Wellness
JOURNEY
After years in competitive gymnastics, Camila Frederico is jumping at the chance to take part in Civana’s wellness classes, like this one, each week. (Photo courtesy of Civana)
Camila Frederico takes the reins at Civana By Alison Bailin Batz
n her second go-around in Arizona, Camila Frederico is taking it all in. “As the new general manager of Civana Wellness Resort & Spa, doing so has been easy,” Frederico says. “It has certainly lived up to the hype from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler and USA Today — and then some — so far.” Frederico oversees the resort’s 22 acres, 144 rooms and suites and its 20,000-square-foot spa and wellness center. An Airpark resident, Frederico has trained for this position since before she could read, but she didn’t know it yet. Born and raised in São Paulo, Frederico competed in gymnastics at 4, going so far as to be named to the country’s national team at ages 13 and 15. During this time, Frederico earned local celebrity status when she became the first Brazilian female to do a triple rotation on the floor exercise.
“I competed until age 17, when I finished high school and after about a dozen broken bones,” Frederico says. “I was ready for a new challenge, but I took the lessons learned about wellness and exercise with me the rest of my life.” Unlike the United States, after high school one must declare a major before entering college. “My brother suggested I go Camila Frederico is the new general manager into economics, and for some of Civana. (Photo courtesy of Civana) reason I did, but with a twist,” Frederico says. “In Brazil, one “After graduating with both by 21, may work toward a master’s degree at the however, there were neither journalism same time as a bachelor’s, so I did.” nor economics jobs in my home country,” Admittedly, she says she was falling asleep Frederico says. “As such, I accompanied my working toward a B.A. in economics from the travel agent mother to a convention, where I University Mackenzie in São Paulo. Frederico learned about J-1 visas to work in the hospitalalso worked toward an M.A. in journalism ity industry in the United States.” from the University Casper-Libero, also in São Intrigued by travel, Frederico booked Paulo, with the goal of being a movie critic. a one-way ticket for Orlando, packing just JUNE 2021 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS /
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