My Voice & Size
I get a lot of comments about my voice, which is what I call ‘mellifluous’ (if confused, consult dictionary.com). “You should do voiceovers! Announcements! News!” “Do you sing?”… However, since I’m also an athlete, people often think my voice is not my own ‘factory’ one. Since I have now thrown myself in front of media (and any random person with a blog), as a new American Gladiator, I’d like kids and adults alike to know more about me & who I am.
At the age of 12, in the 6th grade, I was a soprano in our choir, my 2nd year. I suddenly hit my growth spurt – which was painful and left my parents in total disbelief – from 5’2 to 6’1 in about 6 months. No kidding. Yes, it hurt. My parents, a 5’3” mom and 5’10” dad (the admitted ‘runt’ of the family) were amazed, measuring me on the kitchen wall every week or so! I gained a bunch of weight, shot up like a bean stalk, and suddenly… I wasn’t hitting the notes anymore. I was mystified and upset! My voice dropped like President Bush’s approval rating.
And boy, was I an outcast as a big, tall girl in a world of Southern Debutantes. Dating was difficult, that is until I hit college! My best friend in school, who shared my dating dilemma, was also 6’1: but while I was hovering around 240 back then (and 265 at one point), she was 140. We looked like the number 10 standing together.
While I’m proud of my voice, I have to tell you – I have derived some grief over the years about my deep voice. Even back then, at 12, having my friends’ parents thinking they had a ‘boy calling the house’. But it’s what G-d gave me, it fits me, and I think anything that separates me from the masses and adds to my originality is a good thing.
‘PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS’
I do not condone the use of anything the IOC wouldn’t approve. And at my size (currently 6’1, 205), I wouldn’t want to do anything that actually made me gain weight. I have been a large girl since (read above) age 12, and you can ask my family about our giant Dutch relatives! We’ve had some 6’8” men in the family, and the girls are all tall and fit but ‘sturdy’. So for those who have said rather slanderous things regarding this topic, you’re way off base.
Every single one of us were thoroughly tested for every substance known to man to become Gladiators, to further enlighten you. I’m very proud of this.
IN CLOSING…
I’m a big, Teutonic, gorgeous woman. I know it’s true, my mom tells me so. I adore who I am, how I look, and everything my amazing body can do. That being said, I’m not everyone’s taste and don’t expect to be. As anyone in Hollywood will tell you; when you present yourself in the media, you go in with the knowledge that about 15% of the audience may react negatively. (This goes down to 1% for Julia Roberts, and up to about 88% for Britney Spears, at least at the time of publishing).
If I cared about the people who didn’t like me, I’d be hiding under a rather large rock back in Texas. You don’t have to love me, but you do need to get the record straight!
Robin Coleman, aka Hellga, January 2008