Michelle Lewin

Having overcome health issues as a teenager, as she was underweight and undernourished while living in difficult economic conditions in her home country of Venezuela, and then a less-than-ideal start to runway modelling (she was told she’s too short), Michelle turned her focus to the world of fitness, under the guidance of her husband, Jimmy.

Having crafted the quintessential Latin American physique – loads of curves and glorious glutes – and her savvy approach to social media, Michelle’s profile exploded, making her a global fitness icon. She is now building her empire, using technology as the platform for her career and business success.

You’re renowned for your social media savvy which has been an important catalyst for your success. What are a few of the most important strategies and considerations for any model or athlete who hopes to emulate your approach? 

In my case, no one taught me what to do and how to do it. I had to do everything myself, calculating, testing and observing the response I got. Success, in many cases, is considered as the number of followers you have, but I understood after a while that the number itself doesn’t really matter. It is the quality of the followers that you must strive for. Showing your butt in every picture, and making tacky and plainly stupid videos might get you more followers, but they’ll be the wrong ones. I’m balancing the limit of what girls find to be acceptable yet still attractive. I aim to be an inspiration and a motivator. I use the pictures and videos to show a reachable goal in everyday situations.

Was your passion for fitness and training born in Venezuela, or did your path in life change its trajectory when you moved to Europe and then to the US?