At 5'1" and 114lbs, Diana Piscitelli, 52, of Onset is a petite powerhouse.

She took home three first place trophies from the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation Pro Qualifier in Marshfield on Saturday, July 28. She also took home two Pro Cards, which means if she earns another victory before the end of the year she'll cement her title as a professional bodybuilder.

"Some people work their whole lives to earn a Pro Card," Piscitelli said. "And somehow I walked away with two of them."

The sport of bodybuilding requires that contestants build muscle through diet and exercise for competitive exhibition.

Piscitelli swept through the categories of Figure Masters, Figure Open and Fit Body during the Pro Qualifier, beating out some of the contest's youngest competition.

"It was absolutely surreal," she said. "Every time they called my name, I just couldn't believe it."

Prior to the Pro Qualifier, Piscitelli took second and third places at her first ever competition, the National Physique Committee Grand Prix in Connecticut.

"People would always ask me what I was getting ready for," Piscitelli said. "But I just never felt the need to step on the stage."

From skiing to cycling, Piscitelli said she was always jumping from one sport to the next growing up and got her first gym membership at 12 years old.

"It was my outlet," she said. "Somewhere I could go and make likeminded friends."

Piscitelli took up work as a cosmetologist out of high school, developing her interest in bodybuilding later in life when she moved to Miami, Florida.

"I saw a photo of Rachel McLish on the cover of Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine," Piscitelli recalled. "And I just thought: 'Wow, I want to look like her.'"

After several more moves and a divorce, Piscitelli came back to Onset and began work as a certified personal trainer. One of Piscitelli's trainees, Mimi Secor, went on to win her first bodybuilding competition at 62.

"Mimi was the person who really pushed me to compete," Piscitelli said.

With the help of general fitness coach Bill Angler, Piscitelli began prepping for her first competition back in September.

"It's a lot of hard work to get competition ready," she said. "And a few times, I almost considered backing out."

Piscitelli's mother, Marylou Piscitelli, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer back in January and the emotional toll was devastating.

"I had to abandon a competition back in 2009 when my brother passed," she said. "And in my head I kept telling myself there was no way I could compete."

Still, Piscitelli said, Secor and her coach wouldn't give up on her.

"They told me to do it for my mum," she said. "And that's exactly what I did."

In the weeks leading up to the competition, Piscitelli and Secor would practice their posing for Piscitelli's ailing mother. Marylou passed away earlier this week on Sunday, Aug. 19.

"I'm blessed to have this amazing support system," Piscitelli said. "It's been hard, and I couldn't have done it without them."

Piscitelli said she hopes to cement her professional status in the fall, although there's a good chance she may not compete again until the spring.

"It takes a lot to get ready," said said. "And I only want to give my best."