Transgender Powerlifter Janae Kroc’s First Photo Shoot
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Photography by Per Bernal
Meet Janae
When Janae Marie Kroczaleski was known as Matt, or simply, “Kroc” to a legion of powerlifting and bodybuilding fans, she was photographed countless times—training, competing, and showing off a powerful physique that many guys would die for. But since coming out as a transgender woman, Janae has granted only one photo shoot—for the October 2015 issue of Muscle & Fitness, on newsstands now.SEE ALSO: Janae Kroc Shares Her Unbelievable StoryMuscle & Fitness was granted unprecedented access for an exclusive photo shoot by photographer Per Bernal to accompany Deputy Editor Matt Tuthill’s in-depth feature. There wasn’t nearly enough room in the magazine to fit all of Per’s amazing photos, so we’ve collected some of the best selections from that shoot in the gallery here. Click through for incredible photos of Janae Kroczaleski that you won’t find anywhere else.
Janae was happy to demonstrate some lifting techniques, but now that her transition has begun in earnest, she says she is done competing in powerlifting and bodybuilding.SEE ALSO: Janae Kroc Shares Her Unbelievable Story
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Photography by Per Bernal
‘Light’ Weight
At the time of the shoot, Janae was still recovering from a muscle tear and could only push light weight, which, for Janae, is still at least 315 pounds on any lift. SEE ALSO: Janae Kroc Shares Her Unbelievable Story
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Photography by Per Bernal
Easy Does It
When she was known as Matt, Janae once pulled over 810 pounds in competition. She says she has trained heavy a few times as Janae, but that it didn’t feel quite right. SEE ALSO: Janae Kroc Shares Her Unbelievable Story
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Photography by Per Bernal
Rack ‘Em
In addition to this standard dumbbell rack, Janae still has the custom “Kroc Row” dumbbells that can be loaded up to 300 pounds.SEE ALSO: Janae Kroc Shares Her Unbelievable Story
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Photography by Per Bernal
A Pleasant Escape
Janae told Muscle & Fitness the story of her tumultuous childhood. Lifting weights, she said, offered her a pleasant escape. SEE ALSO: Janae Kroc Shares Her Unbelievable Story
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Photography by Per Bernal
Then and Now
Matt typically weighed in around 250 pounds. Janae says with hormone therapy she expects to drop 80 pounds or more.SEE ALSO: Janae Kroc Shares Her Unbelievable Story
When Janae Marie Kroczaleski was known as Matt, or simply, “Kroc” to a legion of powerlifting and bodybuilding fans, she was photographed countless times—training, competing, and showing off a powerful physique that many guys would die for. But since coming out as a transgender woman, Janae has granted only one photo shoot—for the October 2015 issue of Muscle & Fitness, on newsstands now.
Muscle & Fitness was granted unprecedented access for an exclusive photo shoot by photographer Per Bernal to accompany Deputy Editor Matt Tuthill’s in-depth feature. There wasn’t nearly enough room in the magazine to fit all of Per’s amazing photos, so we’ve collected some of the best selections from that shoot in the gallery here. Click through for incredible photos of Janae Kroczaleski that you won’t find anywhere else.
Janae was happy to demonstrate some lifting techniques, but now that her transition has begun in earnest, she says she is done competing in powerlifting and bodybuilding.
At the time of the shoot, Janae was still recovering from a muscle tear and could only push light weight, which, for Janae, is still at least 315 pounds on any lift.
When she was known as Matt, Janae once pulled over 810 pounds in competition. She says she has trained heavy a few times as Janae, but that it didn’t feel quite right.
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