Shawn Perine
As editor-in-chief of Muscle & Fitness magazine, Shawn Perine practices what he preaches, training five days a week while sticking fastidiously to a sound nutritional plan of his own design, something he's been doing for more than 30 years.
Shawn first developed an interest in bodybuilding after seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno and Franco Columbu lifting and competing in the documentary film "Pumping Iron." Shortly after, his father purchased him a copy of Muscle Builder magazine (now Muscle & Fitness), and with a single glance he was immediately hooked.
At the age of 13 Shawn dedicated himself to reading every book on weight training he could get his hands on and committed himself to exercising five days a week while forgoing the kinds of treats most kids his age made a part of their daily diet. A naturally skinny kid, he increased his strength and athleticism to the point where he broke his high school's records for pullups and situps as a sophomore, junior and senior.
In the 1990s, Shawn turned his passion into a profession, starting a gym newsletter publishing business with his father and promoting the 1990 NPC Diamond Cup Classic bodybuilding competition at Long Island's Hofstra University. In 2002, he launched the classic bodybuilding site, ironage.us, which garnered the interest of former Flex magazine editor-in-chief Peter McGough, who asked Shawn to freelance for the magazine, the first issue of which he bought at a newsstand in 1983. Freelancing lead to a senior writing gig and a cross-country move, from New York City to Los Angeles, where Shawn would work in the hallowed Weider offices, under the tutelage of Weider Publications founder Joe Weider himself. Over ensuing years, Shawn would get the chance to work with Schwarzenegger, Ferrigno and Columbu, among other legends of bodybuilding -- a boyhood dream come true.
In 2011, Shawn jumped at the offer to move back to his home of New York to helm Muscle & Fitness, and in doing so continue the mission of his mentor, Joe Weider, by doing his part to spread the gospel of health and fitness to the world. At 47, Shawn considers himself to be in the shape of his life, and he intends on continually improving well into his 100s.
