Trish Stratus…Fitness COMPETITOR?! WHY NOT?!

When it comes to popularity, Trish Stratus might be the most popular mainstream female wrestler of all time. Her popularity began due to her superhero-like body and Hollywood looks, but she maintained her popularity for not just her physique but her dedication to professional wrestling. She could have easily had a carrer in wrestling at the time based off her looks alone, but the tomboy and competitive nature in her was too great to let that happen, and women’s wrestling and wrestling as a whole is better because of it. Her success as an beautiful woman who can also kick ass in the ring and show it off paved the way for so many women with her credentials to follow suit in the wrestling world, and is still inspiring female wrestlers today. I mean, 6x WWE Women’s Champion, 1x WWE Hardcore Champion, WWE Hall of Fame, 2022 George Tragkos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame as the first-ever female recipient of the Lou Thesz Award…we say Trish has definitely made her mark in wrestling. 

From wrestling world to fitness world: THANK YOU!
Credit: TrishStratus.com

But as much as Trish has made her mark in wrestling, she has also made her mark in the fitness world. Considered one of the First Ladies of Fitness Modeling, she (along with a group of others including Victoria Pratt, Monica Brant, and fellow WWE Hall-of-Famer Torrie Wilson) helped established a new breed of woman, showcasing that women can be strong AND sexy at the same time. Trish was (and still is) proof positive that having muscles and being feminine were NOT mutually exclusive to one another. Her arrival to the wrestling world in 2000 gave new meaning to the phrase “eye candy”. I mean, I don’t need to go into details…but some one like Trish is what you would expect from a video game or a comic book…NOT in real life, not even in wrestling. But that’s what happened. Trish brought a look that WOWed folks then and still influences folks now. I mean, folks that love ranking the hottest women in wrestling just HAPPEN to have fit and built but curvy and feminine at the top of their list. Coincidence?! We don’t think so. 

How could any woman NOT want to get in the weight room after seeing THIS?! 
Credit: WWE.com

These days, Trish is looking better than ever, putting her quarantine time last year to work and reshaping her body to what might be her strongest yet. While Trish was more about shape and SOMEWHAT size back in 2000, she seems stronger and more cut than she ever was during her WWE heydays. Her social media posts have shown that. Which begs the question…could she make it as a fitness competitor TODAY?! I think so, to be honest with you. I mean, hell, she spent over six years getting her ass kicked in the ring and kicking ass, taking various bumps along the way. I think Trish doing a physique competition would be cool for her to do, especially with how she looks as a mom of two! Now what division she would be good in? I could see two: Bikini and Wellness. If Trish is more committed to developing her lower body (and yes, the woman has amazing legs) the wellness division would be the way to go for her. If she keeps the size she has now or even adds a tiny bit more (but not much more) and hones in more on her conditioning, then bikini would be the way to go for her. If she dedicated herself to more size all over, Trish in figure wouldn’t be out of the realm for her as well. But in all reality, we see her doing bikini or maybe wellness. 

If she were to dab in a competition, we could see her doing one in late 2022 or early 2023 in her home country of Canada (even though this selfish person writing this would love to see her do it in the States, but I digress). Imagine the press she could get doing a physique competition…and the amount of people that she could inspire to get into shape, especially mothers and working women. Fitness has given Trish so much. To us, this would be a cool way for her to give back to the industry that got her discovered. 

If Trish were to do a fitness competition, we would BACK her up 100%
Credit: Trish’s social media accounts

For more on Trish, make sure to check out her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and her website at https://www.trishstratus.com.

2020 Olympia: The Show WILL Go On!

Well...you all know what's going on in the world right now, so I don't need to speak on it no more than I need to. So all I'll speak on is how the Olympia will be done this year with everything that is going on right now.

This Monday, it was announced that the Olympia WILL be a go, and it will happen December 16-20. Yes, you heard that correct, folks. The Olympia is taking place during the holidays! But that's not the only big change happening for the Olympia. Beginning this year, it will be move from the Las Vegas Convention Center to Planet Hollywood right in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. That is MASSIVE because Las Vegas is the city that never sleeps (outside of right now, obviously) and to move it to the center of the Strip puts more eyes on it than ever before, and it gives more of a fan-friendly feel to it, which is something that Jake Wood, the new owner of the Olympia, wanted to go: give the Olympia back to the fans as best as he can, and these changes (and more to come in the months ahead) seem to indicate just that. Tickets for all the Olympia festivities will go on sale May 25th (Memorial Day). If you have purchased Olympia tickets prior to the changes, you should receive a full refund. If you haven't, make sure to check with Ticketmaster. No, your previous purchase will NOT be transferred over to the new dates/locations. You must purchase new tickets when they go on sale May 25th.

With the new dates and location established...now lies the following: When is the last day to qualify for the Olympia and what shows are even taking place this year?! Today, NPC News Online announced that Sunday October 18th will be the last day to qualify for the Olympia. Here's a list of all the competitions that are set to go on to qualify for the 2020 Olympia:

Women's Bodybuilding (BTW, so glad Ms. Olympia is BACK!!!)

2020 IFBB MR. BIG EVOLUTION PRO WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING on 07/12/20 in Lisbon, Portugal
2020 IFBB OMAHA PRO WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING on 7/18/2020 in Omaha, Nebraska
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION CUP TAMPA WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING in 07-31/08-01/2020 on Tampa, Florida
2020 IFBB SAVANNAH PRO WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING on 8/29/2020 in Savannah, Georgia
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION PUERTO RICO WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING on 8/29/2020 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
2020 IFBB NEW YORK PRO WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING on 9/5/2020 in Teaneck, New Jersey
2020 IFBB PITTSBURGH MASTERS WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING Over 35 on 09/02-05/2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH RISING PHOENIX WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING on 9/5/2020 in Phoenix, Arizona
2020 IFBB EVLS PRAGUE PRO WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING on 9/26/2020 in Czech Republic
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH CHICAGO PRO WOMEN'S BODYBUILDING on 10/16-17/20 in Chicago, Illinois

Women's Fitness

2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION CUP TAMPA FITNESS on 07-31/08-01/2020 in Tampa, Florida
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION PUERTO RICO FITNESS on 8/29/2020 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH ARIZONA PRO FITNESS on 9/5/2020 in Phoenix, Arizona
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE BEN WEIDER NATURAL PRO FITNESS on 9/19/2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2020 IFBB PRO FITNESS on 10/10/2020 in Atlanta, Georgia
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH CHICAGO PRO FITNESS on 10/16-17/20 in Chicago, Illinois

Women's Figure

2020 IFBB ZHANNA ROTAR CLASSIC PRO FIGURE on 7/18/2020 in Los Angeles, California
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION CUP TAMPA FIGURE on 07/31-08/01/2020 in Tampa, Florida
2020 IFBB MONSTERZYM KOREA PRO FIGURE on 08-22-23/2020 in South Korea
2020 IFBB SAVANNAH PRO FIGURE on 8/29/2020 in Savannah, Georgia
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION PUERTO RICO FIGURE on 8/29/2020 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
2020 IFBB PITTSBURGH MASTERS FIGURE on 09/02-05/2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH ARIZONA PRO FIGURE on 9/5/2020 in Phoenix, Arizona
2020 IFBB NEW YORK PRO FIGURE on 9/5/2020 in Teaneck, New Jersey
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE BEN WEIDER NATURAL PRO FIGURE on 9/19/2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE KY MUSCLE FIGURE OPEN on 09/19/20 in Louisville, Kentucky
2020 IFBB TITANS PRO FIGURE on 10/3/2020 in San Diego, California
2020 IFBB BATTLE IN THE DESERT PRO FIGURE on 10/03/20 in Las Vegas, Nevada
2020 IFBB PRO FIGURE on 10/10/2020 in Atlanta, Georgia
2020 IFBB MONSTERZYM PRO FIGURE on 10/10/20 in Seoul, South Korea
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH CHICAGO PRO FIGURE on 10/16-17/20 in Chicago, Illinois

Women's Bikini

2020 IFBB BATTLE AT THE FALLS PRO BIKINI on 5/9/2020 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
2020 IFBB PATRIOTS CHALLENGE BIKINI on 7/11/2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada
2020 IFBB NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PRO BIKINI on 07/11/20 in Sacramento, California
2020 IFBB VANCOUVER PRO BIKINI on 07/11-12/20 in Vancouver, Canada
2020 IFBB WASATCH WARRIOR PRO BIKINI on 7/11/2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah
2020 IFBB MR. BIG EVOLUTION PRO BIKINI on 07/12/20 in Lisbon, Portugal Sandra Ferreira
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION CUP TAMPA BIKINI on 07/31-08/01/2020 in Tampa, Florida T
2020 IFBB MUSCLECONTEST BRAZIL BIKINI on 8/1/2020 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
2020 IFBB BRITISH PRO BIKINI on 8/2/2020 in Watford, United Kingdom
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRTIION SAN ANTONIO PRO BIKINI on 8/8/2020 in San Antonio, Texas
2020 IFBB PACIFIC USA XXII BIKINI on 8/8/2020 in San Diego, California
2020 TAHOE PRO BIKINI on 8/8/2020
2020 IFBB GOLDEN STATE PRO BIKINI on 08/22/20 in Sacramento, California
2020 IFBB WORLD KLASH PRO BIKINI on 8/22/2020 in Port Charlotte, FL
2020 IFBB MONSTERZYM KOREA PRO BIKINI on 08/22-23/2020 in South Korea
2020 IFBB OPTIMUM CLASSIC PRO BIKINI OPEN on 08/29/20 in Shreveport, Louisiana
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION PUERTO RICO BIKINI on 8/29/2020 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
2020 IFBB PITTSBURGH MASTERS BIKINI on 09/02-05/2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH ARIZONA PRO BIKINI on 9/5/2020 in Phoenix, Arizona
2020 IFBB NEW YORK PRO BIKINI on 9/5/2020 in Teaneck, New Jersey
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE HOT SPOT TANNING HURRICANE PRO BIKINI on 9/19/2020 in St. Petersburg, Florida
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE BEN WEIDER NATURAL PRO BIKINI on 9/19/2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2020 ASIAN GRAND PRIX PRO BIKINI on 9/20/2020 in Seoul, Korea
2020 IFBB EVLS PRAGUE PRO BIKINI on 9/26/2020 in Czech Republic
2020 IFBB MUSCLECONTEST VIETNAM BIKINI on 9/26/2020 in Vietnam
2020 IFBB POWERHOUSE CLASSIC PRO BIKINI on 9/26/20 in Ypsilanti, Michigan
2020 IFBB MUSCLECONTEST PHILIPPINES BIKINI on 10/3/2020 in Subic Bay, Philippines
2020 IFBB MINNEAPOLIS OPEN BIKINI on 10/3/2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
2020 IFBB PRO BIKINI on 10/10/2020 in Atlanta, Georgia
2020 IFBB MONSTERZYM PRO BIKINI on 10/10/20 in Seoul, South Korea
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH CHICAGO PRO BIKINI on 10/16-17/20 in Chicago, Illinois
2020 AUCKLAND PRO BIKINI on 10/17/2020 in Auckland, New Zealand
2020 IFBB SACRAMENTO PRO BIKINI on 10/17/20 in Sacramento, California
2020 IFBB FITPARADE PRO BIKINI on 10/18/2020 in Budapest, Hungary

(WOW...on the final weekend of Olympia qualifying there will be four shows for the bikini division! SHEESH!)

Women's Physique

2020 IFBB OMAHA PRO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 7/18/2020 in Omaha, Nebraska
2020 IFBB PRESTIGE CRYSTAL CUP PRO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 7/25/2020 in Boca Raton, Florida
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION CUP TAMPA WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 07-31/08-01/2020 in Tampa, Florida
2020 IFBB EUROPA PHOENIX PRO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 08/08-09/2020 in Phoenix, Arizona
2020 IFBB OPTIMUM CLASSIC PRO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE Open on 08/29/20 in Shreveport, Louisiana
2020 WINGS OF STRENGTH IFBB PRO LEAGUE YAMAMOTO NUTRITION PUERTO RICO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 8/29/2020 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
2020 IFBB PITTSBURGH MASTERS WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 09/02-05/2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH ARIZONA PRO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 9/5/2020 in Phoenix, Arizona
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE BEN WEIDER NATURAL PRO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 9/19/2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2020 IFBB PRO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 10/10/2020 in Atlanta, Georgia
2020 IFBB PRO LEAGUE WINGS OF STRENGTH CHICAGO PRO WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE on 10/16-17/2020 in Chicago, Illinois

To view all shows past the Olympia qualification dates, including the first official pro wellness shows (they will not be represented at the Olympia this year), check out the PDF here: http://www.ifbbpro.com/wp-content/uploads/image/2020/calendar/calendar.pdf. For the 2020 Olympia Qualification Systems rules, check them out at http://www.ifbbpro.com/all-categories/news/2020-olympia-qualification-system-2/. If you want to see who has already qualified for the Olympia and is on their way to qualifying, check out the current rankings at http://www.ifbbpro.com/all-categories/oqs/2020-olympia-qualified-athletes-and-point-standings/.

I do want to mention that things can change at anytime so be weary of that. However, I do find it good that the IFBB has worked their butts off to try and get a competition season going for the athletes during one of the most unprecedented times in our world's history. To all of you competing, good luck to you all. To those waiting it out on competing until 2021, FitGems Nation fully respect your decision as well. It has been quite the year for everyone. To all of you out there...STAY SAFE AND USE SOME COMMON SENSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. Take care, everyone!

For more on the Olympia including tickets and the latest up-to-date information, check out their website at https://mrolympia.com/.

Juliana Malacarne...IFBB Wellness Pro?!

As most of you know by now, the NPC and IFBB will be bringing the wellness division in 2020. This is a popular division internationally that has produced some incredible physiques that are not seen as much in the United States. Now with the division coming to the States next year, it would not be surprising to see competitors searching for wellness competitors overseas for possible looks. I'm going to assume the look for the NPC/IFBB will be similar to what is overseas, but don't quote me on it right now as nothing has been said as of this article. But when they do get everything set, we'll post our thoughts on it.

Most wellness divisions in other federations have their competitors to have a muscular physique without much separation that appear athletic and aesthetic. Despite nothing set in stone as far as the look that will be rewarded in the NPC and IFBB, it has not stop people from guessing who will be the IT look for the division..including us. In fact, if the division is in need of an example already in the IFBB, we know someone...Juliana Malacarne.

Muscular, shapely, athletic, asthetic, non-shredded or dry...exactly what Juliana is now, and exactly what the wellness division could be?! We'll see!
Photo credit: Juliana herself

I know you are probably thinking..."Wait...this site is seriously suggesting that a 4x Miss Physique Olympia be the measuring stick of the new wellness division?" Yes, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M SUGGESTING! Especially the way Juliana looks now. Look no further than her recent post. She still trains hard despite not stepping on stage since 2017 (remember, she said she was taking a break, she NEVER said she was completely retired yet), and she looks downright amazing these days: a muscular, shapely, athletic, aesthetic, and healthy look that isn't shredded or dry...exactly how the wellness divisions across other federations are. Juliana has stated that she would love to return to the stage if it seemed she could do it without sacrificing her femininity, and the wellness could be just that. There are a few more we would like to see do wellness, but based off how she is now, Juliana is at the top of the list.

She defined women's physique...and if she chooses to, could defined IFBB Wellness!

So what do you think? Does Juliana have the wellness look? Who do YOU think has what YOU believe to be the ideal wellness look for the IFBB? Comment below or let us know via our social media platforms.

Don't forget to follow Juliana on her social media platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julesfit10/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/julesfit10
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julesfit10

NXT Diva Competing at the 2015 Arnold

DISCLAIMER: All photos used belong to their original owners. 

As you all probably know by now, the lists for the 2015 Arnold on the pro side have been released, with the biggest and best names in the industry competing for top honors in one of the biggest shows of the year. One name that stood out to me was Ashley Sebera for the fitness side, known as the Fitness International. Some of you probably know her by a different name...Dana Brooke. Yes, THE Dana Brooke from NXT, WWE's developmental brand. My initial thought about this was..."Was this a mistake? The committee knows she's part of WWE, right? Do they even ALLOW this? But after seeing the retweets from Triple H (WWE's COO) and Sara Amato (NXT trainer), that's when it hit me. A WWE performer is going to represent the entire wrestling world in one of the largest fitness competitions in the world.

Former WWE Divas Aksana (real name Živilė Raudonienė) and Kaitlin (real name Celeste Braun) were former IFBB and NPC figure competitors who stopped competing to become WWE Divas. Torrie Wilson and Lisa Maria Varon were fitness competitors before entering the world of professional wrestling. So how and why is Dana (we'll be using her WWE name going forward in this article) able to compete in one of the top fitness shows in the world AND still be a WWE/NXT Diva? Better question is...why not?

Dana is one of the top prospects in NXT who has not (as of this writing) made it to the TV roster (or NXT's home, the WWE Network...$9.99 a month, no commitment needed. I know, cheap plug). Known as the Killa Barbie, she has shown a lot of promise as a tough-as-nails performer who could be one of the next top female powerhouses in WWE, based off fans who have seen her perform during NXT live events. SO...back to the point of "What's the big deal of Dana making the Arnold list?"

If memory serves me right, this will mark the first time in WWE history that a WWE performer UNDER CONTRACT will compete in a fitness event. The ladies I mentioned earlier competed in fitness competitions but stopped after entering WWE. This practically guarantees big opportunities for the WWE and IFBB to showcase their companies to new people. IFBB, while big, doesn't have nearly the mainstream media power that WWE has. Can you imagine the exposure the IFBB can get if some of the Arnold was shown on WWE programming? WWE, in turn, will have a massive amount of fit talent (male and female) they can look at and scout for the next breed of Superstars and Divas for WWE and NXT. The company will be like kids in a candy store trying to see who can one day lead their company.

What's in it for Dana? To bring two words together and show both audiences why she's one of the top athletes on the planet. The thought of a good deal of the crowd chanting "NXT! NXT! NXT!" during her swimsuit round and fitness routine round brings a tear and a smile to my face knowing one of our own is returning home to represent everything she loves: fitness and pro wrestling. For more reasons than you know, Dana is already a winner.

2015 is her year...she makes history on March 6th. 

We would like to publicly wish Dana the best of luck as she prepares to represent pro wrestling in one of the biggest stages in the fitness industry and we would like to thank Paul Levesque (Triple H), Sara Del Ray (Sara Amato), and WWE/NXT for giving Dana the opportunity to make history. Good luck Dana! FYI, you can follow Dana on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DanaBrookeWWE and Instagram at http://instagram.com/ashasebera_danabrooke

The 2015 Arnold Sports Festival is March 5-8 at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, with the Fitness International Prejudging and Finals on March 6th. Click here for ticket information. 

2014 Arnold Classic Brazil Fitness Competitors Announced

Today, the list of those competing in the 2014 Arnold Sports Brazil was announced. Ryall Graber will be defending her title against some strong competition. Michelle Blank, Whitney Jones, and Amanda Hatfield will look to build off of successful runs from last season. Myriam Capes is also on the list, but we're unsure if she will be compete as she's nursing an injury that's keeping her out of the 2014 Fitness International in a couple of weeks. Our congrats to everyone that made the 2014 Arnold Classic Brazil field!

The 2014 Arnold Sports Brazil will take place April 25-27 in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

List of competitors:

Marta Aguiar

Michelle Blank

Myriam Capes

Bethany Cisternino

Regiane DaSilva

Ryall Graber

Fiona Harris

Amanda Hatfield

Whitney Jones

Babette Mulford

Danielle Ruban

Diana Monteiro

3rd Annual FitGems Awards: And the Nominees Are...

Thank you to everyone that nominated their favorites for the 3rd Annual FitGems Awards! Without further ado, here are the nominees:

COMPETITOR CATEGORIES 

Pro Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Iris Kyle
Yaxeni Oriquen
Brigita Brezovac
Debi Laszewski
Alina Popa
Isabelle Turell

Pro Figure Competitor of the Year
Nicole Wilkins
Ava Cowan
Erin Stern
Kat Rameriz
Candice Keene
Ann Titone

Pro Fitness Competitor of the Year
Adela Garcia
Tanji Johnson
Nicole Duncan
Michelle Blank
Tina Durkin
Stacy Wright

Pro Bikini Competitor of the Year
Nicole Nagrani
Sonia Gonzales
Amanda Latona
Jamie Baird
Nathalia Melo
Vanessa Campbell

Amateur Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Michelle Brent
Amanda Alger
Kira Neuman
Kimmie Morgan
Judy Gallard
Cynthia Colon

Amateur Figure Competitor of the Year
Wendy Fortino
Allison Moyer
Joni Neilson
Allison Frahn
Shelly Albetta
Cheryl Davis

Amateur Fitness Competitor of the Year
Amanda Hatfield
Lisha Dean
Meredith Miller
Sheri Vucick
Whitney Jones
Viko Newman

Amateur Bikini Competitor of the Year
Diana Graham
Candace Grayam
India Paulino
Noe Alexander
Skye Taylor
Jennifer Rankin

Amateur Physique Competitor of the Year
Jill Rudison
Jillian Reville
Rachel Baker
Tracy Bodner
Susie Fuller Torres
Dana Bailey

International Female Bodybuilder of the Year (Pro or Amateur)
Brigita Brezovac
Debi Laszewski
Alina Popa
Yaxeni Oriquen
Maria Rite Bello
Dayana Cadeau

International Fitness Competitor of the Year (Pro or Amateur)
Myriam Capes
Jodi Boam
Regaine De Silva
Mindi O’Brian
Oksana Grishina
Minna Pajulahti

International Figure Competitor of the Year (Pro or Amateur)
Larissa Reis
Rachelle Chase
Tracey MacDonald
Emily Stirling
Rosa Marie Romero
Candice John

International Bikini Competitor of the Year (Pro or Amateur)
Nathalia Melo
Jelena Abbou
Dina Al-Sabah
Justine Monro
Noemi Olah
Willeke Verhaar-Davis

Breakout Pro Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Monique Jones
Brigita Brezovac
Alina Popa
Sarah Hayes
Claire O’Connell
Angela Salvagno

Breakout Pro Figure Competitor of the Year
Sabrina Taylor
Candice Keene
Ava Cowan
Ann Titone
Teresa Anthony
Alicia Harris

Breakout Pro Fitness Competitor of the Year
Michelle Blank
Jodi Boam
Camala Rodriguez
Nicole Duncan
Myriam Capes
Stacy Wright

Breakout Pro Bikini Competitor of the Year
Christina Vargas
Diana Graham
Nathalia Melo
Vanessa Campbell
Jennifer Andrews
Jamie Baird

Breakout Amateur Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Michelle Cummings
Amanda Alger
Cynthia Colon
Pat Wentz
Pam Franklin
Judy Gallard

Breakout Amateur Figure Competitor of the Year
Tracey MacDonald
Yolanda Alvarado
Sue Knott
Essence Moneti
Laura Bailey
Wendy Fortino

Breakout Amateur Fitness Competitor of the Year
Amanda Hatfield
Paula Williams-Guliman
Sheri Vucick
Regan Grossman
Meredith Miller
Cicely Kyle

Breakout Amateur Bikini Competitor of the Year
Sherrie Carnicle
Candyce Graham
Diana Graham
India Paulino
Noy Alexander
Rebecca Staggs

Breakout Amateur Physique Competitor of the Year
Rachel Baker
Nikki Warner
Tracy Bodner
Cheryl Cooke
Dana Bailey
Jennifer Robinson

Inspirational Competitor of the Year
Mah Ann Mendoza
Tanji Johnson
Mikalia Soto
Jennifer Gates
Mandy Henderson
Ann Titone

Comeback of the Year
Mah Ann Mendoza
Amanda Hatfield
Helle Neilson
Mindi O’Brien
Dorit Silverman
Jennifer Gates

Competitor Who You Would Love to See Return To the Stage in 2012
Valerie Waugaman
Danny-J
Christine Pomponio-Pate
Jenny Lynn
Heidi Sullivan
Lenda Murray

Fitness Personality of the Year (Model/Trainer/Spokesperson)
Brittany Beede
Jillian Michaels
Jennifer Nicole Lee
Danny-J
Aubrie Richeson
Jamie Eason

Moment of the Year
Jr. Nationals 2011, where every figure class winner was of color (first in NPC history)
First-ever IFBB event in India (Sheru Classic)
First-ever Arnold Class Europe Fitness
Mindi O’Brien announcing retirement from fitness
Dayana Cadeau and Mah Ann Mendoza announcing their retirements from female bodybuilding at the Olympia
Nicole Nagrani winning the first-ever Bikini International  


MISC. Categories 

NPC Show of the Year
Nationals
Jr. Nationals
Jr. USAs
USAs
Team Universe
North Americans

IFBB Show of the Year
Olympia
Arnold
Ft. Lauderdale Pro
St. Louis Pro
Toronto Pro Supershow
Sheru Classic

WBFF Show of the Year
Worlds
Alberta
New England
Quebec
Eastern US
B.C.

Promoter(s) of the Year
Jack and Ann Titone
Stryker X
Ed & Betty Pariso
Tim Gardner
Jon Lindsay
Brent Jones

Organization of the Year
IFBB
NPC
WBFF
INBF
NABBA
Fitness America/Universe

Female Physique Site of the Year (non-competitor) (NOTE: FitGems is NOT eligible due the fact that FitGems is running the contest)
Siouxcountry
Promoting Real Women
Hardbody News
Rx Girl
Fitness Rx
Fit Model TV

Female Competitor Blog of the Year
Ashley Cooper (http://ashleycooperfitness.blogspot.com)
Mindi O’Brien (http://mindiobrien.blogspot.com/)
Stacy Wright (http://stacywrightfitness.blogspot.com/)
Ester Alexander (http://estheralexander.blogspot.com)
Nikki Roxx (http://healthhugsandheadlocks.blogspot.com/)
Cindy Phillips (http://cindyphillips.blogspot.com/)

Facebook Female Fan Page of the Year
Brittany Beede
Ava Cowan
Monica Brant Fan Page
Danny-J and Aubrie Richeson the Sweaty Betties
Tracy Bodner
Tonya Burkhardt-IFBB Fitness Pro

Photographer of the Year
Marc Thyssen
Bill Comstock
Dan Ray
Isaac Hinds
Jeff Binns
Mike Eckstut

Blogger of the Year
Jason Adams
Isaac Hinds
Dean Sucich
GeneX
Carl Burkins (dallas3)
Area Orion

Industry Blog of the Year (by a fan, industry member, company, etc.)
Promoting Real Women (http://promotingwomen.blogspot.com)
Hardbody News (http://www.hardbody.com/news)
KrivStudios Blog (http://krivstudiosblog.wordpress.com/)
Fit Model TV (http://fitmodeltv.wordpress.com)
Area Orion (http://areaorion.blogspot.com)
Female Muscle Universe (http://femalemuscleuniverse.blogspot.com)

Industry Facebook Fan Page of the Year
Fit Model TV
Siouxcountry
Promoting Women in Bodybuilding Fitness and MMA
Hardbody News
No Division Left Behind; Women’s Bodybuilding
Marc Thyssen Photography

Female Celebrity Muscle of the Year
Elizabeth Hasslebeck
Kelly Ripa
Hope Solo
Poppy Montgomery
Celeste Bonin (WWE’s Kaitlyn)
Trish Stratus

Physique Paysite of the Year
HerBiceps (www.herbiceps.com)
HDPhysiques (www.hdphysiques.com)
KrivsStudio (http://www.krivsstudio.com/)
Female-Power (www.female-power.net)
Awefilms (www.awefilms.com)
Femflex (www.femflex.com)

Male Supporter of the Year
Jason Lannigan (Sioux)
Jason Adams
Curt James
Jack Titone
Carl Burkins (dallas3)
Isaac Hinds

Female Website Site of the Year
Mandy Henderson (www.mandyhenerson.com)
Stephanie Wilkes (www.stephaniewilkes.com)
Ann Titone (www.anntitone.com)
Brittany Beede (www.brittanybfit.com)
Monica Escalante (www.monfit.com)
Tanji Johnson (www.tanjijohnson.com)

Supplement Company of the Year
Scivation
Gaspari Nutrition
BSN
Top Secret Nutrition
MAN Sports
Optimum Nutrition

Team of the Year
Team Bombshell
Total Package
Team Brownie
Tanji Johnson’s Save Fitness
Team O’Brien
Oddo's Angels


Trainer of the Year
Jack Titone
Kim Oddo
Noel Fuller
Shannon Dey
Mindi O'Brien
Erik Ledin

To vote for your favorites:

1. Email your votes at admin@fitgemsnation.net (Put 2011 FitGems Awards in the subject line) YOU CAN VOTE ONCE PER DAY PER EMAIL. No daily mutiple emails will be accepted. Those will be thrown out.
2. If you have Twitter, you can tweet your votes to http://twitter.com/fitgemsnation and use the hashtag #2011FitGemsAwards. Remember, if you do this, state the category as well as your choice for that particular category. YOU CAN DO THIS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN...JUST MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GO TO TWITTER JAIL! LOL...
3. If you're a member of the following sites, you can send me your votes via private message:

• Siouxcountry (under cray17)
• RxMuscle (under FitGems)
• FTVideo (under cray2005)
• Unreal Muscle (under FitGems)
• Muscular Development (under cray17)

4. You can vote on our online poll at http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/543717. Vote as many times as you can here!

Do you have to vote for ALL the categories?! NO, however...It would be nice if you could, though. To the nominees: let your fans know that you are nominated for awards and get them to vote for you! All voting stops when the ball drops in New York (which means Midnight/11 Central). In other words, when New York City rings in 2012, no more votes will be accepted. Winners will be announced in mid-January.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS!!!

Mindi O'Brien Retires from Fitness

Fitness lost one of its top competitors today, as Mindi O'Brien announced via Youtube today that she is retiring from fitness competition. It sucks to leave a sport or anything you love for so long due to an injury. She's had a great career spanning 14 years, with great routines and what some people call one of the best physiques in fitness history, capped off by her trademark arms that would give any female bodybuilder a run for their money. Some of her highlights include competing in 6 straight Fitness Olympias (although she was qualified for 7, but skipped out of this year's show due to injury) and 5 straight Arnold Classics. She would finish her career at the first-ever Arnold Classic Europe, placing 6th.

Photo credit: RxMuscle.com

Here's a video of Mindi during her trip to Spain (including her fitness routine and posing round) and announcing her retirement from fitness:

What does the future hold for her? We're unsure, but we think she will stick around in the fitness industry in some form or capacity. We at FitGems Nation congratulate Mindi on an incredible journey, and we wish her the best of luck in the next chapter of her life!

Tanji Johnson Wins Arnold Classic Europe Fitness

Photo credit: Rx Muscle

History was made this weekend at the first-ever Arnold Classic Europe took place. Tanji Johnson, one of the top competitors in fitness and according to many a future Fitness Olympia and/or Fitness International champion, will forever be in the history books as the first-ever Arnold Classic Europe Fitness champion. Bethany Cisternino took 2nd, Regiane DeSilva took 3rd place. Here are the full results as well as scorecard for this historic event:

1. Tanji Johnson
2. Bethany Cisternino
3. Regiane DeSilva
4. Myriam Capes
5. Tina Durkin
6. Mindi O'Brien
7. Diana Monteiro
8. Kayde Puckett

Photo cradit: IFBBPro.com

Congrats to Tanji on the win, and to everyone that competed at the Arnold Classic Europe! You all made history this weekend!

IFBB Advisory Rule about Competition Contracts and No-Show at Finals

This was released last week, from the IFBB:

Credit: IFBBPro.com

Let's start with the athlete competition contract ruling. There are those that take their time and want to see who else is competing and maybe they will wait until the very last minute to send in a contract. With this new ruling, that will be reduced dramatically as competitors MUST submit their contracts no later than a month (30 days) before the competition they plan to enter. And if they DO wait, they gotta pay up to the tune of 200 dollars. So make up your mind early, folks, and go ahead and submit those contracts.

As far as the no-show at finals are concerned, good ruling on that as well. If you make it, don't bail out unless you have a legitimate excuse. If you're literally feeling like you're gonna pass out, then you clearly excused from the finals. Your health is more important than a trophy and a spot at the Olympia. But if you're skipping to be skipping, you better hope it's a VERY GOOD excuse, because it's gonna cost ya $1,000. And until it's paid off, you will be kept from competing elsewhere.

While I personally love these rulings, some of you might not. What are YOUR thoughts on the new IFBB rulings? Post them below.

So You Want to Compete?! by Lizzy Ostro

I am now 8 weeks out from my first national bikini competition, and this is where the nerves really start to heat up! Of course, making sure my body is in peak condition is of high importance, but it’s the minor details that are stressing me out the most!

The Suit: $50 - $1,000 Depending on how much money you have at your disposal and how much you’re willing to shell out for a top quality suit, finding a suit that flatters your figure, and a color that brings out your best features can be a daunting task. Bikinis are basically made in a few different styles, but every girl’s body is different. I am a flat-chest, long torso, long leg kind of girl. Straight on I’m kind of boxy, but if I turn to the side, you will see my lovely lady lump. Yep, I’ve got a booty. Needless to say, finding just the right suit can be difficult, but that’s why we have tailors 

The Tanning: $50-$150 To the innocent bystander, we all look like we got into a fight with a puddle of mud. In reality, it’s one of the sacrifices we give to look great on stage. The extravagant tan looks just plain ridiculous in broad daylight, and is by no means an attractive look. However, when you step under the extremely bright lights of the stage, you look like you belong, and it brings out your figure to the fullest. I won’t even get into what your skin starts to look like about a week after the competition (think Michael Jackson going from black to white), but it’s just a part of competing. Bending over so your tanning expert can make sure you have no lines on stage is a totally different story in itself, but I will just preface by saying that you must feel completely comfortable being naked and in awkward positions. Moving on….

The Hotel: Up to $500 Again this depends on how much you’re willing to spend and how long you’re staying in that city. Some go for luxury, some are okay as long as there is a clean floor to sleep on. The big thing that is an absolute MUST for any competitor staying at a hotel is the refrigerator. If you are able to pull off a microwave as well, then you’re just plain lucky. All of that pre-cooked chicken and asparagus has to go somewhere, after all. Find a few girlfriends to share the room with to cut down on costs, and obviously to rub your bikini bite on you. Hey, someone’s gotta do it. You will become closer to these people than you ever thought possible, that’s for sure.

The Hair: $50 - $100 This is a pretty crucial part of the process. You want to look dazzling on stage, and a good hairdo can bring this out. Some girls prefer to just keep it simple, and some girls go all out with crazy curls and updo’s. I have redunkulously (yeah I said redunkulous) long hair, so I like to go with long, flowy curls. It looks best on me, and most importantly, I feel most comfortable in it.

The Makeup: 50- $150 This is one gift I am thankful for. Although I couldn’t do someone else’s makeup to save my life, I am able to do my own pretty well. Stage makeup is completely different than your every day make up or even your “night on the town” makeup. You are on stage with bright lights and you need to shine. This equates to putting on pounds of makeup. In regular light, some might mistake you for a clown, or worse, Lady GaGa, but on stage, you will look amazing. My best advice: Become really good friends with a make-up artist (if they do hair as well, that’s icing on the cake, but don’t eat the cake until after the competition) and make them follow you around to your competitions.

The Nails $40-$60 I made the mistake of showing up to a competition without my nails done once (gasp!). I didn’t think anyone would notice, but after placing 5th and not being happy about that, I talked to the judges. “Your hands and toes didn’t match and weren’t done.” I guess they noticed. Although to me that seems like a stupid reason (there were other reasons too, mind you) to make someone place lower, I realized that overall stage presence is a big deal. Do whatever you can to look great on stage, this means shelling out a few extra dollars to get yo’ nails did!

The Shoes $20-$40 This is the cheapest part of competing. It’s also the most fun because it’s an excuse to wear 5-6 inch clear stripper heels and not be considered, well, a stripper. Not that there’s anything wrong with strippers, but you actually get to be considered classy while wearing them. Double score!

The Entry Fees $200ish This is fun. Not only do you pay an entry fee, but you pay a fee to the organization you’re competing with. They always get you somehow!! Such is life…

The Travel Accomodations $Varies This can be really cheap or really expensive. It all depends where you’re coming from and how you’re getting there. If you are only a few hours away and can drive, that’s your best bet. Not only is it usually cheaper to drive (unless you are like me and drive a big diesel truck that gets negative 6 miles to the gallon) but it’s easier to pack! Bringing protein powder and 5 pounds of pre-cooked, pre-bagged chicken can cause quite the back-up at airport security. If you can drive, do it. If not, freeze your chicken, then pack it right before your flight. It will thaw out some on the flight, but won’t spoil (hopefully.)

Posing $ 1.5 bajillion Posing coaches are expensive. If you can find a friend/former competitor or anyone that knows a thing or two about posing, you are better off doing that. Posing coaches are a great tool, and stage presence/posing is extremely important in overall scoring. If you have the extra funds, go for it, if not, get a mirror, log on to You Tube, start doing your daily chores in your heels, and practice, practice, practice!!

As you can see, all of those additional components of competing (read: stresses) that I mentioned had nothing to do with dieting or training. The dieting and training are essentially the least stressful. Sure, they are tough and must be on point, but when you know what you’re doing, it’s just a matter of doing it. Getting everything coordinated is quite the task in itself.

I’m not trying to scare anyone off from competing. As pricey and stressful as it is, the rewards of competing outweigh them immensely. Your confidence, resilience and overall outlook on life change with competing. It has been the greatest influence on my life and I wouldn’t trade those experiences and future experiences for anything in the world!

New Elite: Wendy Fortino

(Photo courtesy of Muscular Development)

One of the rising new faces of figure, Wendy Fortino is fastly becoming a top name in NPC figure and, if 2009 was any indication, is well on her way to becoming an IFBB figure competitor. From what she has told me in the past, she is aiming to have a Monica Brant-like physique (as Monica is (like many competitors) her role model. Judging by what she has brought to the table so far in regional competitions, she's on the right track. Speaking of the word "track", she actually competing in track and field prior to getting involved in fitness and figure competitions. Believe it or now, she was RIPPED then...without touching a single weight! Don't believe me, I'd go check out this Kriv Studios blog post and see for yourself.

In every competition she's entered in prior to her first major NPC National show (The USAs, where she placed 6th in Figure Class A), she has won her class, as well as the overall title on more than one occasion. Something tells me a pro card is imminent in the future of Miss Fortino. :)

I can see it now..."It's WAY better than regular figure physiques...It's Wendy's" LOL...sorry, had to throw that in there. I believe her next competition will be the 2010 Jr. USAs.

For more on Wendy, check her out on MySpace, Facebook, Hardfitness, and a slew of other sites.

Europa(Money)mania is Running Wild!!!

Well...what do you do when you have tough competition, for example like the Europa Show of Champions this upcoming weekend? You give away cash, that's what! Well...at least that's what Issac Hinds and Sioux are doing. Both of them are holding contests where you will receive $100 for correctly guessing the winners and top placings in this weekend's huge contest.

Issac will be giving away $100 to anyone who can correctly guess the top five in figure IN CORRECT ORDER. Click here to learn more and to enter his contest.

Siouxcountry is doing the same thing, but you must correctly guess the top EIGHT in order. Click here to enter that contest.

Don't hold me to this, but I might just fork over $25 or so (via PayPal) to anyone who can guess who will get the Olympia quailfications for fitness or figure. If you correctly guess BOTH, I just might hand over 50 buck (via PayPal)...that's of course, if anyone dares to take up on this offer. Oh yeah, unlike the other two, I don't care if it's in order or not. :-)

There you go...if you have the luck of the Irish, are one hell of a guesser, or happen to see into the future and know EXACTLY what will go down on O-Town, I would take the opportunity to enter these contests. I mean, money is being given away just for guessing.

With that being said...GOOO...FREAKING...LUCK! AI YI YI!!

FBBFan.com Women’s Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Sponsorship

Earlier this year, I personally participated in the annual FBBFan.com Sponsorshop program. I'm proud to say that they are doing it again!

FBBFan.com is proud to announce Round-Two of it’s 2009 sponsorship program to help support and promote the athletes involved in the sportof women’s bodybuilding, fitness and figure!

The inaugural 2009 sponsorship was awarded March 1, 2009, and was presented to Eryn Strickland. Eryn is an NPC figure competitor fromthe state of Maryland. Through her blog and journaling on FBBFan.com,she has shown and shared her dedication to achieving her goals in the sport.

Round-Two brings more fun prizes and products! FBBFan.com will begiving away a minimum monetary award of $250.00 and a custom caricature drawing courtesy of the Female Muscle Factory. Also up for grabs, a $250.00 gift certificate from Athletica Clothing for workout gear to keep you looking good and comfortable in the gym! Pro Tan will be awarding a selection of their products to get you ready to step on-stage and show-off your winning physique! Michelle’s Magic Morsels will award a gift basket of their delicious protein cookies for a fun and healthy snack!

FBBFan.com will award the round two sponsorship prizes July 15, 2009,visit http://www.fbbfan.com to learn more and enter to win today!

Good luck to everyone that participates!

FitGems Nation EXCLUSIVE Pre-Arnold Interview with Jenny Hendershott

We are getting closer and closer to the Arnold, and those competing in this major event are hard at work hoping to make a statement on the first big female competition of 2009. I was fortunate and honored to interview the reigning Fitness Olympia champion and 2005 Fitness International champion, Jenny Hendershott!

http://www.fitgemsnation.net/page/fitgems-nation-exclusive

Sharing a TenSpot with...Jennifer Gates

Ok...gotta be honest; if I had to root for just ONE figure competitor to win this year's Olympia out of everyone that's qualified so far...it would be none other than Jenn Gates. Why? She has this "it" factor that can't be explained. She's a hardworking mother and nurse who has big plans for the figure division. So far in the span of less than two years as a pro, she has placed third in her first contest, won a contest a month after that, placed fourth at the Olympia, and getting runner-up honors at the Figure International. Some even had her WINNING the Figure International and becoming Olympia champion in her first YEAR!!! How crazy is that?!?! Not that much if you how dedicated of a woman she it. As we speak, she's preparing for the Olympia in hopes of becoming the first mother to win the Olympia. This of course will be no easy feat, as the level of competition gets harder and harder each year. But if anyone can bring it home for the "shorties" and mommies everywhere, it's the Jenn-ster!

Here's a pic...

(photo from FTVideo)

Now on to the questions:

FitGems:State your name and profession (fitness/figure/female bodybuilding/other).
Jenn Gates: Jenn Gates, IFBB Pro, Figure

FitGems:How many years have you competed?
Jenn: 5 years in figure

FitGems:What is/was one heavy lift that you did or have done in the past that you are most proud of?
Jenn: Squat 120 lbs….back in the day. No need for big lifts anymore….most proud of my 3 a week 5 mile runs for the Arnold this year!!! Conditioning baby!!

FitGems:What made you choose your profession in the first place?
Jenn: I started in bodybuilding in 2001, won my first show….The overall for the Indiana. had no plans to do anything else with it….until I saw figure in 2002 and fell in love with the look!!!

FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about your profession?
Jenn: I would like to see figure athletes used in more mainstreamed areas…ie Television, Magazines (besides fitness type magazines)

FitGems: If you weren’t in figure, what would be the most likely thing you’d be doing right now that is NOT fitness or women’s bodybuilding?
Jenn: I’d probably be learning how to fight…kickboxing, sparring, boxing….or president of the PTA for my kid’s school.

FitGems: Who or whom do you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Jenn: First, my husband Derek and two kiddos Peyton and Adelyn, and my dad Dave…they all make me want to do better!!! Also, all of my fellow competitors. We all work hard…it takes so much discipline and determination.

FitGems: Career-wise, you are much like WWE superstar John Cena. By that, I mean that you’ve become such an elite star in what would take most people years to get to. Can you explain the success?
Jenn: I spent years as an amateur finding what works for me….I finally found it turned Pro and have been rewarded for it. I have worked just as hard as any figure competitor though. Now I am just tweeking it and perfecting it!!

FitGems: You look like someone who would a great fit in Hollywood. What would be your dream role if giving the opportunity one day?
Jenn: Any role that would costar with Matthew McConaughey or Brad Pitt…shh…or a role of a vampire heroine with my favorite Kate Bekinsale from Underworld!!

FitGems: What are your future plans in the female muscle industry?
Jenn: I have many dreams and goals. I want to motivate as many women as possible…especially mothers. Dreams do come true….you have to live them!! I hope to break more history in the IFBB and be the first MOM to win a big title….Olympia or Arnold!!!

Being the sweetheart she is, she told me thanks. I say, you're welcome. Give them hell at the Olympia, Jenn!!

For more of her, check out the following links:

Her website: http://www.jenngates.com/

Her MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/jenngatesfigure

Her Yahoo! fan club (created by me): http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/jen_gates/

The state of IFBB/NPC women's fitness

I have a question for all fitness fans out there, and I would like to see if any of you know the answer to it…WHAT IN THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO THE SPORT?!?! Why does it feel like women’s fitness is dying a slow death? I’m not saying it is; I’m just basing all of this from what has been going on in the world of female muscle. Women’s bodybuilding has become pretty popular in terms of participation. Figure is UNREAL in terms of how many ladies participate in it. But fitness, the sport that got me loving female muscle in the first place, is going nowhere fast. Wait a minute…that was a little harsh. Actually fitness isn’t going as well as it should be. Why is that?

Is the figure division to blame for the decline of the fitness division? Is the lack of support from the fitness division itself to blame? Is President George W. Bush to blame? I wish I knew the answer to this question, but sadly I don’t. Personally, I think having or lacking a gymnastics or dance background is an overrated excuse on why fitness isn’t as big as it should be, considering that one of the most popular fitness competitors of all time, Adela Garcia, didn’t have either one of those backgrounds. Guess what? You can’t talk about the sport without talking about Adela. She’s that good.

Is something being done about the fitness division…other than talking about the obvious number problem? Fortunately, the answer is yes.

One shine of hope is that IFBB Pro Shannon Meteraud, one of figure’s top stars, might…might be returning to her fitness roots and compete in fitness again. Notice that I said “might” because Shannon has not come right out and said anything. I’m just going by what I’ve read on Issac Hinds’s Hardbody News blog (http://www.hardbody.com/news/2008/05/22/shannon-switching-back-to-fitness). If she returns, all signs are pointing to Houston on Independence Day. With Shannon already a veteran in the business, and the caliber of rising figure stars continuing to expand practically day in and day out, now would be a good time as any for Shannon to show the IFBB why she’s one of the best out there…fitness OR figure. Who knows? Maybe there will be others to follow the trend and help out balance the number of competitors in all the female muscle categories.

Something else that might spark up the fitness numbers is the creation of the NPC Teen Fitness division. Personally I LOVE this idea. I think-if done correctly-this division within the NPC could raise fitness numbers not only in the NPC but IFBB as well. Feminine Bodybuilding posted the rules, regulations, and other legal mumbo-jumbo on their forum (which I’m a moderator of…cheap plug, I know.) But here’s their main objective of the division:

The objectives of the Teen Fitness Division are to promote a fun, safe and
comfortable atmosphere for young athletes from the age of 8 to 19 years of age.
Teen Fitness events will provide a positive environment so that the young
athletes will be excited to participate in the sport. The rules for Teen Fitness
are standardized for all NPC Districts. Standardizing the Teen Fitness events
will ensure quality and credibility.

You can read the entire thing at this link (http://www.femininebodybuilding.com/showthread.php?p=30157#post30157).

One more thing that could be a key factor of fitness’s survival is the unbelievable efforts of IFBB Fitness Competitor Tanji Johnson, who was Stealth on season one of NBC’s American Gladiators. There may very well be no one in the entire IFBB fitness division (at least not yet) that has so much dedication to seeing this sport survive than Tanji. She has launched a campaign with other IFBB fitness stars called “Save the Fitness Competitor”. Seriously, if you happen to be thinking of attend one of Tanji’s clinics, please do so. You’ll be learning from one of the best in the business.

Okay…now that I’ve talked about what is being done right now to improve the fitness numbers, here’s what I would do, and encourage all of you in WebWorld to do…note: you must not be on your desktop, laptop, or web-based PDA or cell-phone to do this. LOL. I would go to whoever runs the IFBB/NPC shows and see if they can add fitness to the shows. For those that DO have fitness on their shows, get permission to videotape some of the fitness routines and physique rounds and post them on Youtube or get your local television news station to run this on their program. The more publicity, the better.

I heard this saying once, and I think this holds true here: “There are those that want to talk about, and there are those that want to BE ABOUT IT!!!” Bottom line, if we as fans and fellow competitors come together as a united front, maybe we can see a fitness boom in the very near future.

Women’s Fitness (whether it’s NPC or IFBB) is a treasure, not a fad. It’s time this sport got treated like one.

SAVE_FITNESS_NOW!!!!!

My personal thoughts on NPC/IFBB figure

My first official blog post (I’m not counting my introduction) won’t be on a competitor, but on an entire division. To be more specifically, I’m gonna talk about the IFBB and NPC figure divisions. By far, figure in the United States is the biggest division due to sheer size, as in how many women are in figure. However, there’s one thing that’s seriously missing from the sport…consistency. Picking a standard in figure is like picking out hay in a needle stack. I mean, COME ON PEOPLE!! The other two divisions (female bodybuilding and fitness) have (to me) clear constant standards that the judges judged on. Female bodybuilding is judged by bringing size and shape yet maintain their femininity, plus your posing routine can make or break you. The top two at this year’s Arnold Classic (Yaxeni Oriquen and Dayana Cadeau) resemble that to a T. Fitness has the flowing defined physique as well (obviously not as big as FBB), but the fitness routines is what will ultimately seperate the women from the girls. Jenny Hendershott, Adela Garcia, and Kim Klein seem to be what fitness should be all about, as they are highly respected by judges and fans alike. IFBB figure has…quarter turns. Yep, that’s it. Just quarter turns. Not the most exciting thing to watch, huh? Well, while it might not be the Super Bowl, I sure as hell would watch on my TV far quicker than hot dogs contest that ESPN would put on their networks. Now, I’m gonna ask a few of figure’s biggest questions to myself…

Is figure a real sport?
Well…DUH! I mean these women train for up to a year just to be in the right condition to even think about stepping on stage. These women work their a$$es off to go out there on stage, drained from carbs (carb-depleted), make sure their suits are on right, and this and that has to be perfect! I won’t get into all the details, as all figure competitors know what I’m talking about. And there are those that have the right to denounce this as a sport and say that they don’t belong in the ranks of female bodybuilding and fitness?!?! GIVE ME A BREAK, PLEASE?!?!

Will the “pro figure letter” work in the long run?
To me, this is too early to answer this question. Issac Hinds (one of the top people in the female muscle industry) mentioned that the ladies at the 2008 Pittsburgh Pro listened to the mandate and said that it was a good thing. Oh wait a minute…exactly what is the pro figure letter? Well, here’s what the meat of the letter says:

"After the first figure event for 2008, The Figure International, the IFBB Professional League wants to see less muscularity and hardness in the figure competitors. The Deltoids are too big and cut and the thigh cuts are too deep. The next IFBB professional figure event is the 2008 Pittsburgh Pro Figure to be held on May 3/2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Beginning with this event the judges will be marking down competitors with excessive hardness and muscular separation"

In other words, the IFBB is looking for an athletic, not too hard, & symmetrical physique, and "pretty" face. Well, too many figure skeptics, this furthers their original thoughts on the sport, by calling it nothing more than a “bonafied Hawaiian Tropic bikini contest.” And to a point, it could be true. In my honest opinion, I would have the competitors themselves determine the ideal physique or criteria that IFBB figure should be about and not leave it up to men that think they know the sport better than the actual competitors (that’s who runs the IFBB, by the way.) But I’m not a figure competitor in any way, shape, or form; I’m just a fan of the female muscle world, that’s all.

However, I asked one of my favorite figure competitors, Jennifer Gates, aka the “figure John Cena” (I’m giving her this nickname due to her rise to the top of IFBB figure. No, Jenn is not pursuing the WWE Raw superstar, as Jenn is happily married to someone else, so there! HAHA!) Anyways, here’s a tad of what she told me a while back, which makes a lot of sense if you think about it:

So, on the record I think it's a good thing. They are asking us to look athletic and not so bodybuilderish. Which I have already learned my lesson about that. I competed in 2006 12 pounds heavier than 2007 and 2008. So I have already streamlined my look. I am happy withthe way I look now...I didn't need all that mass...I still look just as muscular at 110 than I did at 122. Plus I have better luck with fitting into jeans now.And honestly I like training for a more streamlined athletic look better....it's not so much weights. It's more cardio and conditioning. I run bleachers, hill sprints, sprints, long distance running, all sorts of cardio programs, bootcamp classes, you get my point. It doesn't get boring, change it up, and I feel like an athlete.

When an actual competitor puts it all into perceptive, it’s not as bad or degrading as some make it out to be. But still, I have to see how the remaining of the 2008 season and beyond to see if this letter will bring out the best in the competitors…or just another way of keeping the competitors from bringing their best. For the record, as long as the fans are happy and, most importantly, the competitors are happy, then the “pro figure letter” will be considered a success. For now, I’m calling it a test, and after the 2008 Figure Olympia, we’ll see if this letter is a success or a failure with the people that count the most: the competitors and the fans of IFBB figure.

Does IFBB/NPC figure need a posing round?
Ohh…hmm…uhh…well, if it were me, yep. But you know what? I’m gonna get opinions from other people and see what they have to say on the matter, and I’ll get back to you on that on a later post.

Until then, I hope you have read this and be able to draw your own conclusions about IFBB/NPC figure. If you have any questions, suggestions, concerns, etc., please contact me by the following emails (fitgems@yahoo.com or fitgems@hotmail.com) Also don’t forget to leave me a comment on the page. I would like to hear your thoughts on these topics, whether they are positive or negative.

Take care and God Bless you all!