A Maltese teacher whose hobby as a bikini fitness model took a more serious turn last summer has placed third in her first-ever pro-level tournament.

Ms Bartolo (right) celebrates her third-place finish.

Leanne Bartolo took a podium place at the WFF World Championship in California, just six months after victory at the European Bikini Championship shot her into the pros.

Ms Bartolo was the only European contender to make it to the WFF finals, where she competed with athletes from the USA, Australia, Mexico and South Africa, among others.

Her target was to place among the top six. Instead, she ended up third.

“I didn’t know what hit me,” she said. “I was overwhelmed with joy, I still can’t believe it. I was sharing the stage with professionals who do this for a living while I do this in my free time. My priority is always the kids in the classroom”.

With all her hard work and strict diet paying off, Ms Bartolo is now setting her sights on two other upcoming competitions – defending the European championship title she won last summer and going for glory at a competition in South Korea.

Ms Bartolo is also keen to encourage other locals to take up the sport, and will be taking part in local qualifiers for the European championship in May 2019.