Monique Giraud:South African Wellness Queen on Her Quest for a Second Crown
At the pinnacle of the wellness division stands Monique Giraud, the reigning IFBB SA Wellness Champion. . Fresh off a decisive regional victory, Giraud is now deep in preparation for a successive national title, aiming to solidify her legacy as one of the country's most formidable Wellness athletes.
Monique’s journey to the top was no easy feat. The 2024 IFBB SA National Championships presented a formidable challenge: she was facing a serious wellness lineup which included then reigning National champion Elizabeth Dumagude. Her winning package was a testament to her dedication and Julians precise planning. She brought a combination of exceptional muscularity, crisp conditioning. She will need to work on imbalancing her physique a little as the wellness division is about having an bottom heavy physique whereas her top nearly as big as her bottom especially from the front.
The path to defending a national title begins at the regional level. For Monique, the IFBB Gauteng Regionals was the first and most critical step, a qualifier for the national championships, and will once again be team Gauteng's biggest hope. Now is when the pressure starts building up as the reigning champ. All eyes are on you, and anything less than a total victory is considered a setback.
And at the regionals she was unfazed by the pressure, Giraud stepped on stage and delivered a performance that can only be described as a masterclass. She didn’t just win her class; she captured the Wellness Overall title, decisively defeating all other class winners. This overwhelming victory sent a clear message to the national competition: the champ is not resting on her laurels. She has returned sharper, more refined, and hungrier than ever.
For Monique Giraud, that signature is her world-class lower body. She is widely regarded as possessing some of the best wellness legs in the country.
This is not just about size; it’s about artful development. Her legs are a showcase of massive watermelon crushing quads, smooth yet developed hamstrings, with decent sized glutes that boast both roundness and tie-ins.
JLAB
Behind every great champion is a great team. Monique Giraud is a proud JLab Athlete, representing one of the most prestigious and successful bodybuilding stables in Southern Africa. JLab is synonymous with excellence, producing a conveyor belt of champions across all divisions and federations. Being part of this elite squad means training in an environment of winners, where excellence is the standard and every detail is optimized for performance.
Her guidance comes from one of the most respected minds in the sport: legendary coach Julian Naidoo. Naidoo is not just a coach; he is an architect of champions. His meticulous approach to nutrition, supplementation, and periodized training is legendary. His ability to bring an athlete into peak condition—manipulating every variable from water and sodium to glycogen and peak-week cardio—is what separates good competitors from titleholders. Under Naidoo’s strategic command, Giraud’s raw potential is being honed into a repeatable, championship-winning formula. Their partnership is a blend of her unwavering discipline and his masterful strategy.
The Road to Nationals
The challenge of winning a title once is crazy. Winning it a back to back is a completely different battle. The target on Monique’s back is now larger than ever. Every up-and-coming Wellness athlete in the country is dialing in their physique with the sole intention of dethroning the queen.
The goal is to create a package so complete, so detailed, and so overwhelming that it leaves no room for doubt in the judges' minds. She isn’t just aiming to win; she is aiming to dominate.
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| 2023 Monique winning wellness masters title |
Monique Giraud represents the modern face of South African bodybuilding: powerful, graceful, and fiercely determined. Her journey from contender to champion to defending titleholder is an inspiration to athletes across all disciplines. As she continues her grueling prep for the national championships, the entire bodybuilding community watches with anticipation.
Will she cement her reign and continue to hold the crown of South African Wellness? Based on her Gauteng overall victory, her elite coaching, and her relentless drive, all signs point to a champion who is ready to not just defend her title, but to define an era. Her quest for a successive national title is more than a personal goal; it is a pursuit of greatness that elevates the entire sport.
