Akia "Kia-Sweetz" Jenkins

Akia was always interested in fitness at a young age. She was born and raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland where she participated in Cheerleading, Basketball, and Track & Field starting at the age of four until graduating from college. She graduated from Wesley College in Dover, Delaware with a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science and plans to go back to school to obtain her Masters degree in Nutrition.

Currently working as a certified personal trainer at Xsport Fitness in Virginia and opening a supplement store with her significant other beginning of next year. Prior this career path, Akia worked at a physical therapy facility as a Rehabilitation specialist, Akia used her knowledge to teach others about the importance of nutrition and exercise in order for patients to return to their activities of daily living. In addition, Akia recently completed her fourth year as head cheerleading coach for her college cheerleading team and still spends a lot of time pushing them physically and mentally to be strong, positive, and healthy young men and ladies.

Three years ago her best friend/significant other introduced her to competing. She always ate clean and trained hard but never stepped on stage. November of 2011, she found the courage to compete for the first time in bikini. Once stepping on stage, Akia regained that competitive attitude that she had growing up. Being a bikini competitor not only opened doors for her, but it motivated her to be a stronger person and a positive role model not only for the females in the world but for the vertically challenged women out there as well. Fitness will always be apart of Akia's everyday life and she intends to reach every goal she sets for herself.