle Magazine as the Natural Muscle/Dymatize Model and Spokesperson of the Year and has appeared in numerous issues of Muscle Mag, Oxyen, and Planet Muscle.

She is presently preparing herself and a group of South Beach competitors for the 2002 WTF World Challenge in Las Vegas. "I'm looking forward to improving my overall performance and hopefully cleaning up my weakest link - the fitness routine. With next to nothing dance or gymnastic ability, getting up on that stage and performing is terrifying! But, I refuse to let fear dictate my life. So I'll be up there again this year doing my best and most of all having a BLAST!"