Bodybuilding is no longer a men’s sport. Like many, Shylan Kamal is also breaking barriers with her sheer strong-headed persona. The Kurdistan bodybuilder is constantly hitting the gym every day for four hours and setting up a more defined beauty standard for new-age women. Furthermore, with her love for fitness, the 46-year-old mother of three is challenging the existing cultural norms in her homeland.
However, it’s been more than two decades since she is carving her niche in the sport. In fact, apart from chasing her dreams, Kamal is trying to change the preconception of thinking of women as “inferior beings and sex symbols.”
Shylan Kamal looks to bodybuilding to curb the stereotypes
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As a young girl, Kamal used to help her mother in kneading the dough which eventually made her realize that she could build muscle with it. However, even though the Kurd bodybuilder came to know about muscle gain at that age, Kamal was 22 when she properly started her training. She became a mother back then, used to work as a photographer in Germany, and was hitting the gym as a part-time bodybuilder.
Nonetheless, it’s been three years since the Iraqi bodybuilder came back to her homeland and started working out there. It definitely, raised some eyebrows. But the nutritionist never let those criticisms demotivate her, as per the reports by Yahoo. She shared, “I don’t care at all what people say, I have my own opinions.” Giving the reason behind her becoming an example for the women out there, she stated, “I hate that people consider women as inferior beings or sex symbols and that they’re expected to look after the children and make themselves beautiful for their husbands.”
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Lately, Kamal has taken part in three bodybuilding events in Britain and Germany and ended up in third place each. While talking about her mindset behind pursuing the sport, Shylan Kamal gave away a strong message to women around the world.
Her powerful message to the world
Evidently, it’s her utmost desire to become an idol for many, thus Kamal never steps back from challenging preconceived norms. She stated, “Some people think it shameful for women to show off their bodies and their muscles. But why does that not also apply to men?”
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Moreover, she also felt that women can be both beautiful and strong at the same time. As she shared, “I’m convinced that going to the gym is more beneficial than going to the beauty salon.”