Kayla Itsines: ‘I still pinch myself when I read I’m the number one personal trainer in the world’

When I found out I was chatting to Kayla Itsines, I was scared. Not because of Kayla – she’s absolutely lovely – but because of what she might make me do! Wall squats during our interview? Entirely possible.

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I first met Kayla about a year ago when she kicked my arse in a training session, so after swapping my heels for runners, I sat down with the 25-year-old fitness star from Adelaide to find out what makes her tick.

If you haven’t heard of Kayla, you’ve been living under a rock. This incredible girl has a whopping 5.5 million followers on Instagram, 7.7 million likes on Facebook and has women all around the world singing her praises when it comes to transforming their shape thanks to her Bikini Body Guide workout and diet plans.

But in her typically humble way, the down to earth personal trainer admits it all began organically – and she had no idea what she was starting when she posted the first before and after transformation pic on Instagram that she's become famous for.

“My sister’s friends were the first ones that came to me and said, 'Can you train us when we’re not doing netball?' I said 'Ok, of course I’ll train you,'" she tells me. “We made the before and after photo, and then my little cousin said to me, 'Why don’t you put it on Instagram?' I said, 'What’s Instagram?'"

From there, it took a little encouragement from her boyfriend – and business partner – Tobi Pearce, and the Kayla Itsines phenomenon was born.

For Kayla, who grew up in a big Greek family and loves helping people, it’s turned into her dream job.

She reads every comment from her fans and followers and is the only one that posts on her accounts, admitting it’s all about helping women look and feel amazing.

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“Women don’t need someone standing over them 24/7 saying ‘Do this, do that’, she says. “They feel even more empowered and strong when they do something themselves.”

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