Victoria Marie Ainis-Satanassi was born on September 11, 1986, in the valley of Katmandu, Nepal, encircled by the mysterious Himalayan Mountains that have claimed the hearts of many adventurous souls. Her youth was spent traveling the world with her family, who were engaged in numerous non-profit projects in Nepal, Italy, Yugoslavia, South Africa, and Eritrea. She continued to travel herself, working with non-profit groups in Kenya, England, France, Belgium, Dubai, Canada, and the Philippines, before finally ending up in southern California. Most memorable were the years she spent in Asmara, Eritrea, (N. E. Africa) where she organized aerobics classes with music for a street children's project and in Kenya (East Africa) working with famine relief programs and medical camps, where she worked to provide prosthetic limbs for amputees, amongst other projects. She greatly enjoyed her years in Kenya engaged in numerous volunteer activities and touring with an international Bollywood dance group - combining her two greatest passions, her love for dance and her desire to reach out and provide aid, touching the lives of those in need. Victoria was always an energetic, passionate, physically active, and driven soul - it was impossible to get her to stay still, she was constantly on the move and engaged in life! She grew up a sporty girl, playing soccer, and volleyball and running track; she had always been fascinated with the human body and the mechanics involved in fitness and sculpting the body and mind. She started her fitness business from scratch at age 24 with no experience and very few college courses, and had achieved major success four short years later with two business locations and winning "Best Fitness Program in Pasadena" three years in a row. Victoria entered her first fitness competition in 2012 and placed 2nd in the Bikini Category in the California State Competition. She also trained for her second competition, and placed in the 2014 NPC Washington Ironman, Gymnastics/Fitness Category. For her first time competing and winning trophies for both events was just about unheard of. She was known for saying, "obstacles build character," and proved this philosophy many times over. She fought, she conquered, she fell down, and got up, she fell down again, and got up 10 more times - until she won! Victoria's zest for life was unmistakable and contagious - like all shooting stars, she was gone too soon, but will be remembered with reverence and awe by those who had the privilege to know and love her! Victoria was the reflection of radiant beauty - the full package, inside and out! Her heart was so big, her capacity to love enormous - she shared her light and love with those she came in contact with, motivating and inspiring like few could - she made you laugh and pushed you till you cried then held your hand and cried with you because she knew what it was like and had been there before. She taught herself what she needed, she boldly marched in where angels feared to tread, she dared to be different, to march to the tune only she could hear, and she dared to be herself. She transformed herself and those around her through determination and hard work; she set her goals at higher and higher levels and achieved them over and over again. She was an example that people really can accomplish whatever they set their minds to. She trained and pushed her body until she screamed with pain and felt the euphoria of being completely and utterly alive. Her legacy is that she lived with Passion and full-heartedly pursued each adventure she encountered, from being a business entrepreneur, to being a fitness competitor and model, and life-changing coach and trainer! She will forever be remembered by the many people she touched and the many lives she transformed with her enormous energy, enthusiasm, motivation, generosity, understanding, and love. She achieved the impossible through her own blood, sweat, tears, laughs, fighting spirit, determination, endurance, discipline, and inner strength. Her legacy lives on in us - let her legacy live on in you! For more information, you can check out her Facebook page which has been turned into a Memorial Page. A Go Fund has been set up there for anyone who would like to make a contribution. Arrangements under the direction of Luyben-Dilday Mortuary, Long Beach, CA.
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