The primary time I met Angela Gargano was in a small, cluttered basement room of an enormous televangelical church simply outdoors Orange, Connecticut. I used to be taking pictures for the September/October 2017 challenge of Oxygen with a photographer I had by no means used earlier than and a random lady from Rhode Island who had pitched herself as a health mannequin. This is able to be an editorial litmus take a look at for me to see whether or not taking pictures domestically relatively than coordinating lengthy distance with a crew in California may really work.
My thriller mannequin, Angela, arrived with massive smiles and vitality to spare. After ending her hair and make-up and doing a little lighting checks, we shot the four-move exercise. It took lower than 10 minutes. Regardless of. Angela was past excited to have related with me and with Oxygen.
That was 4 years in the past. Since then, I’ve labored with Angela quite a few occasions. She has related me to photographers, hair and make-up artists, gymnasium house owners, trainers and extra. I’ve employed her as a mannequin, an professional, a coach (Warrior Shred), and now because the host and co-creator of our just lately launched Health Quest collection.
Angela sees alternative in every part and approaches a problem with tenacity and dedication. It’s no shock that she has been chosen to be on American Ninja Warrior 4 occasions, and in the future I’m sure she’ll win that factor — or blow out a knee making an attempt. (Oh wait, she already did that!) In any case, it’s secure to say she is considered one of Oxygen’s favourite people, and I do know she is going to change into considered one of yours, as effectively. Clearly the litmus take a look at labored.
— Lara McGlashan, Editor-In-Chief
FLIPPIN’ STRONG
Angela Gargano has all the time been captivated with health. She was a aggressive gymnast all through faculty, however after commencement, she was at a loss for a purposeful exercise. “There isn’t a lot for adults to do within the gymnastics world after faculty,” Gargano says. “That’s after I began wanting into different issues like health competitions.”
It was a straightforward match for her talent set, and Gargano did greater than 30 health competitions over the course of a few years. She received the 2016 Miss Health America title with a Jungle E-book–themed routine and earned her Health and Bikini professional playing cards. She appreciated the efficiency side of the game, however it wasn’t a long- time period love. “These competitions positively taught me to be assured in my very own pores and skin, however it was exhausting being on a ‘weight-reduction plan’ year-round,” Gargano says.
Warrior Girl
Enter NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, the place being lean and jacked is only a aspect impact of coaching to dominate a creatively masochistic impediment course. Gargano was serving to a pal movie a video audition tape to get on the present, however later the videographer insisted that Gargano additionally make a tape. “I didn’t need to get in my pal’s approach,” she says. However ultimately she caved, and producers selected her (and never the pal) to be on Season 7.
Not a lot got here of that look and Gargano didn’t make it onto TV, however she beloved the expertise and submitted extra audition tapes. Lastly, she was picked for Season 9, and this time she obtained a variety of protection: Gargano tore her ACL on the course in entrance of hundreds of thousands of individuals on digital camera. “I can not imagine I’m the place I’m right now after I see that footage on American Ninja Warrior,” she says. “It simply jogs my memory of how necessary that damage was and the way it helped me change into who I’m now.”
Again on Her Ft
Gargano went dwelling to lick her literal and figurative wounds. She had surgical procedure to restore her damage, however relatively than consenting to couch-potatoism, she leveraged her scenario to showcase what you may accomplish whereas injured via social media channels. Numerous posts present her pulling off pistol squats, handstand walks and one-handed pull-ups — all whereas carrying a full leg brace. Gargano additionally documented her return to Ninja coaching and confessed to a worry of touchdown on each toes and placing undue stress on her just lately rehabbed knee. Her uncooked authenticity and open-book posts made her in style with health followers, and as her fan base grew, so did her confidence and her resolve to return to the present.
“I all the time felt just like the underdog in some ways,” she says. “I used to be advised by health businesses that I used to be too ‘manly’ to be featured on a canopy, and after I would share my goals of being in Oxygen or touchdown a spot on American Ninja Warrior, [there was] all the time the one one who’d doubt me. Some individuals get paralyzed by rejection, however it fires me up.”
Lower than a yr later, Gargano submitted an audition tape to ANW once more and was accepted for Season 10. Her return was triumphant, and she or he went on to compete in Season 11 and most just lately Season 13.
CREATING COMMUNITY
Although she’s a religious Ninja, Gargano isn’t but positive the place her future will lead. Her quick objective is to encourage others via a web based group she created known as Robust Feels Good. Right here, she shares exercises, hosts dwell lessons and talks to others about their health targets. “My foremost focus is to create an enormous group of ladies and educate them how rattling good being sturdy feels,” she says. She additionally started journaling, meditating and going to remedy. “I needed to be taught extra about myself so I can present up for myself and others higher,” she says. “Apart from that, I need to journey as a lot as doable!”
Angela’s prime 5 suggestions for making a superb American Ninja Warrior submission video:
- The primary rule of ANW is … don’t discuss ANW. (laughs) No, actually — discuss issues aside from ANW so the producers can get to know you.
- Ensure you have a storyline that’s true to you but in addition that individuals can be all in favour of.
- Don’t be shy — be your self and present your character! You solely have a couple of minutes to make a primary impression.
- Display your expertise and present them you’re able to tackling among the obstacles.
- Inform them why you need to be the subsequent Ninja Warrior and the way you need to make it occur.
Q&A with Angela
LOCATION: Mount Arlington, New Jersey
CREDENTIALS: AFAA-CPT
SOCIAL MEDIA: IG @angela_gargano
Q | Didn’t you was a scientist or one thing?
Sure (laughs). I’ve a level in organic chemistry, and after faculty, I labored at Brown College making compounds to assist with prostate most cancers. After that, I labored at Genzyme (a pharmaceutical firm) making different medicine. I actually needed to put on a hazmat go well with to work inside these large tanks and infrequently needed to work the in a single day shift.
It was fairly insane, however it did lead me to health: I used to be itching to do one thing extra with my life, so I’d go working on my midnight “lunch” break. Quickly everybody within the firm joined me. It was tremendous cool.
Q | What’s the most embarrassing factor in your purse proper now?
It’s extra embarrassing that I don’t have a handbag and that I usually stick my bank cards in my bra.
Q | Has anybody ever slept via his or her name time?
No, you’re actually ready in a “holding space,” and they’re always ensuring you’re prepared. (And awake!)
Q | Do they actually shoot ANW in the midst of the night time?
Sure, most seasons they shoot in a single day as a result of they need it to look good (and in keeping with lighting) on TV. Season 13 was shot in the course of the day—however it was simply as exhausting!
Q | How typically do you eat pizza (or cake, cookies, cheat meals usually)?
I truthfully have Nutella or a cookie day by day. I by no means deprive myself as a result of I did that sufficient throughout health competitions, and I really like me a superb pizza no less than as soon as per week. I was so scared to eat that stuff till I noticed that after I ate it, I regarded precisely the identical and nothing modified.
So long as you eat clear the remainder of the week, a little bit Nutella and pizza received’t change your physique.
Q | What’s one factor you would like you might do higher within the gymnasium?
I’ve a tough time lifting heavy with my legs — possibly it’s due to my two knee surgical procedures? Hmmm…I even have a very exhausting time working lengthy distances. I’ve a brief stride, so I’m tremendous gradual.
Hair & Make-up: Nina Marie Diaz / Sports activities Bra: Heroine Sport / Shorts: Elisabetta Rogiani / Sneakers: Beneath Armour
“I can’t imagine our first shoot was within the basement of the church! I used to be simply telling my pal this story the opposite day. I keep in mind feeling sooo excited to lastly be in my favourite journal, Oxygen.
My dream was all the time to be on the quilt. I even photoshopped myself on it and hung that on my imaginative and prescient board in 2016, however I by no means actually thought it will occur. I’m glad it occurred now as a result of I’m lastly absolutely prepared for it!”
