Darrem Charles: an honest bodybuilder profile
Darrem Charles doesn’t strike you as a man who ended up in bodybuilding by accident. His story begins in Trinidad with a mirror, magazines and encouragement from friends, but from there it is driven by hard work, a hunger to compete and a fairly straight-talking attitude.
Darrem Charles and his start in bodybuilding
FULL NAME: Darrem Christopher Charles. DATE OF BIRTH: 22 July 1968. BIRTHPLACE: Arouca, Trinidad. HEIGHT: 5`8“ ½ (173cm). CONTEST WEIGHT: 220 pounds (99kg). OFF-SEASON WEIGHT: 230 pounds (103.5kg). CURRENT RESIDENCE: Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
HIS FIRST BODYBUILDING CONTEST was the East Mr. Trinidad 1986, which he won. It wasn’t a big career move planned long in advance. Friends urged him to go on stage, and he did think about competing, but more as something for some day in the future. The more he looked in the mirror and studied bodybuilding magazines, the clearer one simple thing became: he could be competitive.
This is a very familiar scene from old-school bodybuilding. Before social media, direction came from magazines, the gym and comparison with the men you saw in photos. Charles grew up at a time when Lee Haney and Arnold Schwarzenegger were the big names. Rich Caspari caught his eye with his determination and fighting spirit. He valued Shawn Ray for his honesty and symmetrical physique.
Why Darrem Charles stood out in bodybuilding
HIS MOST IMPORTANT WIN was the overall 3x Caribbean Champion title in 1988-90. It also earned him his pro card. As a pro, his highest placing was second place at the Ironman contest in 1998. Sixth place at the Arnold Classic was another strong experience for him.
These results say a lot, but with Charles it wasn’t only about placings. He valued balance in a physique. Asked about his best body part, he answered quite bluntly that he hates that question. A true bodybuilder shouldn’t favor one body part over another, because everything has to come together as one symmetrical whole. If he had to name something, though, his strong point was his arms.
His weakest body part, he said, was his calves. That sounds honest. In bodybuilding, people tend to talk only about wins, condition and stage lights, but it is the weak points that truly test your training. His favorite exercise? He said he enjoys them all and works hard on every one. Training is a pleasure. Last favorite exercise: they are all good.
What Charles learned from training and competing
THE HIGH POINT OF HIS CAREER was his comeback in 1995, after staying away from competition since 1992. He took part in the pro contests in South Beach and earned the chance to compete at the 1995 Mr. Olympia. After two years’ break, it gave him the confidence that he was headed in the right direction.
One strong thread runs through Charles’s story: he didn’t want to settle for anything less than the best. He described himself as a critical-minded person who always tries to be better. Negative things were not allowed to get in the way of his goals. He kept a positive attitude, because without it, it is hard to last long in competitive sport.
What did he like most about bodybuilding? It teaches you to set goals, commit fully and keep working hard until one day you can actually reach them. That is not a fine-sounding slogan but the practical side of the sport. When a physique is built over months and years, one good workout saves nothing. Repetition, rhythm and patience are what count.
What didn’t he like? Politics on the judges’ part. His point was simple: if a newcomer comes to a contest and looks better than some better-known name, the name shouldn’t decide. What should matter is how the competitors look on stage on contest day.
Darrem Charles as a person backstage
THE BODYBUILDERS WHOSE PHYSIQUES he admired most were Flex Wheeler and Shawn Ray. Flex Wheeler’s physique truly impressed him, and Shawn Ray, in his words, had an incredibly even physique. Among personalities, he liked Shawn Ray because he was outspoken. Many people didn’t want to hear about him and what he was doing all the time, but a large part of what he said turned out to be true. Vince Taylor stayed in his memory as a very friendly person.
In other people, Charles valued an open mind and real loyalty. Selfish and egotistical people didn’t interest him. He respected those who take the time to help others. That also explains his view on working as a personal trainer: BEING A PERSONAL TRAINER IS the best job in the world.
The small favorites give the profile a human edge. FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Flex. FAVORITE FILM: Titanic. FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza. FAVORITE ACTOR: Harrison Ford. HIS BEST IDEA FOR A VACATION was to travel to Europe and get around Italy and France. If he hadn’t been a pro bodybuilder, he would have wanted to be a gym owner or a baseball player.
HIS LONG-TERM AMBITION IN BODYBUILDING wasn’t only the Mr. Olympia title. He said most people would answer that way, but not him. He liked to compete, win at different contests, travel the world and enjoy what he does. FLORIDA IS, in his words, a great place to live in this world. THE CARIBBEAN IS truly beautiful, and he liked growing up there in a healthy, fit environment. SHAWN RAY IS the most honest bodybuilder he knows.
FAQ: Darrem Charles
What was Darrem Charles’s first contest?
His first bodybuilding contest was the East Mr. Trinidad 1986, which he won. Friends encouraged him to go on stage, and that gave his career a strong start.
Which win did he consider the most important?
He considered the overall 3x Caribbean Champion title in 1988-90 the most important, because it helped him earn his pro card.
What did Darrem Charles value most in bodybuilding?
He valued goal setting, commitment and hard work. At the same time, he stressed that on stage, what should count is the condition on contest day, not the competitor’s name.
Author: joker, Flex
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