Amber Littlejohn
Encyclopedia
Amber Littlejohn is an IFBB
professional figure competitor from the United States
. Standing at 177 centimetres (69.7 in) (5' 10"), she is one of the tallest female competitors as well as one of the few Native American
female competitors in the industry. Her highest achievement to date as an IFBB professional figure competitor is having won the inaugural IFBB Palm Beach Pro Figure championships as well as placing second on the 2006 Figure Olympia. Amber currently resides in Orlando, Florida. She is an advocate for abused and neglected children.
to a half African American
, half Native American (Cherokee
) father and an Irish mother. She was raised by parents who where very passionate about social justice. So much so that at a young age she witnessed her mother be arrested for protesting against apartheid. Littlejohn grew up in a large family of six children where she was the second youngest and the only female of the group. Because of this she grew up to be a very rough tomboy
who was always getting into fights. Growing up in a rural cabin with few amenities led Amber to become a bit nature-phobic for a couple of years, but she also grew up learning to respect nature but preferring to live in the city. While growing up her parents did not allow Amber to watch television until the age nine, so Amber became very interested in literature at a young age, becoming fond of authors such as Toni Morrison
, Isabelle Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
, and Ernest Hemingway
. This early exposure made Littlejohn very appreciative of literature at a young age and today she still uses reading to escape the rigors of her everyday life.
While not technically a very active child, Littlejohn explored track, martial arts and basketball during her school early school years. At the age of 23 she began to take weight training seriously to deal with a failed relationship. She would often be seen crying while working out which made onlookers in the gym a bit worried, but she continued to train in order to feel better. After training for several more months and taking five months of gymnastics Amber entered her first competition, the NPC
San Jose Fitness and Figure Championships in 2001, where she took first place. Afterwards, Littlejohn decided to compete solely in figure competitions to help save her joints from the stress that many fitness athletes suffer..
Amber was a popular figure competitor, she has placed in the top-five in almost every show she has competed since turning pro at the 2003 Figure Nationals. Her highest achievement to date has been placing second at the 2006 Miss Figure Olympia and winning the Palm Beach Pro Figure show. After the Olympia Amber was planning to retire from competing in figure to begin raising a family with her husband, but decided to compete at Figure Olympia in 2007 where she placed in sixth place. Recently, she announced that her husband was diagnosed with cancer and that he is going through chemotherapy
while she was getting ready for the Olympia. Amber retired from competing following the 2007 Olympia to focus on family and continue her education. She is an advocate for abused and neglected children for the Seminole County courts. After completing her Pre-Law degree from The University of Central Florida in the spring of 2009, Amber will attend law school in her home state of California.
s during her training. She typically trains 6 days a week in the off-season and trains abs for five to ten minutes after each training session (usually three body parts per day off-season, and only two body parts per day the on-season; when she is getting ready for a contest).
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
professional figure competitor from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Standing at 177 centimetres (69.7 in) (5' 10"), she is one of the tallest female competitors as well as one of the few Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
female competitors in the industry. Her highest achievement to date as an IFBB professional figure competitor is having won the inaugural IFBB Palm Beach Pro Figure championships as well as placing second on the 2006 Figure Olympia. Amber currently resides in Orlando, Florida. She is an advocate for abused and neglected children.
Biography
Amber was born in coastal Monterey, CaliforniaMonterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
to a half African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, half Native American (Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
) father and an Irish mother. She was raised by parents who where very passionate about social justice. So much so that at a young age she witnessed her mother be arrested for protesting against apartheid. Littlejohn grew up in a large family of six children where she was the second youngest and the only female of the group. Because of this she grew up to be a very rough tomboy
Tomboy
A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
who was always getting into fights. Growing up in a rural cabin with few amenities led Amber to become a bit nature-phobic for a couple of years, but she also grew up learning to respect nature but preferring to live in the city. While growing up her parents did not allow Amber to watch television until the age nine, so Amber became very interested in literature at a young age, becoming fond of authors such as Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best known novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved...
, Isabelle Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
, and Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
. This early exposure made Littlejohn very appreciative of literature at a young age and today she still uses reading to escape the rigors of her everyday life.
While not technically a very active child, Littlejohn explored track, martial arts and basketball during her school early school years. At the age of 23 she began to take weight training seriously to deal with a failed relationship. She would often be seen crying while working out which made onlookers in the gym a bit worried, but she continued to train in order to feel better. After training for several more months and taking five months of gymnastics Amber entered her first competition, the NPC
National Physique Committee
The National Physique Committee is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Amateur bodybuilders compete in various competitions from local to national competitions sanctioned by the NPC...
San Jose Fitness and Figure Championships in 2001, where she took first place. Afterwards, Littlejohn decided to compete solely in figure competitions to help save her joints from the stress that many fitness athletes suffer..
Amber was a popular figure competitor, she has placed in the top-five in almost every show she has competed since turning pro at the 2003 Figure Nationals. Her highest achievement to date has been placing second at the 2006 Miss Figure Olympia and winning the Palm Beach Pro Figure show. After the Olympia Amber was planning to retire from competing in figure to begin raising a family with her husband, but decided to compete at Figure Olympia in 2007 where she placed in sixth place. Recently, she announced that her husband was diagnosed with cancer and that he is going through chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
while she was getting ready for the Olympia. Amber retired from competing following the 2007 Olympia to focus on family and continue her education. She is an advocate for abused and neglected children for the Seminole County courts. After completing her Pre-Law degree from The University of Central Florida in the spring of 2009, Amber will attend law school in her home state of California.
Vital Stats
- Full Name: Amber Littlejohn
- Birthday: July 6
- Place of Birth: Monterey, California
- Current state of Residence: Orlando, Florida
- Occupation: Figure competitor, personal trainerPersonal trainerA personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
, and fitness model - Marital Status: engaged
- Height: 5'10"
- Weight (In Season): 130-135 lbs. (Off-Season):142-148 lbs.
- Eye Color: Brown
- Hair Color: Black
Bodybuilding philosophy
Littlejohn's training consists of simple compound movements with mostly free weights and a few isolation exercises. she rarely uses cable exercises; she also rarely uses machines. Amber focuses on her glutes, hamstrings, and armArm
In human anatomy, the arm is the part of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow joints. In other animals, the term arm can also be used for analogous structures, such as one of the paired forelimbs of a four-legged animal or the arms of cephalopods...
s during her training. She typically trains 6 days a week in the off-season and trains abs for five to ten minutes after each training session (usually three body parts per day off-season, and only two body parts per day the on-season; when she is getting ready for a contest).
Contest History
- 2001 NPC San Jose Fitness and Figure Championships, 1st
- 2001 NPC San Francisco Fitness and Figure Championships, 1st
- 2002 NPC Emerald Cup, 1st (Tall)
- 2002 NPC Ironmaiden, 3rd (Tall)
- 2003 NPC Nationals, 1st (Tall) and Overall Winner
- 2004 IFBBInternational Federation of BodyBuildersThe International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
California Pro Figure, 3rd - 2004 IFBB Ms. International, 10th
- 2004 IFBB MS. Olympia, 5th
- 2004 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Figure, 7th
- 2004 IFBB Show of Strength Pro Championship, 3rd
- 2005 IFBB California Pro Figure, 2nd
- 2005 IFBB Charlotte Pro Championships, 2nd
- 2005 IFBB Ms International, 6th
- 2005 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 4th
- 2006 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 2nd
- 2006 IFBB Palm Beach Pro Figure, 1st
- 2007 IFBBInternational Federation of BodyBuildersThe International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
Ms. Olympia, 6th