A FEMALE bodybuilder has been dubbed the "Human Ferrari" after her incredible story earned her the backing of legend Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Francielle Mattos from Brazil has won the coveted title Classic Arnold Ohio every year since 2020 as she battled through postnatal depression to follow her dream of bodybuilding.
Francielle posing in Olympia BrazilCredit: @franciellemattos / instagramThe ripped gymgoer started her journey after struggling with postpartum depressionCredit: @franciellemattos / instagramFranciele has one the Classic Arnold Ohio title four times in a rowCredit: @franciellemattos / instagramPicture of Francielle when she started professional bodybuilding (left) compared to her recent physiqueCredit: @franciellemattos / instagramIncredible pictures from competitions show a ripped Francielle flexing her muscles and showing off her stunning body.
After winning the championship four times in a row, the mother of two said she became a bodybuilder after struggling with postnatal depression.
She told local media: "I eventually found my calling in bodybuilding [after] experiencing postpartum depression when I gave birth to my first daughter in 2009."
What Ola and James Jordan really ate and did to shed 7stFrancielle said she began working out with her family's support.
At first, she just wanted to get back into shape - but people began encouraging her to participate in bodybuilding competitions.
After giving birth to her second child in 2012, fellow gymgoers encouraged her to compete in bodybuilding professionally because of her incredible physique.
She said: "I never thought about competing, it was something that happened. Everyone at the gym said: 'What a beautiful physique. Why don't you compete?'.
"And I replied: 'What do you compete in? Like this? I don't even know what that is."
Eventually, in 2017, when her second child was five years old, she was invited to participate in a bodybuilding competition in Parana.
And in 2019, Francielle won the Arnold Classic Brasil and the Olympia Brasil Amateur.
Then in 2020, she won her first Arnold title in Ohio, after which she began her professional career.
She even secured a place at the first edition of the Wellness competition at Olympia 2021, where her fans started to call her "Human Ferrari".
I’m a fitness pro & everyone makes the same mistake when trying to lose weight"It was the first time I went to compete in the United States and I was wearing a red bikini. And they said, 'Wow, if a Ferrari were human, she would look like this. She would be this woman," Francielle said.
She then won the Arnold Classic Ohio 2024 title for the fourth consecutive year - and was congratulated by Arnold Schwarzenegger on the stage.
An excited Francielle told the bodybuilding legend: "I can't believe I'm in front of the biggest bodybuilding idol. I dreamed of this moment.
"I'm very excited because in 2020 I was here fighting for my pro card and I won. And today I'm here, in front of you, it's a dream."
She started her competing in professional bodybuilding championships after having her second childCredit: @franciellemattos / instagramThe mum of two was congratulated by Arnold Schwarzenegger on stageCredit: Getty