A former Miss Germany is set to make her boxing debut as she swaps the catwalk for the ring with a world champion coach in her corner.
Tatjana Genrich is set for a wild career change at 33 after she announced she will make her professional fight debut next month in Magdeburg. The stunning blonde was voted Germany’s most beautiful woman in 2022, but she has since rekindled her childhood love of the sweet science.
She was the state champion of Saxony-Anhalt in the flyweight division for amateur boxers between 2007 and 2009, after originally picking up the gloves as a way to defend herself at school and fight back against her bullies.
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Tatjana said: “At school I was often bullied and I wanted to find a way to defend myself. That’s how it all started.”
Having caught the eye with her skills in the ring, she was signed by boxing promoter Ulf Steinforth. But now, years later, Steinforth reconnected with the model after suggesting she should rekindle her boxing talent.
Revealing the conversations she had with her former coach about going pro, Tatjana said: “Since I sponsor the ring girls at his boxing events, he approached me one day and asked if I would like to get back in the ring.
“I finally agreed and am now about to make my professional debut.”
But her motivation goes beyond just refinding a love: “I want to be a role model for young women and show them that you can be successful in both your career and sports.
“I train in areas like posture, running and choreography. This prepares me for competitions as well as events like fashion shows.”
Tatjana changed up her social media feed in the wake of her decision as she posted a video of her sparring and lifting weights in the gym – a completely different look to the glamorous modelling and collaboration work she posts to her 45,000 followers on Instagram.
Her promoter SES Boxing are backing Tatjana to make her mark in the ring and follow in the footsteps of the legendary Regina Halmich.
Halmich won 54 of her 56 bouts and dominated the female flyweight division, retaining the WIBF belt for over a decade.
They said: “Tatjana can follow in Regina Halmich’s footsteps. She has all the necessary qualities, an incredible presence, and is extremely ambitious.”
Tatjana will be coached by Dirk Dzemski, a former boxer himself, who helped Robert Stieglitz to become world champion in the 2010s.
Russian-German southpaw Stieglitz was WBO super middleweight world champion from 2009 to 2012 and from 2013 to 2014 .