REBECCA Coulson
I’ve coached Becky on and off for around four years and this year (2026) was our third season together. She would be the first to tell you the first couple of seasons we did together didn’t go to plan. Set backs and poor dietary adherence meant we always missed the mark. However, throughout all that time, I always reminded her what I thought she was capable of and most importantly, I never gave up on her.
Something changed this year, something ‘clicked’ and honestly, it was like coaching a completely different person. She went from not being able to stick to a diet to winning shows outright, both domestically in the U.K and internationally in Germany. She also stepped on the British Finals stage, the hardest show of the calendar year, and placed 5th out of 17 unbelievable athletes.
Becky’s journey over the years hasn’t been a straightforward one, but it is a journey that I am immensely proud to say I have been part of. I was very emotional at every single one of her shows this season seeing just how far she has come. I always told her that her future is bright in this sport, but now she has shown herself that too!
Across her season Rebecca collected:
2 x 1st
1 x 2nd
1 × 5th
Here is what Rebecca had to say about her journey:
I first signed up with Vaughan back in 2022, when I wanted to take my first steps into competitive bodybuilding. After having a bad experience with a previous coach, Vaughan took over my prep just two weeks out from my first show. Since then, my journey hasn't been a straight line. I've been on and off coaching, experienced setbacks, and had to confront some uncomfortable truths about myself. My 2024 prep fell apart due to poor diet adherence and a lack of maturity, and unfortunately, some of those same habits followed me into 2025. Twelve weeks out from my show, I was also involved in a car accident. Despite everything, I still stepped on stage, but deep down, I knew I wasn't ready and hadn't done myself or my potential justice.
Throughout those four years, Vaughan consistently reminded me of the potential he saw in me. He always told me that I had what it took to succeed in this sport; I just needed to apply myself. Even when my actions didn't reflect my potential, he never stopped believing in me. He never gave up on me, even when I hadn't yet learned how to stop letting myself down. That kind of belief is something you don't forget.
This year, things finally clicked. We started prep in March, with my first show in September, and for the first time since I began bodybuilding, I stepped on stage genuinely proud of the package I was presenting. More importantly, I knew the work I'd put in had earned me the right to stand there. For the first time, I wasn't just hoping I belonged on that stage — I knew I did. On 6 September, I competed in my first PCA show and secured my first win against genuine competition. From there, we took things to Germany, where I won again, before competing at the British Finals, placing 5th out of 16 competitors and now, we're heading to the Worlds.
When I look back at where I started, the setbacks I've experienced, and the times I could have easily walked away from this sport, it's hard to put into words what this journey means to me. The results are one thing, but the person I've had to become to achieve them is something I'm even prouder of.Vaughan saw what I could become long before I was willing to do what it took to get there. This year, I finally proved to myself what he'd been telling me all along.
From day one, the service Vaughan provides has been above and beyond anything I could ask for. Nothing is ever too much hassle, no question is ever too silly (even when you ask the same one three times a week!), and you're never left wondering where you stand. Check-ins are answered promptly, and no matter what day or time you reach out, you know you'll get a response. You never feel like just another client or a number on a spreadsheet. You feel supported, listened to, and genuinely invested in. What I value most is that Vaughan doesn't just tell you what you want to hear. He'll be honest with you, hold you accountable, and push you to recognise what you're capable of. He's there to support you through the highs, but just as importantly, he doesn't disappear when things get difficult.For me, having someone who can see your potential even when your own actions aren't matching it has made all the difference.
Vaughan has attended every show with me this season, travelling everywhere from Manchester to Germany and Seville. His support goes far beyond simply being there on the day. He's constantly checking in, assessing how I'm looking physically, making adjustments where needed, and making sure I'm in the right place mentally. You're never left feeling like you're navigating the pressure of competition alone. Bodybuilding can be an incredibly demanding and isolating sport, especially when you're deep into prep and the pressure starts to build. Having a coach who is physically there, invested in your performance, and willing to go the extra mile gives you a level of reassurance that's difficult to put a price on. Nothing is ever too much for Vaughan. He genuinely wants to see you do well, and you feel that in the way he shows up for you, both on stage and throughout the entire journey.
I'd recommend Vaughan without hesitation to anyone serious about succeeding in bodybuilding, whether you're stepping on stage for the first time or looking to take your competitive career to the next level. He'll push you, hold you accountable, and believe in you more than you believe in yourself — but ultimately, he'll help you become the person capable of turning that potential into results.My journey hasn't been perfect, and I certainly haven't always made things easy for myself. But Vaughan has remained in my corner through the setbacks, the mistakes, and the times I fell short of what I knew I could achieve. This year, I finally put it all together, and I'm proud of what we've achieved so far. With the Worlds next, I'm excited to see just how far we can take this. Sometimes, you need someone to believe in you until you're ready to believe in yourself. For me, that person has been Vaughan.”