It's been a while since we've ran an interview at The Muscular Asian Woman, so I am happy to begin the new year interviewing the up-and-coming Swedish bodybuilder Erika Andersson.  

The Muscular Asian Woman: Welcome, Erika Andersson! Where were you born?
Erika Andersson:  I was born in Liberia, my mum was African and my dad came from Japan. When I was a few months old, I got adopted by the Swedish people that became my new parents.

MAW:  What is your age?  An optional question, of course!
Erika: I was born 1986 so today I'm 21 years old.

MAW:  Where did you grow up?
Erika: When I was real little I lived in the Swedish capital Stockholm, but after some years we moved to a place called Pitea…its about 80 Swedish miles from the capial.

MAW: Where do you live now?
Erika: I have moved from Pitea to study here in Umea, Sweden.

MAW:  How tall are you?
Erika: I'm 159 cm (5 ft. 2 in.).

MAW:  So how did you get started in bodybuilding?  What got you into it?
Erika: I have always like muscles and training. From the beginning I was a wrestler and to build some strength I started to go to the gym. That training fitted me perfectly, so after I ended my wrestler career I continued to do the weight training. The training gave good results and I decided to show some pictures in a forum here in Sweden. I got positive response on the pictures and was persuaded to do a competition, which I did.

MAW:  Who are your role models? Why? 
Erika: I don’t have any special role model there are so many names that I could mention. I look up to everyone who trains hard and has succeeded to get a great physique.

MAW:  When did you start training? How long have you been training?
Erika: I have trained from that I was little. I have tried ice-hockey, football, wrestling and now it's bodybuilding. The gym training I started with when I was 16, and my goal was to get the best physique in the gym. I was very concentrated on this goal and trained and ate very seriously from the beginning.  

MAW:  When was your first competition and how did you place?  
Erika: My first competition took place in October 2007… the Swedish Championship. I placed first, but I was the only one in my class because I didn't get permission to compete with the Senior instead for the Junior Class.

MAW:  Which class do you compete in? 
Erika: I compete in the open Junior Class but in the future I will compete in <55kg (<120 pounds).

MAW:  Are you preparing for a contest now? Which one? 
Erika: I have no competition planed now.  I think my next goal will be the Swedish Championships 2008.

MAW:  What do you do when you are not at the gym?
Erika: I'm a full time student. When I'm not at the gym or school I don't do anything special-- meet some friends and just socializing.

MAW: What do you study?
Erika: Im going to be a teacher in athletics.

MAW: Sometimes it is difficult for women who are bodybuilders because they look different and lead a different kind of lifestyle. What is the situation in Sweden about acceptance of female bodybuilding?  What has your experience been like?
Erika: I have had different experiences.  Some people think it looks great and are impressed of me and others dislike the 'look' and say that it looks awful with that much muscle on a woman.

MAW:  What keeps you motivated?  
Erika: The results I get. When my body is developing.

MAW:  What is your most favorite exercise and your favorite bodypart to train?
Erika: Right now I haven't got any favorite exercise but before I loved to train chest. I wish I could say that my favorite bodypart to train is back because it's the part that must be better… 

MAW:  Which bodypart do you like training the least?
Erika: Sometimes I can feel that shoulders aren't so fun to train but I think every part of the body actually is fun to train because I love training.

MAW: What do you consider to be your best body part?
Erika: If you mean in muscle development I would say the arms … if you mean general, I would say the eyes.

MAW:  I think that's a great answer.  Ok, what is your favorite CHEAT FOOD? 
Erika: I don't know if it counts as food, but I love chocolate and much of it.

MAW:  I think we can consider chocolate its own food group!  So, what does a typical meal look like when you are getting ready for a contest? 
When I'm getting ready for contest most of my meals contain rice and a chicken fillet.

MAW:  What are your future goals?
Erika: I haven't sat any special goals this year but I'm a very competitive person so I will try to take home the Swedish Championships. Besides this, my goal is to have fun and be healthy. 

MAW:  What would you say to other women who are interested in bodybuilding and fitness? 
Erika: I will give them the tip that they can accomplish so much more than they probably think they could if they just give it a serious chance.

MAW:  Is there anything else you would like to say?
Erika: I would like to thank everyone who believes in me and supports me. And also give a thank you to all the people who do great things and reach their goals in life, that motivates me and others to do the same.

MAW:  Thank you so much for your time today, Erika.  You certainly have an excellent bodybuilding career in front of you.  Good luck with your studies, and we wish you the best at the 2008 Swedish Championships-- we'll check back with you after your win!

More soon,