NAME: Emmanuella St. Juste HOME: Washington, D.C. OCCUPATION: Health/Fitness Associate, Aerobic Instructor, Student and Author AGE: 27

Starting her fitness career in 1998 after seeing Fitness America Pageant on ESPN, Emmanuella decided to take the stage in 1999. Although her first experience was an exciting one, she soon realized how much went into preparation for a fitness competition. She took time off to take dance classes, gymnastic lessons, and also to begin working on her master's in Biology.

Reading a fitness magazine one day, Emmanuella stumbled across an athlete talking about obstacle course competitions and A Team Extreme. Bitten by the fitness bug again, she decide to give Coach Atherton a call and to begin training again.

Since then, she competed in Women's Tri-Fitness, NAC SportAerobics, Fitness America Nationals, and the ESPN II Series. At the 2001 WTF World Challenge in Lsa Vegas, she placed 13th overall in the obstacle course and at the 2002 East Coast NAC SportsAerobics in Philadelphia she placed 3rd and went on to place 4th at the USA NAC SportAerobics Championship in Miami Beach.

In addition to competing, she plans on completing her masters and help raise money and awareness for an orphanage her father, Dr. Rev. Emmanuel St. Juste has just began building in her home country of Haiti. Although born in Haiti, she came to the United States at 13 months not knowing much about her country. All that changed when she went back and spent 2 ½ years and finished high school there. She learned about her culture and perfected both her French and Creole. That's when she learned how important it is to give back. A teacher by nature, Emmanuella is passionate about helping others whether it's in her classes or by helping her father. She hopes to be a guiding light for others in need, no matter what the need may be!

Look for Emmanuella at the 2002 WTF World Challenge in Las Vegas, WTF East Coast Challenge in Washinton, D.C. and the 2002 Fitness America Pageants or email her at JusteFitness@aol.com. Coming in August, www.JusteFitness.com, where you can get helpful information and also where you can make donations or contributions (money, clothes, shoes, toothpaste, books, etc.) for the orphanage.