A manager of a residential care home in Norwich has become a World Champion bodybuilder.

Emily Carrasquillo from Black Swan Care Group’s Laurel Lodge care home can usually be found managing the care home which supports 31 residents and has 40 staff. But outside work, her passion is fitness and bodybuilding, taking part in competitions with her fiancé and the support of her coach Brad Whymark.

In August this year, Carrasquillo qualified for the British finals at the UK Ultimate Physique regional competition in York by winning the overall competition and gaining her pro card. At the final, she also took first place which came with an invite to the Mr/Miss Universe 2023 competition run by the World Amateur Body Building Association at the Palau Firal i de Congressos de Tarragona competition in Barcelona in which she competed against some of the best physiques in the world.

Carrasquillo managed to beat all the competition, coming first for Team GB and being crowned Miss Universe Figure 2023 in the Miss Shape 163cm-plus category.

She performed her routine wearing an individually created bikini, encrusted with a sparkling crystal Black Swan Care Group design, reflecting her employer which sponsored her for the event.

On winning Carrasquillo said: “It’s incredible, I just can’t really believe it. To be crowned Miss Universe is just amazing. My passion for bodybuilding began about seven years ago and this year’s competitions couldn’t have gone any better.

“Obviously, there’s been lots of hard work – I start training at 3.30am and then go straight to work at Laurel Lodge care home. I’m very grateful to Black Swan for sponsoring me and supporting me to combine my passions of being a care home manager and a bodybuilder.”