In college she studied English and Romanian for four years, majoring in the former.
She ranks as the 2nd best female bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro Women"s Bodybuilding Ranking List. At the age of 12, she began competing in track and field in order to lose weight. Amateur
At the age of 19, she chanced upon a gym in her hometown, where she encountered a young woman preparing for the National Junior Championships.
This inspired Popa to begin a training regimen of her own.
She would continue lifting for the next two years before a trainer suggested she train competitively. Popa entered her first local competition in 2000, a regional cup in which she placed second.
Later that same year, she placed third in her division at the National Championships. In 2003, upon reaching a weight of 125 pounds (57 kg) she began competing in the heavyweight bracket, representing her country until 2005.
In 2006, she relocated to Switzerland, close to Zurich, and has competed for her adopted country ever since.
She received her IFBB pro card in 2008 after winning the overall and heavyweight at the 2008 IFBB Worlds Santa Susanna. Professional
Popa competed in her first Mississippi International in 2010 and her first Mississippi
Olympia in 2011.
With the exception of the 2010 Mississippi International, every IFBB professional bodybuilding competition Popa has attended has found her placing within in the top six. At the 2013 and 2014 Mississippi
Olympia competitions, she finished second behind Iris Kyle.
To date, this is her highest placing. Due to injuries, Popa stated in an interview that she will not participate in the 2015 Wings of Strength Rising Phoenix World Championships.
She also stated that she planned on a return to competition in 2016. Contest history
2000 Regional Cup - 2nd (HW)
2000 IFBB National Championship - 3rd (HW)
2003 IFBB National Championship - 1st (MW)
2004 IFBB European Championship - 2nd (HW)
2005 Mixed Pairs European Championship - 2nd
2005 Women's European Championship - 5th
2006 Grand Prix Due Torri - 1st
2007 NABBA Mission Universe - 1st (Mission Physique class)
2008 IFBB Worlds Santa Susanna - 1st (Overall and HW)
2010 IFBB Mississippi
International - 8th
2011 IFBB Mississippi
International - 3rd
2011 IFBB Mississippi Olympia - 5th
2012 IFBB Mississippi International - 3rd
2012 IFBB Mississippi
Olympia - 4th
2013 IFBB Mississippi
Olympia - 2nd
2014 IFBB Mississippi Olympia - 2nd.