From BodyBuilder
to Beauty Builder
The Journey of Colette Nelson
FNP-C, MS, RD, RN, CDCES, CSSD, MSCP, AAFE
THE MANY FACES OF COLETTE
IFBB Professional Bodybuiler - 1998-2014
Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)
I earned my professional status at the North American Championships in Cleveland, OH in 2004 and that same year won the Team Universe to qualify me for the World Universe where I won the title of Ms. Universe and 2nd Pro-card that same year. I competed at the Ms. Olympia 2006 and Arnold Classic in 2007 & 2008. While competing I was the owner of Color By Colette; a tanning, hair, makeup, choreography and content prep company. I provided competitors with everything they needed to be successful on stage.
While working in Endocrinology as a Registered Dietitian, I become a Board-Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. I became an expert in all FDA approved insulin pumps, wearable devices like V-Go, Cequr simplicity, dose calculator pens, and inhaled insulin, to manage the complexities of Type 1 & 2. I have also been working on obesity management with the GLP/GIP/Glucagon receptor agonist since 2005 with a pulse on the peptides space that has gained a great deal of attention in recent years.
Registered Dietician (RD)
Family Nurse Practitioner FNP-C Aesthetics/Endocrinology
I graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in clinical nutrition where I specialized in Type 1 & 2 DM, obesity, and sports nutrition. Along with the proper medical management of chronic disease, nutrition remains the foundation of disease prevention and management. The best diet is one that you can commit to for life not something you do for a set period of time. A healthy lifestyle will provide you more overall life satisfaction than all the money in the world…. at least that is my opinion.
I work at Endocrine Associates of West Village in New York City. I also hold licenses in NJ, MI, CA, FL and Texas. I started Contour by Colette, a blend of my passion for endocrinology and facial aesthetics, to give my patients a safe place to discuss what can be done to feel their best both inside and out. In today’s world of social media and the sharing of information you don’t have settle for the status quo of aging when you can choose a provider to guide you to be the best version of yourself as you enter into your more adult years.
Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP)
As a woman working in Endocrinology, I can’t ignore the signs and symptoms of menopause that are too often brushed off as “just getting older.” The truth is, women are outliving their ovaries—and the consequences of estradiol loss are anything but benign. Heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and dementia are all part of the fallout.
Menopause isn’t something you simply “get through.” It marks a permanent hormonal shift—one that strips the body of estradiol and progesterone. Without these vital hormones, women face decreased bone density, increased inflammation, and narrowing blood vessels that heighten the risk of heart attacks. And with rising FSH and LH levels in the anterior pituitary, we’re only beginning to understand the link between menopause and the increased prevalence of Alzheimer’s in women.
It’s not just about hot flashes and night sweats—it’s about aging well, protecting your brain, bones, and heart. The most significant benefits of hormone therapy occur within the first 10 years of menopause, yet many women are never even offered this option.
You do have a choice—you just might not have been told you did. Don’t wait. Don’t become another statistic. Come join the legions of women who are under my tutelage and are living their best lives.
About Colette Nelson
I discovered my passion for strength and transformation early in life. At 12 years old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes—a moment that left me feeling broken and searching for control. Two years later, I found it in bodybuilding. At just 14, lifting weights became my therapy, my empowerment, and my way of rebuilding from the inside out.
When I arrived at Michigan State University, I trained at Powerhouse Gym on Grand River under the guidance of Judy Moshkowsky, the first female bodybuilder I had ever met. Inspired by her presence, I immersed myself in the bodybuilding community, training five days a week with seasoned athletes. That dedication carried me to the professional stage in 2004, where I won the Miss Universe title. I went on to compete at the Ms. Olympia in 2006 and the Arnold Classic in 2007 and 2008 before retiring in 2014, following five shoulder surgeries and a realization that my next chapter awaited.
Bodybuilding taught me discipline, resilience, and the art of pushing beyond perceived limits. Those lessons carried me back to the classroom, where I retook my sciences, became a registered nurse, and ultimately achieved my goal of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. Today, I practice at Endocrine Associates of West Village in New York City and extend my care remotely to patients in New Jersey, Michigan, California, Florida, and Texas.
For those who followed my competitive career, you may remember my company Color By Colette, where I provided tanning, makeup, and hair services for athletes. That entrepreneurial spirit continues today with Contour By Colette, my aesthetics practice in New York City and Los Angeles. My work now blends medicine, aesthetics, and longevity—helping patients not just add years to life, but life to years.
I believe aging is not just inevitable—it’s a choice in how we embrace it. Some choose to let time move untouched, and that is beautiful. But for me, the journey of biohacking—exploring ways to feel stronger, healthier, and more youthful—is where my passion lives. My mission is to share that knowledge and empower others to take control of their health, just as I once did with a barbell in my hands.
"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson