CHARLI LILAGAN

Charli, for people who are just discovering you, who are you outside of the stage and the gym?

Outside of training, I’m someone who loves simple things. I love singing, I actually used to do it professionally, and you’ll still catch me singing in the shower. I’m drawn to the beach, nature, and anything adventurous.

I spend a lot of time with friends, and I enjoy art as a way to express myself. I also love making people happy, seeing people smile means a lot to me. Reading is another big part of my life, just to expand my mind and keep growing.

What came first for you, fitness as a lifestyle, or the idea of competing?

Fitness as a lifestyle, definitely. I actually didn’t even know I was going to compete until about a month before my first show. But after stepping on stage for the first time, it became clear to me, this is more than competing, it’s a lifestyle.

Walk us through the decision to step on stage for the first time. Was it terrifying, or were you ready?

Honestly, I wasn’t scared. For me, it felt exciting, like a celebration of everything I had done during prep.

The show wasn’t something to fear, it was more like a graduation. You go through all that work, and stepping on stage is the moment you celebrate it.

At the Melbourne show you didn't just place , you swept. True Novice, Novice, Open, Overall, and the Pro Card. Did you expect any of that going in?

Not at all, honestly. People told me I could do well, but also that I could lose, so I didn’t go in with expectations.

My focus was just to enjoy the moment, meet people, and have a great day. And I really did, stage day was fun for me.

What did the moment feel like when they called your name for the Pro Card?

That moment was complicated. My sister, Cammy, passed away two weeks before the show, and her funeral was just three days before.

I knew God was with me, and I felt like Cammy was with me too. That’s what kept me going. Until Olympia.

On stage, I felt torn. I had worked so hard for this, and I knew I should be smiling, but at the same time, I couldn’t fully feel that joy. I was confused emotionally, but deep down, I knew she would want me to keep going.

When I won, I felt both happiness and sadness at the same time. I was proud, but it was hard knowing she wasn’t there to see it.

What does your training look like day to day, and how do you mentally approach a session when you have nothing left?

Right now, I train five days a week, two lower body days and three upper body days, because I’m focused on growing my shoulders.

Mentally, there are days when I don’t want to be in the gym. But instead of focusing on “I’m tired,” I remind myself to still give 100%.

Every time I commit to giving my best, no matter how I feel, it ends up being a great session.

What's the hardest physical or mental wall you've had to break through in prep?

Physically, it’s the hunger and fatigue, that’s just part of the process.

Mentally, it’s about how you deal with that. You can’t pretend you’re not tired or hungry, you have to acknowledge it. But at the same time, you don’t focus on it or complain about it.

You accept it as part of prep, and you remind yourself that the reward will come, you’ll rest, you’ll eat again. It’s temporary.

What brought you to Bali, and how did you end up at Obsidian?

We came to Bali to experience something new, but what we found was more than that, we found a real fitness community.

Compared to my hometown, where it often feels more competitive, the fitness scene in Bali feels different. People support each other and celebrate each other.

When it came to finding a place to train, we didn’t try multiple gyms. We found Obsidian by chance, and from the first session, it just felt right. The environment, the people, the atmosphere, it’s easy to see why many consider it the best gym in Bali.

It quickly became more than just a place to train, it became family.

Which part of Obsidian, the equipment, the space, the energy, has made the biggest impact on your training here?

Honestly, it’s all of it.

The equipment is world-class, everything you need for serious training. And the team always ask for feedbacks about machines so they can improve and provide more.  The space is large, well-designed, and pushes you mentally, even walking through the gym feels like a switch to lock in.

But what truly makes Obsidian stand out as the best gym in Bali is the energy. The community, the mindset, the people, it creates an environment where you naturally push harder every single session.