El Monte's Exceptional Women of Influence Set Out to Make a Difference-Jay Armada Monsivaiz Owner Beastin Beauties Fit Studio

El Monte’s Exceptional Women of Influence Set Out to Make a Difference

(A Four part story - Angelique “Jay” Armada Monsivaiz owner of Beastin Beauties Fit Studio)

The City of El Monte is home to many businesses, large and small but it is often that we forget the frequently over looked gems that are the driving force of revenue in El Monte. The City of El Monte has an unstoppable momentum of ever growing small businesses are made up of women business owners.

Business women today are not the women of yesteryear, and are now powerhouses and magnets of industry and are the future of what is yet to come. One such successful woman of influence in our local government in El Monte who won the recent election for another term on the city council is Victoria Martinez, Councilwoman, offers this quote “I love seeing women taking on the role of entrepreneur along with mother, wife and volunteer. Its businesses like this that we, as a community, should seek out to spend our dollars. It’s an investment in these business women, who in turn, are contributing right back to our community and their families.” Councilwoman Martinez is a prime example of success and an inspiration to all women of business. Councilwoman Martinez’s continued dedication and support to El Monte businesses is a true testimony to her understanding and unwavering leadership to the City of El Monte, and with Councilwoman Martinez’s recent victory, El Monte is blessed with another 4 years having her in our community.

These business women in El Monte are pillars of the community and their journey all started when they got an idea, and said “sometimes you just have to go for it.” But each journey started off with a different path, a struggle, cancer, weight loss, and other major health issues, but the end result is just as powerful and continues to blossom. Let’s begin by introducing these the first of four exceptional women of influence, Angelique “Jay” Armada Monsivaiz owner of Beastin Beauties Fit Studio.

~ Angelique “Jay” Armada Monsivaiz owner of Beastin Beauties Fit Studio is a woman who has made a significant difference in the lives of many women in El Monte. Affectionately known as Jay by her friends this is a woman who started off with a dream and a drive to lose weight and share her technique and vision with others. When you meet Jay you immediately see her passion and compassion for you as a person, her eyes say it all and how she treats you like family shows it. She will call you, text you, email you to make sure you come to class and meet your goal.

Jay’s motto is “I’m just a girl who wants to change people’s lives. My goal is to motivate, inspire and help others become the best version of themselves.”

The Change: Growing up overweight was painful, I’ve always struggled with my weight since I was a child. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be interested in fitness. I played sports in high school and kept active, but just like all the others, once college hit; I replaced the sports drinks with alcohol drinks and late night partying. I gained so much weight ballooning up to 217.8 lbs. I was always tired and I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin anymore. I wore baggy style clothes because that’s what fit and no one could see me. I was unhappy. September 25, 2012 is when it hit me. My husband and I just finished our meal and drinks at a restaurant. We took a small stroll after our meal and I started to feel uncomfortable and something was just not right. When we got home, I went on the MYFITNESSPAL app I have always had on my phone but never used it to track my calories and I input the food I ate that day to figure out what I had to make me feel that way. I ate almost 4000 calories for the day. 1lb is 3500. So in one day I consumed over 1lb worth of calories. Then it clicked, I don’t want to feel like this anymore. I started my journey that day and I’ve never looked back.

How did you make the change Jay? It wasn’t easy but I changed my lifestyle. I was so clueless but I was committed to becoming a healthier and better me. I read and paid attention more to what my body felt. I started with my eating habits and working out for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week eventually one hour. I did a lot of reading and research. I set goals and kept crushing them week by week. I took pictures and measurements. I did everything I can to track my progress big or small. I was driven but I still had my moments where I didn’t want to do it anymore. I hated every workout you can think of. It wasn’t until I took my first Zumba class that got me hooked on Fitness.

What is Jam Fit and how did it get started? I was tired of doing a typical Zumba class where all the moves are the same. I started researching workouts and started incorporating them into songs making it fun. That’s when Jam Fit was born. Jam Fit is high energy dance fitness class that combines dance moves and toning for a total body fat burning workout! It’s a fun and easy workout is so effective because we focus on both dancing and toning. We make sure our routines are challenging yet easy to follow. We focus on high intensity moves without the frustration of following complicated steps. We do moves you would do in a circuit training class while shaking it to the best music. Jam Fit was born when I started teaching my classes.

When I started my journey I was too embarrassed to go to class so I refused to try it. One day I said, February 1st. I’m going no matter what. I finished my first class and I instantly fell in love. Each time I went to class, I always change up the routines to make it more challenging in my head… 2 months in, I set one of my fitness goals to getting a certification. I didn’t have any intention of teaching. But when I got my Zumba Certification, I was offered a Sunday class. The next day, I was offered a 7:10 pm class Monday to Friday. Both classes I still have today. I am also proud and happy to say that I still have some of my clients from when I started today!

What is your advice to someone who is just starting? Change the way you eat and challenge yourself. Don’t waste your energy on Negativity. Surround yourself with people who support your journey and care about you. Make healthy living a habit. And lastly, what works for others, may not work for you. It’s okay to make mistakes. That’s what makes your journey special.

Jays Journey to Success: This all started with a group of women getting together to work out every Sunday. We dreamed about it. Getting to where I am was not easy but I spoke this to existence. My vision was so clear I knew it would happen. It just had to happen sooner than I anticipated. The place I worked at wanted to change my timeslot to a later one. I couldn’t do it. I have women who changed their schedules just to make it to my classes. I could not let them down. So I told my employer to give me a month. After I realized what I said, I was scared but I got to work right away looking for places. I was broke but I had to do what I had to do. I got a small loan, emptied out my savings and with the help of people who support us (I raised over 2,000 on gofundme.com) I was able to do it. The process with the city was not easy. We had so many problems but I was at city hall every day and didn’t take no for an answer. And now I have this establishment we get to call home. And it’s been a blessing in every way. Jay owes her success to her amazing family, especially her Mom Elizabeth and sisters Alicia and Melanie and to her very supportive husband who doesn’t question any of her decisions.

We all have a dream.... something that scares us, compels us and energizes us at the same time.
Norma Campos and Jay Armada have dreamt of this moment for a long time. Jay states “as a matter of fact, September of last year at my 2 year FIT-versary dinner, Norma and I declared by March 2015 will be our year and we were going to do something big, we just didn’t know exactly what.... Well March 2015 came around and look at where we are at. Our Beastin Beauties Community will now have a home! Norma and Jay have created a home, a special sanctuary where ALL women, no matter what age, size, height or weight can workout and have fun. Jay owes her success to her instructors of Beastin Beauties Fit Studio. The dedication they show and passion for spreading the health show in their classes. These remarkable instructors are: Norma Campos, Amanda Ochoa, Marlene Saenz, Kimberly Ramirez, Evelyn Chavez, Jennie Vuong, Ashley Suenega, Michelle Alonso, Leslie Cerezo and Ashlyn Catarechea.

While I (Mark) was writing this story I was invited to a special class that Norma and Jay teach. What is so special about this class is that it’s FREE, an hour and a half of FREE teaching. This Boot Camp is held weekly on Sunday’s at Tony Arceo Park on Tyler in El Monte at 8:30am. I was witness to an intense workout that helped me to understand how these amazing women make their transformation. Transformation not only of the body but of the mind and soul. No matter how old you are, no matter what size, or how you feel about yourself; you will experience a mind blowing alteration. Beastin Beauties Fit Studio is located at 12010 Ramona Blvd, Suite 1, El Monte 91732. You can reach Jay and Norma at 626-454-0101 or on

Facebook: www.facebook.com/beastinbeauties and the web http://www.beastinbeauties.com/ and on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/zumbafitwithjay