Cassandra Martin
Construction worker turned workout warrior, Cassandra Martin, is in the business of building bodies and brands. She proves getting results in and out of the gym are all about hard work – and she looks amazing doing it. Check out the unassuming journey of the latest fit-chick-to-follow.
With 2.1 million followers and counting, fitness blogger, rising social media sensation, and entrepreneur Cass Martin offers a rather unique story to her on-going journey from female construction worker to bodybuilder to brand innovator. Unlike her famous fellow fitness models, her Instagram posts aren’t stocked with gratuitous, click-bait, cleavage-clad snaps or Sephora shopping hauls. What you’ll find is a heavily followed feed filled with fitness-focused photos, like eye-popping pics of her bulging biceps and sculpted stems, food hauls, healthy diet tips, motivational quotes, and workout videos. Not a bikini pic in sight. None of the fluff - and all of the fitness. It’s all class with Cass.
Getting Cut and Staying Curvy
The 30 year-old fitness fiend who stands at 5’5’ is famous for her bodybuilder bod, rigorous work ethic inside and outside the gym, and daily dose of inspiration and motivation for women wanting to build a badass body and healthy lifestyle of their very own. Inspired by female bodybuilding icon Jamie Eason after spotting her seriously sculpted image on the cover of a popular fitness magazine, Cass became instantly intrigued with carving own cover-worthy physique and building the body of her dreams. With the help of her bodybuilding enthusiast boyfriend (now husband) Hunter, adopting a squeaky-clean diet, and hitting the heavy weights six days a week, Cass was able to get shredded, build more muscle mass, and still retain her curvy feminine figure, all within a year. Her dedication to uncompromising consistency, hard work, and steadfast determination of her fitness goals, Cass was finally ready to showcase her newfound aesthetics. After following other fitness stars via social media for years and admiring their head-to-toe toned figures, Cass felt confident to start her own Instagram account in the beginning of 2016. Sweating it up doing construction work by day and training by night, Cass captured all the highlights of her gym-bound journey and posted them to her Instagram stories in hopes of empowering other females who wanted to get fit and fab but were unsure how or where to start. She sprinkled in some of her best-kept secrets for sculpting success, and by the end of 2016, she had amassed nearly one million followers on the ‘Gram – and growing.
A Bodybuilder Who Means Business
The Colorado-native and sculpted stunner began working in the male-dominated construction biz with her boyfriend-turned-husband-turned-personal trainer following cosmetology school. An improbable profession for a female cosmetology school graduate, Martin admits she wasn’t exactly a “girly-girl” growing up and didn’t gravitate towards many of the things most girls usually do. So, lifting heavy weights and building a sexy, sculpted physique seemed like the natural progression for the destined social star. Currently, Cass lifts heavy weights six days a week and consumes up to six small meals a day to keep her fit and fueled and her metabolism humming and hawing.
Her WRKETHIC self-made supplement line was launched last year and is based on the simple premise that hard work always prevails and supersedes bouts of self-doubt, unforeseen obstacles, and self-defeating negativity. If you implement an imperturbable work ethic and stick to attaining your goals, you’ll see results. It may take time, but it will happen if you keep your eye on the prize. Her featured products include HARD WORK, a pre-workout to invigorate and fuel the muscles; BREAK THE MOLD, a supplement loaded with BCAAs to be consumed during or post-workout; a premium-blend chocolate-flavored shake perfect to add to a morning smoothie or for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up; a thermogenic endurance formula for when you’re super setting your sweat sesh; and a stimulant-free, advanced formula pre-workout for the ultimate bodybuilding buff. Cass has even launched some must-have merch like tanks, tees, and a shaker cup that reflects the brand’s logo. A woman of unwavering integrity, Cass elected to pass on a number of sponsorship opportunities from some of the biggest brands in the bodybuilding biz. On starting WRKETHIC, Cass declares, “Believe in yourself and never waiver on who you are. I was very fortunate to be approached by many companies in this industry, which I am thankful for, however, one thing was very apparent; it was not at all what I thought it would be. I wanted to create a company that was driven by substance and truth, rather than dollar signs.”
Her most recent creation that’s got the ‘Gram going wild is her leopard print water gallon cover to keep water cool and crisp-tasting while on-the-go. The innovative, super cute cover from her other brand Gallon Gear also features functional pockets to keep your keys, phone, and other belongings safe and secure all in one place. Hydrating never looked so fashionable and functional! The Gallon Gear cover is also available in half-gallon sizes and in a variety of prints for gym GoGuys on-the-go.
Rapid Fire Q&A
GG: AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START INCORPORATING FITNESS INTO YOUR
LIFE?
I started to get into fitness when I met my husband, Hunter, about 10 years ago, but before that, I never was involved in any kind of sport.
GG: WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME FIT?
Hunter had fitness magazines laying around that I would look through and I always saw these really fit women and thought to myself, “I want to look like that!” So, we started going to the gym six days a week consistently and trained together. I absolutely fell in love with the whole process of training and eating healthy. It was then that I was hooked and knew right away that I wanted to incorporate being fit and healthy for the rest of my life.
GG: YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA BOASTS AN IMPRESSIVE 2 MILLION FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM ALONE. IS THERE A STRATEGY YOU FOLLOWED TO GET YOUR FIRST 100K FOLLOWERS?
GG: WHAT WAS THE MOMENT YOU KNEW YOU COULD TURN YOUR INTEREST IN FITNESS, INTO A BUSINESS?
There was no strategy at all. I honestly never had any social media platforms before Instagram. We went to the 2015 Olympics and I had a few people ask me what my Instagram was. At that time, I didn’t even know what it was so when we got back home, I looked into the app and created an account and started following people for motivation. I did not post anything for a few months. Then one day, Hunter and I talked and decided to post a video of a lift that I was strong at and that is how it all started. At first, it was really slow and I really was not trying to gain followers, I just thought it was fun to film and post things. But then, it all kind of happened at once and things took off! The biggest thing I can say that might have helped my page grow was posting consistently and always being active to anyone who commented from day one. I never dreamed of two million followers one day and it still seems so surreal.
I think it was around about 120k followers. That is around the time my page was growing 8-10k a day and businesses starting reaching out asking if I was interested in working with them. At the time, I had zero experience as to how people made money online or what it was liking working for companies. I asked around a little to try and gain some knowledge of how things work and what to expect, but I realized that I personally love to create and work for myself so I ended up passing on almost every deal that came to me. That is when my husband I decided to create Wrkethic Supplements.
GG: WHAT IS IT ABOUT WRKETHIC SUPPLEMENTS THAT YOU LOVE AND
BELIEVE IN MOST?
I just love the fact that I know exactly what is in each and every product. I created them every step of the way from the ingredients to the flavoring. I even created all the labeling and branding. I know exactly what I am putting in my body and that is just a refreshing feeling. I would not want to sell someone something I would not use every day.
GG: WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED, IF ANY, IN TRYING TO BREAKTHROUGH THE MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY OF BODYBUILDING?
It has been a really huge learning experience for me in so many ways from business to personal growth. As a female, it is hard to stand out in this industry without showing skin and sexualizing things. I have no issues with anybody doing that themselves, but that just was never me or why I got into fitness. I want to be respected for my hard work and who I am rather than showing skin. I wanted to show other girls that you can be yourself, work hard, and get respect!
GG: SINCE FOOD IS SUCH A BIG PART OF LIVING A FIT LIFE, WHAT TYPE OF MEAL PLAN DO YOU LIVE BY? (SUCH AS KETO? VEGAN? ETC.)
GG: WE RECENTLY SAW YOUR FUNNY VIDEO ON IG WHERE YOU CRY OVER CURLY FRIES, TELL US WHAT YOUR CHEAT MEAL CONSISTS OF AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU TREAT YOURSELF TO THAT? (SUCH AS, DO YOU CHEAT 1X A MONTH, ETC.)
My favorite cheat meal right now is probably ice cream. I love Ben & Jerry’s! Hamburgers are also something I could eat every day. I probably have a pint of ice cream once a month, lol, but what I have learned is that it's better to have a little unhealthy snack to curve your cravings rather than going out and splurging on something large. At my house, I always keep mini-sized chocolates or candies around, so that when I feel like I need something sweet, it's a small controlled amount rather than a full size.
It has made us stronger! We are best friends and have worked literally every day together for the last 9 years flipping homes. We have a special relationship together and social media has changed our lives so much that we never thought we would be in the position we are in. To be honest, I just feel so happy we got to experience everything together. He actually does all of the filming and pictures you see on my page, so it has been really fun learning so many new things together!
GG: WHAT ARE THREE TIPS YOU CAN GIVE ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING TO BUILD A BRAND THAT THEY CAN MONETIZE?
1. Stay true to yourself- I have always made decisions based on being true to myself, and one thing I stand by is that if it does not make me happy, I will not do it, regardless of any money.
2. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes- You have to take risks, even if it seems scary and you have to believe in yourself and your decisions! You can overcome anything, as long as you put in the work and never give in. There is always a way to get it done. So, don’t take no for an answer!
3. Be patient- Being successful is about making mistakes and learning from them. Nothing happens overnight in business or your fitness goals.
I could write so many more, but most importantly just be true to yourself, LOVE what you do, do it for the right reasons, and do your best to always be kind and respectful to people.
GG: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR 14-YEAR-OLD SELF? (THIS COULD BE ANYTHING FROM BODY IMAGE TO LIFE IN GENERAL)
This is a tough question. Maybe I would say, you can’t please everyone. You might not be what everyone is looking for or liking, but don’t lose track of the people who are supporting you and are in your corner. Social media has taught me that my worth isn't simply likes or money, but more about happiness and impacting or helping anyone I can. I NEVER thought I would be where I am at today and yet I still cry at every show because of how grateful I am for the people who show up to support me. I love you guys!!
You can follow the fierce fitness fanatic with a flair for fashion on the ‘Gram @cassmartin, @wrkethicsupps, and @liftwithcass, which is the official profile page to her eponymous fitness app by the same name. For an annual or monthly fee, Cass will personally guide you to help reach your fitness, weight loss, diet, and health goals, through customized meal plans and a variety of fun workouts specifically tailored to fit your needs and objectives.
Now, that’s a story fit for a queen.