Blantyre’s Chilomoni Township is known for its gentleness. If one is tasked to hire bouncers this township will surely not make it on the list of possible places where body builders can be sourced.
But from this community that has little or no known bouncers there is a 45-year-old woman who has taken a unique path that is rarely appealing to women. The woman, Jennifer ‘Unique’ Piyoh who trades as Jendry is an embodiment of physical, mental and emotional strength.
Born into a family of 10, six boys, four girls in Chilomoni Township, Jennifer’s journey was shaped by loss, resilience, and an unexpected passion for bodybuilding.
She says: “We lost our mother when I was in Standard Five and our father when I was in Form 2. Growing up without a mother was very hard for us because our father re-married and the stepmother had no motherly love towards us.
“This background shaped me into the strong woman that I am today; I learnt to do motherly duties to my younger siblings at a very young age.”
Jennifer says she used to manage the home, skills that helped her handle her own home later in life.
“I grew up into a very strong and capable woman,” she says.
Jennifer says the inner strength she developed while in the youthful years of hardship propelled her into the world of bodybuilding.
“My bodybuilding journey started in 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa. At first it was just as a way of keeping fit and boosting my immune system,” she says.
When she returned to Malawi, she joined a local gym in Chilomoni and gradually developed weightlifting as a passion.
“I was later introduced to Doreen Kumbatira a.k.a Dee, a renowned bodybuilder who gave me the inspiration that I needed to forge ahead,” says Jennifer.
The mother of four says she did not face resistance from her family because they had already known her as an independent woman who was fond of challenging herself with what were considered male dominated activities.
She says: “After finishing my secondary school I used to play women’s soccer so it was not surprising to my family and the community when l started my bodybuilding career.
“The only concern that I received was from one of my brothers concerning the costumes we wear during competitions.”
Jennifer says she faced criticism from the community.
“People would make nasty comments like, ‘What do you think you’ll achieve from all this?’ or ‘Where do you think this will take you?’” she says.
Jennifer says some women went as far as insinuating that she goes to the gym to be noticed by men.
“Some men said as a gym woman you could make a good wife, while others think I boost my energy with drugs,” she says,
But the negativity has not discouraged her.
“I overcame all of that because I knew who I was, what I was doing and what my goals were. Instead of feeling discouraged, I stepped up my game and pushed even harder,” she says with pride.
Jennifer says despite the setbacks she found solace in the impact that she has made to the growth in bodybuilding career.
“One of my proudest moments came in 2022 when l appeared on national television in Mangochi, showcasing my strength through powerlifting. It was the best thing ever to see myself on TV, doing something I never imagined I would be doing,” she says.
Jennifer says she is also a fitness trainer and her clients include influential people in society, including expatriates.
Another highlight of her career is that she sits on the executive committee of the Bodybuilding and Fitness Association of Malawi (BFAM) as a women representative.
Apart from being a bodybuilder, Jennifer is also a trained fashion designer, a passion that developed after admiring a dress her sister-in-law, who was studying fashion and design, made.
“The thought of me being able to create a garment like that out of a fabric sounded so great, so I decided to register in the fashion school. I was also attracted to the fashion industry by the ability to make a garment from an ordinary fabric and seeing a happy client after my work,” says Jennifer.
She admits it’s not easy to balance her life as bodybuilder, fitness trainer and fashion designer.
“Being a fitness trainer goes well with my bodybuilding career because I spend most of my day in the gym and apart from aerobics sessions I also give weight training sessions so while training the clients, I train too. And when I am free I do my own workouts,” she says.
But the busy gym schedule has affected her time with the fabrics.
“As for my fashion career, I am not doing it much at the moment since I leave home early for private sessions and then spend the rest of the day in the gym working out, so I have less or no time to be on the machine since I have to rest too,” she says
Jennifer is, however hopeful that funds-permitting, she will open a bigger shop, buy more sewing machines and employ tailors to assist her.
Jennifer encourages aspiring female bodybuilders not to be intimidated into becoming a bodybuilder or do fitness activities.
“Nowadays women around the world are working in the air force, military, playing soccer, boxing so why can’t they be bodybuilders? Do not kill your talents because of the fear for your family and society because at some point in life you will have to stand on your own,” she says.
Jennifer says her job as fitness trainer is rewarding.
“I earn a living through fitness training, I did not have to go to college for it,” she says.
Jennifer attributes her youthful looks to her sweaty hours in the gym.
“I look young and healthy. I do not look like a 45-year-old woman with four children. Fitness training has helped me to make connections with people I never knew existed. I have received exposure that I never imagined,” she says.
Jennifer encourages aspiring fitness trainers to replace fear with faith and courage.
She advises: “You don’t have to become a bodybuilder to be part of the fitness world, you can focus on fitness and even become a trainer.
“Don’t let fear or the opinions of others hold you back, If other women can achieve it, so can we. If I can do it, why not you? With passion and determination, anything is possible.”
Jennifer says mental strength is very important in bodybuilding because it helps one overcome both internal and external influences that can weaken a person.
“My motivation in my difficult times is to put on my favourite music in my earphones, put on my workout gear and when I start working out, nothing else bothers me. I forget everything. I can even get out of bed in the middle of the night and work out if I am having trouble sleeping,” she says.
Jennifer is thankful to Doreen Kumbatira for guiding her along the less travelled path.
“She is my inspiration. As a woman she has a full time job, she owns businesses and she has put our country on the map through her own efforts. I have learnt a lot from her,” she says.
She also pays tribute to Bodybuilding and Fitness Association of Malawi president Benny Phiri, for his great passion for bodybuilding and fitness and for his burning desire to take the sport to greater heights.
“I am also grateful to Mr. Benny Phiri for his kindness, trust and support towards me,” she says.
Jennifer believes it is time for Malawi to start embracing bodybuilding like they do with other sports disciplines by introducing the sport in schools and communities and also by organising bodybuilding competitions in schools and communities.
“This will help the girls to embrace the sport at a young age thereby creating a future of more fit women,” she points out.
Looking ahead, Jenifer aspires to be the best female bodybuilder in Malawi owning upmarket fitness centres.
“My biggest dream is to establish a boot camp that can provide intensive training and support to aspiring bodybuilders. I would also like to open a large fashion and tailoring shop where I can employ others and foster creativity,” she says.
She also dreams of opening a tailoring and designing school to help others develop their skills in this field.
Jennifer hopes to leave behind a powerful legacy that will inspire generations of women to follow their passions and push past limitations.
“I want women to have the will to break through the walls and barriers set against them, to exercise patience in achieving their goals and to cultivate self-discipline, particularly in fitness,” she says.
When all is said and done, Jennifer says she wants people to remember her as “that simple and ordinary woman who had the passion and spirit to take on challenges in life and had the burning desire to break through walls and barriers that were set against women and their aspirations and show the world that women can also do much better in male dominated sectors.”
Jennifer says she is thankful to God for taking her through the thick and thin.
“When I look back, I just smile and say thank God for this amazing journey of my life,” he says.
