Kali Knapp Profile by Adam Levy
From the Daily Titan

Kali Knapp

While some are slogging to the gym to make good on their New Years’ resolution, Kali Knapp has not missed a beat. The kinesiology major is in rigorous training for the figure competition at Anaheim’s Orange County Muscle Classic, an annual showcase for amateur bodybuilders held each spring.
Knapp said her competitive juices are stirred by older sister Karla, 25, who she calls her “role model.” At one point Knapp was so skinny, people mistakenly believed she had an eating disorder. The self-described former tomboy saw her sister working out on a regular basis and decided to take her cue.
Karla said that good-natured competition between siblings fuels an “unspoken rivalry to outdo each other.”
“I got her into working out and urged her to go to the gym with me,” said Karla in a phone interview.
Karla, a registered nurse who hits the gym five days a week herself, said she is proud of her sister’s work ethic and discipline when it comes to achieving her goals.
Knapp, 20, beamed as she explained her part in the sibling rivalry.
“She would start something and I would follow – and do it bigger and better,” Knapp said. “It’s kind of an unwritten rule – I don’t like being second best.”
Knapp said she knows the training lifestyle demands an intense level of dedication and embraces it with gusto. The endeavor adds another chapter to Knapp’s athletic resume, which includes swimming in high school and completing a 20-plus mile triathlon through Malibu last September.
She exuded confidence, explaining her decision eight months ago to enter the world of figure competitions.
“I said to myself, ‘I’m already in shape,” Knapp said. “I can do the same thing everyday or go in there for a reason – I could bust my ass and get really good results.”
Knapp began doing intensive research on the subject and became a certified personal trainer five months later.
To sculpt a toned and symmetrical physique, Knapp works out every day except Saturday. She credits her swimming background for giving her a strong back, while her “really, really, skinny” legs are a work in progress.

Kali Knapp

David Ellis has overseen Knapp’s progress as her personal trainer for the past six months. The 41-year-old has been in the business for over two decades. He currently trains 30 clients, including 10 bodybuilders and figure competitors, out of two gyms based in Claremont and Rancho Cucamonga. He said he has high hopes for Knapp, whom he labeled as a “Type-A personality” who is undeterred in achieving her goals. 
“In any subject she has an interest in, she’s gonna give everything she has – perfect for this business,” Ellis said in a phone interview.
The veteran fitness instructor detailed how Knapp’s relentless work ethic is complemented by her natural attributes.
“Genetically, she hit the lotto,” Ellis said. “She’s tall, has a small waist, long lines, curves, pretty face, plus she’s a natural blonde – and the industry does seem to cater to blondes.”
To provide her body with the necessary fuel during workouts, Knapp adheres to a rigorous, 3500 calorie-a-day diet loaded with protein and carbohydrates to counteract her naturally high metabolism.
“I eat four full meals a day, plus I drink two protein shakes,” Knapp said. “And I have to eat every three hours.”
Knapp’s commitment is strengthened by a supportive cast of family and friends who said she understands the concessions she must make to achieve her goals.
“She’s really determined,” said her friend Ashley Maher, also a 20-year-old kinesiology major, in a phone interview. “We’ll be out somewhere and she always has to go to the gym.”
Knapp said that her round-the-clock dedication to contest-training occasionally interferes with her social life.
“When I go out with my friends I have to ask myself ‘Have I eaten?” Knapp said. “I carry around a cooler with me everywhere I go – to some people it’s insane!”

Kali Knapp

The pursuit of fitness can be a costly one and often leaves Knapp feeling sore in her pocketbook – she called it “an extremely expensive hobby.” She estimated that she spends upwards of $200 a week on chicken, steaks, protein powder and vitamins.
Crediting her trainer’s guidance, Knapp said she resists the temptation of shortcuts, as she pursues her dream using only natural supplements. Ellis said he is straight forward with his pupils about the short and long-term benefits and consequences of using performance-enhancing drugs. He added that huge, muscle-bound physiques are not placed at a premium in Knapp’s genre of figure competitions.
“It’s much more of a beauty contest – you have to be beautiful,” Ellis said. “Figure contests are a perfect blend of femininity, muscularity and symmetry; the judges want a healthy look.”
Knapp echoed his sentiments, explaining that “figure modeling is based on a smaller frame and being toned.”
The figure competition movement has gained momentum in recent years as a conservative alternative to bodybuilding for women, emphasizing beauty over bulk.
In the classroom, Knapp is working toward a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in her first semester at Cal State Fullerton after transferring from Rancho Cucamonga’s Chaffey Community College. She chose the major, the study of the body’s motion, because of her interest in the human body.
“It’s just what I’ve always been into – there’s a natural attraction there,” Knapp said.
After researching other schools, she chose CSUF because of the campus and its location. Her long-term educational goal is to hold a doctorate in physical therapy.
And while Knapp is striking poses under the hot stage lights, her biggest cheering section ironically will come from her longtime rival – sister Karla.
“She’s been giving it her all and I think she’s gonna do a really good job up there,” Karla said. “I’ll definitely be there.”

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