The Iron Maiden

Vietnam’s female bodybuilder who’s smashing stereotypes “I didn’t choose this job. It chose me.” says Dinh Kim Loan, seven-time Asian gold medalist and twice world champion female bodybuilder for her weight class. Entering into our interview, Loan looks very little like the Asian ideal of feminine beauty. Her waist may be small and her hair may be long, but nothing can hide her sharply defined muscles and … Read more

Gender in the Gym

Bodybuilder Kendy Nguyen opens up about his journey as a transgender man in Vietnam Kendy Nguyen is a national champion bodybuilder, but he will tell you he is just an ordinary guy. In many ways, he is right, though to leave it at that would be to grossly oversimplify an extraordinary personal journey. Before he … Read more

Men of Muscle

Meet the two men who are trying to take bodybuilding in Vietnam to the next level. Meet Pham Van Mach, a three time world champion and a seven time Asian champion bodybuilder. He’s done the rounds both at home and on the international stages, but to become a member of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and … Read more