Grace Vinbury

Modeling Newcomer - November 2011





Interviewed by: Mike Hall
Photos by: BBPics.com


21 year old Grace Vinbury is a newcomer to the modeling industry. She has a classy, fresh yet sexy look about her that brings together a touch of childhood innocence with a kiss of tantalizing playfulness.

Even though this is her first photo shoot ever, we feel you will be seeing a lot of Grace in the coming months. So, let us introduce Grace to all of our readers! Enjoy!

WP: Hello Grace. We are really impressed with you! Please tell our readers a little about who you are.

My name is Grace Vinbury. I am 21 years old and live in Rhode Island. I am currently attending Rhode Island College to get my degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education and have a cumulative GPA of 3.89. I absolutely adore children and find teaching to be an incredibly fulfilling experience.

In the summers I work at the Narragansett Parks and Recreation Summer Camp. This is a day camp that runs through July and August and accepts children 5-13 years of age. My job as a counselor is to help provide a safe, fun atmosphere for the campers. We play many active games with the children and also go swimming in the town pool every day. I believe that keeping children active and engaging them in fun, fitness promoting activities helps them see the benefits of leading a healthy, active lifestyle.

I enjoy playing sports myself, and have tried my hand at almost all of them. I played soccer for 7 years on a travel team, participating in tournaments all over New England. I started playing basketball at 6 years old, on a co-ed team because there was no girls team available. I played through middle school and high school on both the school team and an AAU team that also traveled out of state for tournaments. I also partook in track & field my freshman year of high school participating in the 4x100 relay, the long jump, the triple jump, the pole vault, and the javelin. Unfortunately during this time I was playing 3 sports simultaneously and was forced to give up track & field, so I only had one year of high school experience. I have played softball sporadically over the years, joining teams just for fun, as softball is a sport that can be played far into adulthood. Above all, volleyball is my sport of choice. I had never picked up a ball until freshman year when the high school coach invited me to try out for the team. I learned quickly and by the middle of my freshman season I was playing with the varsity team. I played all four years of high school and was a captain in my senior year. I received 1st team all-division and 2nd team all-state my senior year for the position of libero. I continue to play occasionally but am not currently on a team. I will also soon be coaching a youth instructional volleyball team for the town of Narragansett.

WP: Give me a break down of your diet.

For me, diet plays a large role in maintaining my physique. I try to eat mainly whole, organic, unprocessed foods such as fresh (and dried) fruits, vegetables, and brown rice. I also eat a lot of foods high in protein such as raw nuts, eggs, and chicken. Greek yogurt is one of my favorite things to eat, because it is high in protein and despite being fat free, it is still rich, creamy and satisfying. I rarely eat red meat or "junk" food. I never count calories, I just try to have a balanced diet and acquire the proper nutrition from my food. I believe that a natural body is a healthy body, so I also try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and foods containing ingredients that I cannot pronounce.

WP: Do you allow yourself a cheat day? If so, what is it that you usually eat when you do?

Any day is cheat day! The willpower to resist unhealthy food is needed only one day a week, and that is when I go food shopping. If you only have healthy food available to you at home, it is much easier to stay on track. I try not to get in the mindset of not being allowed to eat certain foods, because that always just makes me want them more! I believe everything is okay in moderation, and as long as you have enough self-control to just eat one cookie, as opposed to the whole box, then a cookie is just fine once in a while. I also try to trick myself into feeling like I'm getting a treat, such as having a bowl of cereal for "dessert" or baking healthy trail mix cookies.

WP: Give me a sample of your workout.

I try to exercise at least 4 times per week, but with a busy schedule sometimes that is even hard! When I do get to the gym I do mostly cardio, normally 20-30 minutes on the stair stepper, 20-30 minutes on the arc trainer, and then I will run 2-4 miles. I also do other exercises that use my bodyweight to strengthen muscles such as squats, lunges, leg lifts, pushups and crunches/sit-ups. In general I will do 4 sets of 12-15 reps, and I do a total of approximately 400 crunches and sit-ups throughout the workout. This type of exercise, for me, seems to tone my body as opposed to bulking my muscles because I'm not using heavy weights. However, the best workouts I get are from playing sports. When you play a game of basketball or volleyball you are using almost every muscle in your body without even realizing it. The way you move and contort your body while participating in athletics is far different than exercising on a stationary machine, and in my opinion much more fun!

WP: What supplements do you take?

I do not take any type of supplements. I obtain enough protein and nutrients in my diet and do not feel as if supplements are necessary for me personally to look the way that I want.

WP: You look great! How do you keep the physique you have? What is the hardest thing for you to face when it comes to keeping your physique?

Thank you! Sometimes it is hard because I enjoy working out, but am not a huge fan of the gym, so I find other ways to exercise to keep in shape. I often times exercise outside when the weather is nice. Running on the bike path or the seawall in Narragansett are some of my favorite things to do, along with playing beach volleyball, swimming, and hiking. I most recently competed in a sprint triathlon and although it was tough, it was a great experience and most certainly will not be my last. I have also tried my hand at crossfit, at Crossfit SK in Wakefield, RI. Now there is a workout that will have you sore the next day! For me personally the hardest thing to face when it comes to keeping my physique is boredom. I have a relatively short attention span and get bored easily during long workout sessions. Often times if I quit early it's not because I am tired, but bored. I learned this about myself early and that is why I try to do activities that are both vigorous and engaging.

WP: What are your interests outside of working out?

My biggest interest, and my passion, is working with children with disabilities. Because I am currently attending college pursuing a degree in special education, I spend a lot of time in schools interacting with and teaching students with special needs. They always brighten my day and remind me to count my blessings.

WP: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would not change anything about myself, either inside or out. My imperfections make me the person that I am; a unique individual. I think every time you look in the mirror, you should like what you see. If you do not, then work hard to reach your goals. The things you cannot change you must learn to love. One thing that I am trying to work on is my confidence. I tend to doubt and underestimate myself, so I am making a conscious effort to be kind to myself and give myself the credit I deserve.

WP: Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?

First and foremost, I would like to thank John Mitchell at BBPics.com. Without him this would not have been possible, and I am indebted to him for taking a chance on me.

I would also like to thank Luke Hayden for introducing me to John and providing me with helpful tips and pointers leading up to my photo shoot.

Thirdly, I would like to thank Teen Bodybuilder Nick Wright for shooting with me, providing moral support and making my first shoot a little less nerve-racking, and lots of fun!

WP: I understand you are trying to get into modeling. Tell me more about that.

I am definitely a rookie in the modeling business; this was my first photo shoot! I had always thought about modeling but had never seriously pursued it until now. I really like the idea of being a fitness model because as opposed to other types of modeling you are showing off something that you worked really hard at; your body. I was surprised at how naturally modeling came to me and how comfortable I felt in front of the camera. I am not opposed to doing other types of modeling, but really enjoyed doing a fitness shoot.

WP: Any future projects?

I do not have any future projects in sight as of now, but I am always on the lookout for opportunities and definitely want to pursue a future in fitness modeling.

WP: John Mitchell submitted you to us. What was it like working with him?

Working with John was a great experience! He was always very professional and made me relax and feel comfortable in front of the camera. For the shoot John took me to remarkably beautiful locations and was able to get fantastic shots with only using natural lighting. He knows exactly how to manipulate the light and use only the camera to produce stunning photographs. Working with John was an amazing experience, and I learned a lot from him.

WP: How did he go over and beyond for you?

Because John normally works with male models, I believe he was a little hesitant to shoot a female with no prior modeling experience. But he took a chance on me! I am very grateful that John took two full days out of his extremely busy schedule to drive all over Connecticut and photograph me in many different locations. He is a great guy and an amazing photographer. I feel very lucky to have had the privilege of working with him.

WP: Are you married, dating, or do you have kids?

I recently ended a 5 year relationship and am currently taking this time to focus on myself. I think it is important (especially at a young age) to find out who you are, and who you want to become as an individual, before sharing your life with someone else. I do plan to get married and have children someday, but for now, I am about all I can handle!

WP: You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors!