Valerie Waugman/Siren
Valerie Waugaman is no stranger to the fitness world, and now she's able to bring her talents and knowledge to a wider audience as a part of NBC's American Gladiators. Called Siren, we find out why the name fits, what Valerie does outside the competition, and of course, Valerie gives us some health tips.
The Star Scoop:
Tell us about American Gladiators! What kind of change have you seen since the show started?
Valerie Waugaman:
Wow, I'm actually doing more of the same of what I've been doing, but just on a much grander scale. I competed as a professional, and it's basically like body building but it's more of a feminine event. We're smaller. I compete about four shows a year, and that gives me exposure so people will come to a motivational seminar that I teach or a fitness camp or classes that I hold. I work with corporations. I've done some guest speaking at schools, with kids, and talk about goal setting and nutrition and fitness. This [American Gladiators] offers a national platform for me to do the very same thing, which is why I was really excited to do it. Because for me, it's really not about being on TV just for the sake of being on TV. I really want to have a lot of influence in the world in terms of health and fitness, and wellness. It also gives me a challenge physically, because I'm an athlete just to push myself to my physical limits, as well as not just physical, but mental and emotional challenges as well.
When we were filming the show, it was very intense. This whole process, it's not like being a professional athlete and getting treated like one. It's more like, you're in the showbiz, and you just gotta make do with what you got. Kind of, perform on demand, which was a challenge. I always like challenging myself and it helps me grow, and then I can share that experience with other people
.Right now, what I'm doing is a lot of interviews, which is basically generating a lot of attention towards my site and a lot of projects that I'm already involved with: a fitness character for kids, and a healthy restaurant that I'm a part owner of in downtime Cleveland called Octane Cafe. It's generating interest in a company that I'm building, which is where I host fitness and wellness seminars, and motivational seminars. Basically though, it's on a fast track. I'm trying to adjust to the level of people contacting me on a regular basis. It's kind of turning my world a little upside down.
The Star Scoop:
The show has been so popular, and has garnered so much buzz! What is the appeal?
Waugaman:
I really think that America and TV viewers have been hungry for something like this. When the show was originally on, it was something fun for a lot of different age groups to watch. I know I really enjoyed it, as well as my parents. It's cool to see the average Joe contender go against the superhero gladiators. Although, I have to say, even though the contenders are not necessarily average Joe. Some of them are pretty darn tough themselves. It's fun to watch, and say, okay, I'm rooting for so and so, and I relate to that person because of their background story. I think that's what they're doing with this show, is giving the background on the contenders, and making it more of a reality part. Reality is doing really well in America. I think it's a lot of action, so it's action/adventure. You don't know what's going to happen; it's exciting. The effects that they're using, the lighting and the digital graphics, just everything that they build around it makes it that much more exciting. I don't see how it couldn't do well. I was grateful to see how much effort they put into making it different, better.
The Star Scoop:
How did your family and friends react when they found out you got the show?
Waugaman:
They were so excited, and they were like, How did you get this role, how did you get picked? Everyone wants to know how to get on a show like that. And I honestly can tell them, it flowed into my life easily, because I was open and ready for it. I was seeking things in my life just along the same lines as American Gladiators, seeking a challenge for me physically and mentally. I was seeking a wider audience to express my mission, and I want to help people. I just had what they were looking for. I had the physical ability, but I also had experience working in front of a camera. I just tell them, when you focus on what you want, it's gonna happen. It's just a matter of time. This was just perfect timing for me.
The Star Scoop:
What have you done on the show so far that's been scary or fun or exciting?
Waugaman:
I would say every event is scary, even if you've done it a million times. Because first of all, you're on national television. That's a pretty big deal for anybody to deal with that kind of pressure. Also, you're expected to perform at this sort of superhero level, and although I'd like to consider myself a superhero, any number of things can go wrong in an event, and especially if you've not been comfortable or practiced on an event. A lot of the events that we've performed on set, we didn't get to practice because everything kind of got put together as fast as it could, so some of the events were not ready for us to practice. That was very, very challenging. The only way that I could stay focused and not get to nervous was to focus on my positive affirmations and just say, I know why I'm here, and it doesn't matter if I win or lose, it's okay. Don't think about screwing up and looking embarrassed on TV, just do what you know how to do, and if you lose, it's okay. It's not a big deal.
But there was one particular event, the joust, where in practice I felt comfortable, but on set, it just was a totally different feeling for me. I was uncomfortable, and it shows. It was the only event where I felt like I wasn't able to be myself 100 percent. All the rest of them, like the ring, I was totally in the zone, and I zoned out everybody and the cameras and I just did my thing. The joust was that one that was kind of scary for me.
The Star Scoop:
On the show, they call you Siren. How do you think that name fits you and your personality?
Waugaman:
I definitely think it fits me. They kind of told us, your characters are basically going to be yourselves. We picked you all for your personalities and just be your personality, but multiply it by ten for TV. Just really amplify it. I like Siren, and it has a couple different meanings. It's loud, and outrageous and bold because it's like a siren on a truck. It's red and, and I think having red hair allows you to kind of get away with more stuff [laughs]. But it's also, in Greek mythology, The Sirens lured the sailors into the rocks. There's the little mythology behind that. I'm very alluring. I'd like to think I have this kind of flow and sexy moves that I just naturally do. So it fits.
The Star Scoop:
You're probably getting recognized more. What is meeting fans like?
Waugaman:
I've luckily had some experience with that in the figure and fitness industry, but it's only mainly at those types of events, so I'm used to people coming up and knowing who I am. I love talking and meeting people and finding out about their goals. That's what I really enjoy doing, but now that it's become, like if I go to the grocery store, people are starting to recognize me, and that's a whole new thing to deal with. I think as long as it doesn't start interfering with my daily activities, where I'm 100 percent always talking to somebody, which is not ideal, I think I'll be okay. I enjoy helping people, and I give people a lot of my energy. I think that's the most challenging thing. I come home, and I'm just exhausted after getting all excited and talking to people about it.
The Star Scoop:
You mentioned a lot of involvement with fitness. In our culture, it's really important. What's your main fitness tip that you give to people who want to be healthy and do the right thing?
Waugaman:
I would say that I lead with something different than most fitness enthusiasts and instructors, professionals. I really think there are so many programs out there that could work for you. There's not just one that works for everybody. There's one hundred that work, but you have to be committed to the process. You have to say, Okay, I'm going with this one, it's attractive to me and my lifestyle the most right now, and I'm going to stick with it. I think the most problems that people have is actually sticking to it once they start. They end, up something happens and they lose track and they lose momentum, and the excitement of the first week is gone, and then they're back to ground zero.
For me, I'm a personal life coach in regards to fitness, and what I tell people is first, you have to connect with your values in life and see where this fitness goal fits in with those values, and how does it fit in with your personal goals in your life and in your role? If you're a mom of three kids, and you're a wife and you're a daughter, and say you're a full time employee at a company, or your own your own company, whatever it may be, you have various roles. If you can't find a way to see how improving your level of fitness would improve your roles in life, you're not going to stick with it, because other things will become more important.
So what I teach people is how to incorporate fitness into their current lifestyle, and how to see themselves in improving their lives in every aspect: in their relationships, in their parenting skills, with their customers, with whatever else they do. If you have more energy, and if you look better, and you feel better, you're gonna have more confidence, you're gonna close more business deals, you're gonna be attractive to people, you're gonna feel better. It just escalates. So, if you connect with those things, how do you not want to be fit and improve yourself? That's where it starts. That's hard to do for some people.
Here's my quick tip: write down those things. How is your life going to be improved if you reach your fitness goals. Instead of losing 30 pounds because that's the standard in America, how about, you want to lose 30 pounds because you want to have more energy for your kids when you come home, or because you want to achieve this major goal in life and you know if you have more energy, you're going to be able to do that. Write it down on note cards and put it up all over your house, or carry those cards around with you wherever you go. I have a stack right here of motivational quotes and positive affirmations that I say. Even if I'm not that right now, I know I will be, because I keep reiterating it into my head over and over again, so it just becomes who I am. It's basically brainwashing yourself with what you want to be rather than what we see everywhere else, and all the negative stuff that goes into our heads.
The Star Scoop:
What message would you like to bring across to the readers?
Waugaman:
Oh, that's a great question. Kind of what I was talking about earlier, go after your dreams. Dream big, that's what I always tell my friends and people that I meet. You don't have to know how it's gonna happen right now. Just focus on it, and start taking small steps, because an expedition of a thousand miles begins with one step. So just get stepping. One of my favorite quotes is, Life is an ongoing process of recreation. You keep creating yourself in the image of your next highest idea about yourself. So with each experience, no matter how hard it is during the time, remember that you can choose to be a new person at each moment. You don't have to reenact who you once were, and you can grow from it.
The Star Scoop:
For more information on Valerie Waugaman, visit www.valspace.com and www.octanecafe.com