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After 2 regional titles in the sister islands, the bodybuilder from Saint Barthélemy went one better, winning the André Maillé Classic bodybuilding and fitness championship on November 2. All the more reason for her to set her sights even higher, as she is known on the island under the nickname "Manuella La Peintre".
JSB: How was 2025 for you?
Manuella Daguenet: Since my last competition and success in December 2024 in Guadeloupe, I decided to change coach. Sarah-Aude Salbot, a professional bodybuilder for over 10 years, now looks after me. She's a coach who listens and understands my lifestyle.
After Martinique in 2022, Barbados in 2023, Guadeloupe in 2024 and now Canada... Are you making steady progress?
Yes, we're making good progress in building muscle mass while staying clean, with zero cellulite and not too much fat and water. Sarah was able to find a balanced diet to avoid all that, which meant I didn't suffer too much during the dry period and I've got a more voluminous muscular physique.
What's your secret to becoming more and more successful and moving from regional to national podiums?
There's no secret, you have to have the right mindset and discipline, and you have to make training part of your daily routine. Even between 2 coats of paint, I'll train before going back to work [laughs]. Finally, you always need to have a good diet, which is the basis of any physical evolution.
Tell us about your preparation for competition?
Bodybuilding is a thankless sport [laughs]. Several months of training for just 5 minutes on stage! Preparation for a competition usually starts 1 year beforehand. For my part, I started my dry run 2 months in advance so as to be ready on D-day. During this period, the pleasures of weekend meals and aperitifs with friends are a thing of the past. You lower the calorie intake of your meals as the weeks go by. Afterwards, once the competition is over, we follow a new program designed to rebalance meals by gradually increasing quantities.
Can you tell us more about the specificity of your "figure" category?
In bodybuilding there are several categories, which are different for men and women. For my part, I compete in 2 categories: bodyfitness and "figure". In "figure", there's posing (a fixed pose for comparison between athletes) plus choreography to music. In terms of physique, you need to be lean but not "veiny", your body needs to be muscularly proportionate, striated and have visible abs. In addition to the body, beauty is judged according to various criteria: bikini, make-up, hairstyle, jewelry... not forgetting elegance and, of course, posing.
What is your goal for 2026?
The competition in Canada on November 2 gave me my entry ticket for the IFBB International Grand Prix in Miami next August, but I'm also preparing for 2 other IFBB International competitions in 2026. That's all I'll say for now [laughs].
