When a career in the Ministry of Finance, two higher degrees and a successful office job fade into the background and fitness becomes a passion, a path begins that will later turn his life upside down. VIPzone was inspired by the story of Jasmine An-Nimr, a bodybuilding champion from Tajikistan who inspires others by breaking stereotypes about Eastern women.
From numbers to barbell
Jasmine An-Nimr has a unique biography. She has mixed Arab and Tajik blood. She knows 4 languages and has two higher educations – international relations and finance. She worked in one of the departments of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic, but one day she realized that routine office work was not for her. Because her heart was captured by… sport. Starting with powerlifting, Jasmine soon discovered bodybuilding.
Together with the honored coach of Tajikistan in bodybuilding, Olim Parpiev, they began to engage in this sport at a professional level.
“When I started, I didn’t think that I would become a champion. For me it was just a hobby. But the more I studied, the more I realized that this was my path that I had to go through,” says Jasmine.
In 2021, her debut in bodybuilding was triumphant: immediately – bronze and silver at the World Championships in Tashkent! From that moment on, her name became associated with the highest achievements in bodybuilding.
Woman in bodybuilding
Stereotypes about women in strength sports are harsh and persistent. Jasmine, faced with them, did not give up.
“There was a lot of condemnation, both from men and women. But I didn’t stop,” she admits.
For her, bodybuilding is not only about huge muscles, but also about the harmony of physical fitness with aesthetics.
“Women can be beautiful, strong and feminine. Everyone finds their own category that suits them,” the champion is sure.
Bodybuilding secrets
“Genetics is the basis, but without discipline nothing will work,” admits Jasmine.
Reaching the top of bodybuilding requires not only hard work, but also sacrifice.
“The last weeks before performances are a clean diet. Every carbohydrate and every gram of food counts,” she shares the secrets of successful bodybuilders.
Physical stress and psychological pressure go hand in hand in this sport.
“My journey has been endless cycles of bulking and cutting, each with its own challenges. Sometimes I lose my relief, and immediately hear the question: “Have you gained weight?” Such words hurt, and it becomes a real psychological test,” Jasmine openly shares.
Bodybuilding requires sacrifice
“This is not about health at all. Professional sports is a job where you make sacrifices to achieve your goal. This is your conscious choice,” she admits and continues: “Drying is usually fat burning, not just weight loss.” This is a process in which you need to get your body into ideal shape. And it’s not easy.”
Jasmine considers bodybuilding one of the most difficult sports. It’s not just competition, but also daily dieting, training, and body pain.
“And when you go through all that, you realize that bodybuilding is a lifestyle,” she says.
Harmony and independence
Is it easy for a strong and confident woman who is physically superior to many men to find harmony in a relationship? Jasmine answers this question with humor:
“I don’t know who finds it easy to build relationships now. But the paradox is that the more “muscular” I become, especially during preparation, the more attention I receive from men. They seem to like strong women.”
In her opinion, it is important that a partner shares her values and supports her, especially given the high level of dedication that professional sports requires.
Jasmine believes that harmony can only be found if both partners are athletes and preferably work in the same direction. “Otherwise you have to choose: either sports or personal relationships,” she says, noting that a full-time sports career rarely leaves time and energy for anything else.
Inspiration and support
Jasmine was inspired by professional athletes when she saw them at the Olympia show. “I told myself: I will be at this level. And I was not mistaken,” she notes with a bit of pride in her voice.
Currently, Jasmine An-Nimr is supported not only by coaches and friends, but also by large companies. Since 2022, the national betting company Formula 55 has sponsored it. The athlete also receives financial support from the Committee for Youth and Sports of the Republic to participate in competitions.
Jasmine continues to win
2025 brought Jasmine new victories. She became the first Honored Master of Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan in bodybuilding not only among women, but also among men.
Also this year, she won gold at the republican bench press championship, setting a new record, and also received an award as the best female athlete in non-Olympic sports. She is currently preparing for the World Bodybuilding Championships, which will be held in November this year in Indonesia, where she will again compete for a high title.
Blitz survey
We asked Jasmine the most personal and unexpected questions.
Most unexpected compliment?
Sheri nar (“lion” in Tajik).
Your guilty pleasure?
I can eat kilos of ice cream and sleep until lunchtime.
Evening dress or sports top?
Evening dress, of course!
On a date you choose…
Bar or active recreation
What do you get asked most often?
My age
What is it about men that sticks out more than muscles?
Maturity of thinking and light blood. But first the muscles.
Craziest sacrifice for fitness?
One day, loading up before going on stage didn’t go according to plan: the muscles weren’t filling up at all. I had to eat a kilogram of rice and half a kilo of chicken in a day, two pizzas and four packs of bread at night, and in the morning I had to finish it off with chocolate, marshmallows, gingerbread, peanut and pistachio butter, honey, raisins, chips and dates. And all this – without a single drop of water!
What can you do better than any man?
Eat, do push-ups and pull-ups.
Would you rather have perfect muscles or perfect love?
Ideal love only exists in books. So go train!
What is your formula for femininity in three words?
Tenderness, softness, grace. Nowadays, a woman should be strong, fearless and free from stereotypes.
