Success Is An Inside Job

At her roots, Teanna Born was an active child with a supportive family, living on a sunflower farm. Yet, depression does not discriminate and Teanna has constantly battled the effects of her own toxic mental health. Hitting rock bottom following a recent psychologically abusive relationship, the 24-year-old finally drew enough courage to pull herself out and is now sharing her story in the hope that people in similar situations can hear her message and seek help.

- Jasmine Rolfe

There aren’t many women who can say they get most of their cardio training in each day by harvesting sunflowers on the family farm, but Teanna Born of Toowoomba, Queensland admits she burns upwards of 1000 calories in only a day’s work. Could sunflower farming be the secret to Teanna’s success on stage?

Growing up in the ‘garden city’, Teanna led an active life from a young age and learnt hard work from her supportive parents, who are also successful business owners. The strenuous work of sunflower farming, coupled with a father who also led a fit and active lifestyle at home, was not lost on Teanna.

“I got my first taste of fitness as I grew up because Dad always had dumbbells and fitness equipment laying around,” Teanna says, “and the farm work is quite strenuous; it definitely helps to burn calories at home.”

Physical fitness was clearly engrained in her lifestyle from birth so naturally, she gravitated towards people of the same nature. She began dating Chris, who was in the fitness industry, and she admits that it was he who gave her the push to take her physical fitness to the next level. Competing in WFF was the obvious step for Teanna and while she was no longer with her boyfriend, she took to the stage herself and became immersed in the comp culture.

“I eventually ended up winning a world title and it certainly changed the way I live my life,” Teanna says. “In the process, I’ve learnt so much about my body and the way it works - like whether it responds well to carbs or fats, cardio or weights. But the principles of regular training and eating healthy foods didn’t change much from my first show to my most recent.”

Gaining a high level of physical fitness and the discipline that is required of a WFF Pro meant Teanna quickly lost friends who may not have understood her goals or who ‘were not supportive’.