The primary time I met Angela Gargano was in a small, cluttered basement room of an enormous televangelical church simply exterior Orange, Connecticut. I used to be taking pictures for the September/October 2017 situation of Oxygen with a photographer I had by no means used earlier than and a random woman from Rhode Island who had pitched herself as a health mannequin. This might be an editorial litmus take a look at for me to see whether or not taking pictures domestically somewhat than coordinating lengthy distance with a group in California might 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 exams, we shot the four-move exercise. It took lower than 10 minutes. Irrespective 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 a variety of instances. She has related me to photographers, hair and make-up artists, health club 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 lately launched Health Quest collection.
Angela sees alternative in all the things and approaches a problem with tenacity and dedication. It’s no shock that she has been chosen to be on American Ninja Warrior 4 instances, and at some point 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 protected to say she is considered one of Oxygen’s favourite people, and I do know she is going to grow to be 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 right 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 once I began trying 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 gained the 2016 Miss Health America title with a Jungle Guide–themed routine and earned her Health and Bikini professional playing cards. She preferred the efficiency facet of the game, however it wasn’t a long- time period love. “These competitions undoubtedly taught me to be assured in my very own pores and skin, however it was exhausting being on a ‘food regimen’ year-round,” Gargano says.
Warrior Girl
Enter NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, the place being lean and jacked is only a facet 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 finally 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 numerous protection: Gargano tore her ACL on the course in entrance of hundreds of thousands of individuals on digicam. “I can’t imagine I’m the place I’m at this time once I see that footage on American Ninja Warrior,” she says. “It simply jogs my memory of how vital that harm was and the way it helped me grow to be who I’m now.”
Again on Her Toes
Gargano went dwelling to lick her literal and figurative wounds. She had surgical procedure to restore her harm, however somewhat than consenting to couch-potatoism, she leveraged her scenario to showcase what you may accomplish whereas injured by way of social media channels. Varied 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 lately rehabbed knee. Her uncooked authenticity and open-book posts made her widespread 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 instructed by health companies that I used to be too ‘manly’ to be featured on a canopy, and once 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 lately Season 13.
CREATING COMMUNITY
Although she’s a religious Ninja, Gargano isn’t but positive the place her future will lead. Her instant objective is to encourage others by way of an internet group she created known as Sturdy Feels Good. Right here, she shares exercises, hosts reside lessons and talks to others about their health objectives. “My foremost focus is to create an enormous group of ladies and train 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 attainable!”
Angela’s high 5 suggestions for making a great 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.
- Be sure to have a storyline that’s true to you but in addition that folks can be curious about.
- Don’t be shy — be your self and present your character! You solely have a couple of minutes to make a primary impression.
- Exhibit your abilities and present them you might be able to tackling a few of the obstacles.
- Inform them why you need to be the following 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 sometimes 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 operating 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 by way of his or her name time?
No, you might be actually ready in a “holding space,” and they’re always ensuring you might be prepared. (And awake!)
Q | Do they actually shoot ANW in the midst of the evening?
Sure, most seasons they shoot in a single day as a result of they need it to look good (and according to lighting) on TV. Season 13 was shot through the day—however it was simply as exhausting!
Q | How usually do you eat pizza (or cake, cookies, cheat meals generally)?
I actually have Nutella or a cookie every day. I by no means deprive myself as a result of I did that sufficient throughout health competitions, and I like me a great pizza not 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 gained’t change your physique.
Q | What’s one factor you want you possibly can do higher within the health club?
I’ve a tough time lifting heavy with my legs — perhaps it’s due to my two knee surgical procedures? Hmmm…I even have a extremely exhausting time operating 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 / Footwear: Underneath 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 totally prepared for it!”
