After nine long rounds of online voting starting with 64,000 contestants in the 2020 Ms. Health &Fitness Competition, the results are finally in. Kailua-Kona’s Winona Chen proudly finished in sixth place.
“This experience has been absolutely complete — a great learning experience, and a bit of a rollercoaster ride,” Chen said. “In the end, I so badly wanted the win to come true; most especially for my amazing community who dedicated so much time, commitment and dedication to see me through, round after round.”
Ms. Health &Fitness is an annual fan voting competition that has grown to become the world’s largest virtual fitness event open to all women, ages 18 and older, who are dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle whether their goal is to stay in shape, pursue a modeling career or compete in fitness or bodybuilding events. The competition attracted contestants from all over the world beginning on July 20 and ended on Oct. 8.
Organizers revealed the winner yesterday on their website as 55-year-old Kesia Newbrough of Akron, Ohio. As the grand prize winner, Newbrough receives the honor of gracing the cover of Muscle &Fitness Hers Special Olympia Edition, and also a cash prize of $20,000.
“Now that the competition has ended, I feel strongly that it is the entire experience, the journey, the opportunity to grow and connect that is the true success,” Chen said. “It has brought me closer to my community and opened the door to meeting so many wonderfully positive people near and far who have inspired me to continue working on my platform to share the benefits of health and fitness.”
Chen entered the competition on a whim and as a way to continue her personal fitness journey which began years earlier as a 16-year-old girl who realized she was out of shape. The revelation inspired her to pursue a life of health, wellness, and endurance sports as she became a certified personal trainer, triathlete, and a two-time Hawaii Ironman World Championship finisher.
Her story touched the hearts of many and also caught the attention of two local television news stations based on Oahu, Hawaii News Now and KITV 4.
While Chen may not be gracing the cover of the Ms. Health &Fitness magazine, organizers notified her that she will still be featured in a full-page article in the printed magazine.
“When looking back on this competition I see that this whole story is not really about me, but a story about people; about community. I will always be so grateful for the remarkable gift of kindness and support people have shown throughout this experience.”