Cricel Returns Home Victorious
Bodybuilder Cricel Castillo returned to Belize this morning from Miami, Florida where she rose to international stardom in bodybuilding, clinching the Pro Card Diva Fitness Model Short and Best Costume categories. Her family and fans were on hand to greet her at the P.G.I.A. and staged a motorcade in recognition of her huge success. Prior to the event, Castillo was suspended from the local bodybuilding federation for a two year period but she persisted and prevailed. She told News Five’s Isani Cayetano that following her win, opportunities have been knocking at her door, including an offer from Vitaflex, which is a well established US fitness club.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The story of Cricel Castillo’s meteoric rise to fitness superstardom is a motivational tale of overcoming personal and professional obstacles. Despite a two-year ban from participating in events sanctioned by the Belize Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, Cricel has made the Jewel proud by snagging two coveted titles at the recent World Beauty Fitness and Fashion Competition.
Cricel Castillo, Belizean Bodybuilder
Cricel Castillo
“It’s surreal, like I’m still kinda taking it in. I can’t believe that it happened and I got one of the best and biggest opportunities yesterday also, to be a part of like one of the biggest teams in America for a fitness goddess. Her name is Bella Falconi and they want me to be a part of the Vitaflex team. So I mean opportunities just keep rolling in and I just feel like, “wow, little me!” like I just, I can‘t believe it, you know, I mean I just really went out there, I gave my heart and my soul. I trained so hard, I mean, right up until the competition I was training three, four times a day, eating the meals, so clean it was really challenging but obviously it was worth it and it was enough.”
On October twenty-ninth, Castillo made headlines when she faced-off with the BBBFF, an organization to which she belongs.
Stanley Moody
Stanley Moody, President, BBBFF [File: October, 29th, 2014]
“Cricel ultimately placed notices on Facebook criticizing the Federation, that we’re a bunch of thieves and using four letter words which is totally against the code of ethics for bodybuilding. Now once you’re a competitor you’re supposed to be a role model for these younger kids outside who possibly might one day want to be a bodybuilder…and it’s not just for bodybuilding, its fitness, its life. Kids look up to athletes, especially successful athletes. So as a result of that Ms. Castillo was banned for two years after the executive met…she was banned for two years.”
Her father, Santiago Castillo Jr., himself a sports and fitness enthusiast, says he stayed away from the fuss for obvious reasons.
Santiago Castillo Jr., Cricel Castillo’s Father
Santiago Castillo Jr.
“I didn’t get involved none at all when all the drama was taking place simply because the last thing I wanted them to say is it’s because I da minister of government. So I let it play out and all I can say is that I’m so happy for Cricel, she’s been vindicated and at the same time she’s made all of us and Belize proud and we’re extremely, extremely delighted for her because she’s put in, as you can tell, a lot of time and work into this.”
While Cricel has emerged victorious in her pursuits, the win, she says is for the country.
Cricel Castillo
“We put Belize on the map and Belize is now invited to the world in August, at Las Vegas, which is like the Olympics of bodybuilding.”
Isani Cayetano
“What was the experience like representing Belize in light of all that had been happening prior to your departure?”
Cricel Castillo
“I mean Belize is where I’m from, Belize is home, how can I not represent you? No matter what happens, the bad, the good, this is home and we are all Belize, I am Belize. So how can I not proudly want to represent where I’m from.”
Equally proud is her mother who admits that at times things were a bit rocky leading up to the competition.
Gina Vasquez
Gina Vasquez, Cricel Castillo’s Mother
“It was very hard but we all supported her as usual. I guess she has all her fans, she has a lot of supporters, pretty much that’s about it. She’s a fighter so she fought her way up to the top and she is our winner, she proved to be our winner.”
Isani Cayetano
“So what’s next for Cricel?”
Cricel Castillo
“What’s next for me? As I mentioned, a multimillionaire fitness industry asked me to be a part of their team and I’m actually trembling, we just went there yesterday and I mean this is such a big deal for me because [out of] a million athletes in the world for bodybuilding, they want me to be a part of their team. So that’s next and we’re all going to the world. I’m invited and hopefully I’ll be a part of their team by then, so the world’s where, like I said it’s like the Olympics in bodybuilding for us. Belize, let’s do it! Let’s go get that one next!”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
The Belize Body Building and Fitness Federation also issued a release earlier today, not to congratulate Cricel on her win, but to inform of Mister Belize’s recent participation at a bodybuilding competition in Merida. Rigo Vellos again won the Copa Revolución tournament. The BBBFF, however, says that Rigo will not be giving interviews until a press conference on Wednesday.
Now she understands that it is not cool to swear like a sailor on Facebook.
A little less gangsta and a little more manners.
The road to success is always lonely, dearest, you are on the road to success!
You are now a big fish in a very big pond; hell with the little pond and the little fish! Unfortunately they too will benefit from your recognition. In spite of it all you are still patriotic and that good. The people who came up with their little sanctions have small minds and will never attain the heights that you have.
Continue to soar with eagles don’t fly with turkeys!
I congratulate Mrs. Cricel and her dad for staying out of the fuss as we say. First it was a wise move and secondly he did act as a wise minister to avoid scandal and let destiny show it’s true colors.