About Darlina

I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, New York about and hour upstate from NYC. Looking back, it’s a surprise to even myself how I’ve embraced the fitness lifestyle. As a teen, I was a “junk food junkie” and did little to be active. The eldest of four children, I was the live in babysitter for my three younger brothers because my mom and dad both worked. I wasn’t very active and I didn’t take part in many school sports. Immediately following graduation I joined the US Army Reserves. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life but I had always had a fascination with “Basic Training.” So, off I went . I absolutely loved it! I thrived off the constant physical demands and mental challenges. My body started to change and take on a muscular shape rather quickly and I excelled as the fastest female runner in my company. I earned respect from my sergeants quickly because they realized I was not only mentally very disciplined, I was physically tough too.

After returning home from Basic Training I longed for the physical demands that I had become accustomed to so I joined a local gym. It was there that I saw a poster of Monica Brant advertising a fitness and bodybuilding show. I knew instantly that I wanted to look like her. I set my goals on the 1997 NPC Women’s Fitness Extravaganza that would be held in New Jersey. It was my very first show and I took 4th place of 27 women. I was hooked! I had found my passion. I went on to embrace the fitness lifestyle as a whole. I became a Personal Trainer that later led to a career as Fitness Manager/ Health Club Manager. I continued competing and went pro in fitness in 1999. Unfortunately, after turning Pro, I had some health and personal issues that which took me away from competing.

In 2005 I met my husband, Lieutenant Colonel John "Cale" Brown. He was teaching English at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and I was managing a fitness center. We married in Georgia in October, 2006.

Following a move to Texas, Cale was preparing for a year deployment to Afghanistan. He encouraged me to get back to competing. He believed I had great potential to do well and knew my love for it. After my third show, I qualified for the 2008 Figure Olympia. It was a dream come true.

In late June 2009, Cale returned home and we began preparation for our next move to Louisiana where we currently reside. We are thrilled to be expecting our first child,a boy, in May 2010.

While my family remains my first priority, I am committed to being a motivator and role model in helping people achieve overall wellness. "It's not the number on the scale or the size of your pants...it's about mapping your own personal journey to a healthy, active and fulfilling existence. You only have one body, one life...make it count.”