Mandy Sacs is Coming Home...to the WBFF!

Mandy Sacs has never been shy of showing off her physique, as she as done for several years, most noticeably in the World Beauty Fitness and Fashion (WBFF) federation as a Bikini Pro and in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a pro wrestler. In many ways, Mandy was a muscle mommy before muscle mommies became a thing. Her strong physique combines with her Hollywood looks made her a very hot commodity within WWE, making her one of the most popular females in the company during her time there, and of course being very popular on social media. We all know how her WWE career ended so we won't get into that here, but what we WILL talk about is how she has grabbed folks' attention moreso than usual this year. 

Mandy Sacs stealing the show at Miami Swim Week last year

As we mentioned before, Mandy's physique has always seemed to be an attraction on social media, but this year, things felt a tad bit different but no one could tell exactly what it was. She was looking a bit more lean and defined than usual. Some speculated a return to wrestling (if not WWE, then somewhere else). Everything became perfectly clear on Episode 28 of Power Alphas, her podcast with fiancé Sabby Piscitelli, a former WWE Superstar himself. At the end of that particular episode, she announced that she was going to return to competition at the WBFF Worlds in Miami, 10 years after winning the WBFF Bikini Pro World title. 

From her title win in 2014 to now. A near 30lb difference!

Returning to competition after being off the stage for a decade is a pretty big deal, and for Mandy, it will be very interesting to see what kind of look she will bring on stage. We're not sure if she will do Bikini or not because of the sheer amount of muscle she has put on her body since the last time she stepped on stage. She was around 115lbs when she won the title back in 2014. She is a bit over 140lbs now, and yes, a majority of that added weight has been dense muscle. Since most of her muscle has went to her legs, we feel she will either do Wellness or Fitness Model, but that's for Mandy to speak of, not us. Heck, she just might end up staying in Bikini. We have no clue. Either way, we are extremely excited to see what kind of look Mandy is going to bring in in early August. Despite the amazing look she brought to WWE, we have a gut feeling we haven't seen anything yet and we will be looking at the hottest Mandy Sacs...EVER! IS IT AUGUST YET?! 

Oh...BTW, #MandyforVictoriaSecret (if you know, you know) 

A recent photo of Mandy. She is going to put this look to shame come August!

Follow Mandy at the following links:

Her Instagram: https:/www.instagram.com/mandysacs
Her Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/mandysacs
Power Alphas Podcast: https:/www.youtube.com/@PowerAlphasPodcast
Her OnlyFans: https:/www.onlyfans.com/mandysacs
Her FREE OnlyFansTV: https:/www.of.com/mandysacstv
Her TikTok: https:/www.tiktok.com/@mandysacs
All her other links: https://amandasaccomanno.komi.io/

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.

Trish Stratus's 1st WWE Women's Championship: 20 Years Later

November 18, 2001

The city: Greensboro, North Carolina
The venue: Greensboro Coliseum
The event: WWE Survivor Series 2001

Survivor Series 2001 was built around the tagline of "Winner Take All". Whoever won the Survivor Series Elimination Tag Match would rule all of sports-entertainment, either WWE (then known as WWF) or The Alliance (WCW/ECW). Title matches took place during this event, with the winners securing their spot no matter which side would win the war. One of the matches was the crown a new Women's Champion. It was a Six=Pack Challenge that consisted of the following competitors: Lita, Mighty Molly, Jacqueline, Ivory, Jazz...and Trish Stratus. Off all the competitors, Trish was the least-experienced of the bunch by a landslide and at the time, folks wondered why someone who has had less than a year's experience would be in such a high profile match. To say no one had Trish walking out of Survivor Series as Women's Champion that night would be an understatement, but that's exactly what happened. Trish would debut her Stratusfaction bulldog, delivering the move to Ivory, pinning her and winning the first of six WWE Women's Championships. The talent that she would defend the title against, as well as the matter of how she defended the title and represent the company, would help make the classic WWE Women's Championship title viewed as a true title that is still respected today. Being champion also helped elevate Trish as a performer. Her elevation as a performer would pave the way for so many competitors who thought that you had to choose between either being pretty in wrestling or being taken seriously as a wrestler.

We're not going to tell you what you already know about her career, which is so much already. But the fact that Trish is STILL someone that people look up to over 20 years later and folks celebrating her first title win 20 years ago like it's a holiday says something about the impact Trish has had and still has today. Many compeittors will come and go, but Stratusfaction will be guaranteed...forever!

 To view more contributions for Trish Title Day, check out our Instagram page (https://instagram.com/fitgemsnation) as well as StratusVerse on Instagram (https://instagram.com/stratusverse). Follow Trish on the following social emdia accounts:

https://www.facebook.com/trishstratuscom

https://twitter.com/trishstratuscom

https://instagram.com/trishstratuscom

Photos belong to their respective owners.

Trish Stratus: Stratusfaction Guaranteed

March 19, 2000

The world was introduced to a woman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada that would go on to change a profession forever. Her real name is Patricia Anne Stratigias, but the world knows her better as Trish Stratus.

March 19, 2000...the night Trish Stratus graced us with her presence
Photo credit: WWE.com

Before WWE came a-knocking on her door, she was a renowned fitness model that was featured on many magazines, including American Muscle, MuscleMag International, and Oxygen Magazine. With her blonde hair, Hollywood looks, and toned figure, she had a look that emulated comic book heroines and in some ways put many comic book heroines to shame. In fact, Trish mentioned in various interviews that she was aiming for the comic book look during her days as a fitness model. Needless to say, she succeeded. Her look was attainable to many women, especially those who thought lifting would make them look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, her fitness career might have never happened if it wasn't for a strike at York University, where she studied biology and kinesiology and played soccer and field hockey. Because of the strike, she had to do something else, so she ended up working as a receptionist at a local gym. It was then when she was approached to do a test shoot for MuscleMag International. They liked it so much that she ended up on the cover of their May 1998 issue and was signed to a two-year contract. For the next six months, she worked on her body and transformed it into a literal work of art, showcasing an athletic, strong yet feminine body, landing her numerous magazine covers in the process. Even before joining WWE, she wasn't all just looks as she joined Big Daddy Donnie & Jeff Marek as the third host of Live Audio Wrestling on Toronto Sports Radio, The FAN 590. This was right up her alley being a wrestling fan evern since childhood, idolizing Hulk Hogan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage among others. Her modeling work caught the attention of WWE (then known as the WWF). In November 1999, she was signed to a multi-year contract with WWE. She trained with Ron Huchison at Sully's Gym, long before there was such a thing as the WWE Performance Center. Four months after signing her contract, she made her official television debut on Sunday Night Heat, scouting Test and Prince Albert and would form the stable known at T & A the following night on Raw.

If she's not in your top five "best bodies in WWE history" list, you need to reevaluate your life. Just saying.
Photo credit: WWE.com

While many saw this woman with a perfect body, very few knew that she wanted to be more than just that. While she spent most of 2000 and some of 2001 as a manager to Test, Albert, and Val Venus, she would eventually leave the manageral spotlight and begin to carve her name as a wrestler. During that time, women's wrestling was NOT taken as serious by the fans yet Trish didn't give up. She worked her ass off to show the fans that women could kick ass just as well as the guys could, and be sexy when they HAD to be and when they WANTED to be. It took some time, but eventually folks started to appreciate Trish for what she could do in the ring. However, the various photoshoots WWE had outside the ring definitely made sure people knew that Trish could bring the sexiness outside the ring just as well as she could bring the skills IN the ring. At Survivor Series 2001, Trish would go on to win the then-vacant WWE Women's Championship in a Six-Pack Challenge, which featured Jazz, Might Molly and fellow Hall-of-Famers Ivory, Jacqueline, and her bestie Lita. When Trish got done in WWE, she would go on to become a 7x WWE Women's Champion (a record that would stand for years until Charlotte Flair came around) and a one-time WWE Hardcore champion. She would acquired more accolades in her career, including Diva of the Decade, being the youngest female WWE Hall-of-Famer ever, being the first female Cauliflower Alley Club Iron Mike Award winner, and this summer will be inducted into the George/Lou Threz Professional Wrestling Hall-of-Famer by becoming the first female wrestler to receive the Lou Thesz Award.

Trish could have had a very good career with her looks alone and no one would have thought differently of her. Instead, she challenged the status quo and ushered her own STRATUS QUO and helped changed so much about the world: from how female athletes are viewed, how women's wrestling is looked at, how women with muscles are viewed...and all three for the better. Now, is there work to be done in all three? Definitely. But we have come so far from where we were back in Trish's arrival and we are still moving in the right direction. While her wrestling days are behind her, we know that Trish will continue to set an example for so many people around the world as a mother and a fitness icon. How much of an guarantee are we giving this?! How about 100% STRATUSFACTION GUARANTEED?! Doesn't get any better than that!

Physical perfection
Photo credit: WWE.com

For more on Trish, make sure to follow her on her social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trishstratuscom
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/trishstratuscom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trishstratuscom

And make sure to check out her website at https://www.trishstratus.com

11th Annual FitGems Awards Winners

ONCE AGAIN...records were shattered in FitGems Awards voting! Here's the full list of the winners and runner-ups for each category of the 11th Annual FitGems Awards, as well as the top ten finishers of the 2019 FitGems Nation Woman of the Year. Check out our social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram) to view photos of the winners and the top 10 Woman of the Year votegetters. Once again, congrats to all the winners, runner-ups, and nominees!



PRO CATEGORIES

Pro Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Helle Trevino
Theresa Ivancik (runner-up)

Pro Women's Physique Competitor of the Year
Valentina Mishina
Shanique Grant (runner-up)

Pro Fitness Competitor of the Year
Whitney Jones
Tiffany Chandler (runner-up)

Pro Figure Competitor of the Year
Sandra Grajales
Cydney Gillon (runner-up)

Pro Bikini Competitor of the Year
Elisa Pecini
Angelica Texieria (runner-up)

Most Improved Pro Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Aleesha Young
Maria Flores (runner-up)

Most Improved Pro Women's Physique Competitor of the Year
Brittany Watts
Patricia Gosseln (runner-up)

Most Improved Pro Fitness Competitor of the Year 
Sara Kovach
Toni Wheeler (runner-up)

Most Improved Pro Figure Competitor of the Year
Ashley Soto
Lola Montez (runner-up)

Most Improved Pro Bikini Competitor of the Year
Beatriz Biscaia
Monica Ellis (runner-up)

Rookie Pro Women's Bodybuilder of the Year
Tina Williams
Barbara Carita (runner-up)

Rookie Pro Women's Physique Competitor of the Year
Dana Shemesh
Sheila Bleck (runner-up)
 
Rookie Pro Fitness Competitor of the Year
Anna Adams
Terra Plum (runner-up)

Rookie Pro Figure Competitor of the Year
Ashley Jones
Gabrielle Williams (runner-up)

Rookie Pro Bikini Competitor of the Year
Etila Santiago Santos
Hannah Ranfranz (runner-up)

Most Underrated Pro Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Susanna Jacobs
Kristina Mendoza (runner-up)

Most Underrated Pro Women's Physique Competitor of the Year
Ivie Rhein
Heather Grace (runner-up)

Most Underrated Pro Fitness Competitor of the Year
Michelle Gales
Minna Pajulabti (runner-up)

Most Underrated Pro Figure Competitor of the Year
Stacy Fujarski
Michelle Lindsay (runner-up)

Most Underrated Pro Bikini Competitor of the Year Breena Martinez
Eli Fernandez (runner-up)


AMATEUR CATEGORIES 

Amateur Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Brittany Nicole Larson
Erica Hartman (runner-up)

Amateur Women's Physique Competitor of the Year
Justine Albert
Yarelis Ramos Perez (runner-up)

Amateur Fitness Competitor of the Year
Abby Bolton
Molly Prather (runner-up)

Amateur Figure Competitor of the Year
Rita Villarreal
Bernice Higgins (runner-up)

Amateur Bikini Competitor of the Year
Daraja Hill
Ashley Parker (runner-up)

Breakout Amateur Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Donna Jones
Takeela Reddrick (runner-up)

Breakout Amateur Women’s Physique Competitor of the Year
Jessica Martin
Christina Specos (runner-up)

Breakout Amateur Fitness Competitor of the Year
Andrea Larkins
Emilee Clark (runner-up)

Breakout Amateur Figure Competitor of the Year
Cherish Richardson
Charlotte Quillen (runner-up)

Breakout Amateur Bikini Competitor of the Year
Hope Harper
Gina Scafoglio (runner-up)

Most Underrated Amateur Female Bodybuilder of the Year
Robin Hartman
Jenn Schmidt (runner-up)

Most Underrated Amateur Women’s Physique Competitor of the Year
Hannah Hussein
Hayley Townsend (runner-up)

Most Underrated Amateur Fitness Competitor of the Year
Meghan Cassidy
Amanda Reed (runner-up)

Most Underrated Amateur Figure Competitor of the Year
Mandy Harbin
Tricia Mowatt (runner-up)

Most Underrated Amateur Bikini Competitor of the Year
Nicole Desmond
Veronica Garza (runner-up)



MISC. CATEGORIES

Fitness Model of the Year
Wendy Fortino
Yarshina Ayala (runner-up)

Fitness Ambassador of the Year
Whitney Jones
Nicole Wilkins (runner-up)

Social Media Star of the Year
Yarishna Ayala
Ivana Ivusic (runner-up)

Moment of the Year
The announcement of the return of Ms. Olympia in 2020
Simone Biles becoming the most decorated gymnast of all time, male or female (runner-up)

Photographer of the Year
J.M. Manion
Will Wittmann (runner-up)

Fit Celebrity of the Year
Charly Caruso/Arnolt (WWE Raw/ESPN)
Paige Davis (Trading Spaces) (runner-up)

Female Sports Athlete of the Year
Simone Biles
Serena Williams (runner-up)

Female Crossfit Athlete of the Year
Katrin Davidsdottir
Tia-Clair Toomey (runner-up)

Fittest Female WWE Superstar of the Year (Raw/Smackdown)
Dana Brooke
Charlotte Flair (runner-up)

Fittest Female NXT Superstar of the Year
Rhea Ripley
Xia Li (runner-up)

Fittest Female Mainstream Wrestler of the Year
Tessa Blanchard (Impact)
Jordynne Grace (Impact) (runner-up)

Fittest Female Independent Wrestler of the Year
Amber Nova
Big Swole (runner-up)

Famale Physique Paysite of the Year
HDPhysiques/Preminum Physiques
HerBicepsPlus (runner-up)

Physique Paysite Model of the Year
Brooke Walker
Cris Goy (runner-up)

Promoter(s) of the Year
Tim Garnder
Chris Minnes (runner-up)

Fitness Clothing Line of the Year
Flag Nor Fail
Booty Queen Apparel (runner-up)

Team of the Year
Underrated Muscle
Cyberbodyshop (runner-up)

Male Trainer of the Year
Matt Allen
Dave Palumbo (runner-up)

Female Trainer of the Year
Wendy Fortino
Whitney Jones (runner-up)



2019 FitGems Nation Woman of the Year

1. Simone Biles
2. Sandra Grajales
3. Helle Trevino
4. Natalia Coelho
5. Whitney Jones
6. Bojana Vasiljevic
7. Shanique Grant
8. Nadia Wyatt
9. Missy Truscott
10. Megan Rapinoe

10th Annual FitGems Awards Ballot

The poll is LIVE! You don't have to vote for each category, but it would nice to vote for as many as possible. You can vote once per day until January 14th at 11:59pm Eastern time. At that time, all polls will be closed. Have a wonderful rest of 2018, congrats once again to all the FitGems Award nominees, and best of luck to each and every one of you!


PRO CATEGORIES

AMATEUR CATEGORIES

MISC. CATEGORIES

AND THE HIGHEST HONOR OF THEM ALL...THE FITGEMS NATION WOMAN OF THE YEAR!

Follow the conversation about this year's FitGems Awards by using the hashtag #FitGemsAwards on Twitter and Instagram. Post your predictions on who you think will win...as well as any questions you may have about any of the categories and nominees, or anyone you think got snubbed. We will explain how we came to our decisions for the nominees. SEE YOU IN 2019!!!

8th Annual FitGems Awards...VOTE HERE!

For years, we have used Mister Poll as our official FitGems Awards voting platform. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are going to be using Polldaddy for our voting platform going forward. We apologize for how late this poll has taken to get up and we hope to do better in the future.

You can vote once a day until February 1st at midnight eastern time. After that, votes will be tallied and winners will be announced on Friday, February 3rd. Best of luck to everyone and congrats to all the nominees!



PRO CATEGORIES













AMATEUR CATEGORIES














MISC. CATEGORIES
















Remember, you can vote once a day for each category until February 1st as midnight Eastern time, with winners to be announced on February 3rd. Good luck!

Our Dreamlist for Marc Thyseen's Olympia Photoshoot

As we've mentioned before, top fitness photographer Marc Thyseen will be hosting an, in his words, "Exclusive Photo Shoot event" at REHAB pool at the HARD ROCK in Las Vegas on Sunday, September 18th, during the 2016 Olympia Weekend. We hope those in the Las Vegas area during the Olympia weekend will look into this and participate. From the infomation we've gathered this far, images will be published in Planet Muscle magazine, and the event will be professionally filmed, so we're guessing potential DVD, Youtube video, and/or digital video of the event will be made. If you would like to participate in it marc@marcthyssen.com. If you would like to be a corporate sponsor for the event (which will cost your company a fraction of an Olympia booth, which for those who have done it knows those are NOT cheap). use the same email as well.

While we have no clue who will be part of the event (yet), FitGems Nation did compile a list of 12 ladies around the industry that we feel would be great for this event. They are in no particular order, and trust us...it was not easy to narrow this list to 12 ladies. (Photos belong to their respective owners).

Tina Nguyen

Tina is quickly becoming one of the most popular fitness personalities on Instagram, currently past over half a million followers. It’s not hard to see why with her beautiful looks and comic book-like proportions. With the physique and following she has, being a part of this shoot would be an even bigger boost for her career.

Christine Pomponio-Pate

This woman DOES NOT AGE! She was part of both FitHeat and the Fitness Supermodel Weekend, and both times she looked like she could have stepped on stage and did damage. A lot has changed between now and back then, including adding twin boys to the family. Even in her early 40s and a mother-of-three, she is still kicking butt and taking names in the looks department. It would be only fitting that Christine would return being one of Marc’s first big models he worked with (not to mention being one of his all-time favorites)

Larissa Reis

Another woman who is no stranger to working with Marc, Larissa has been part of Marc’s shoots before, including the 2011 Fitness Supermodel Weekend. While she hasn’t stepped on stage in quite some time, she still have one of the most impressive bodies in the fitness world today. She would be a great fit (no pun intended) for the simple fact that she lives in Las Vegas.


Wendy Fortino

Arguably the most deserving person on this list on a personal level, Wendy is not only one of the most underrated figure competitors in the world, but she is also one of the most underrated fitness models in the world. She has been part of a few shoots here and there, but not to the point where they are known as much as they should be. Being part of this event would not only give Wendy massive credibility in the fitness modeling world, but this could potentially pave the way for her to get more opportunities down the line by others.

Latorya Watts

She will already be in Vegas defending her Figure Olympia title. Latorya would be an obvious choice to have her as part of this shoot. One of the most genetically superior competitors the figure division has ever seen, she is also quite the model herself, doing some work with many photographers over the last couple of years. Marc is no stranger to photographing Olympia champions, and Latorya would be an ideal person to have as part of his photoshoot.

Heather Dees

Heather was part of the 2011 Fitness Supermodel Weekend and displayed an amazing physique during that time. It has only gotten better and better since then. Whatever motivated her to take her physique to the next level worked, while still keeping it within today’s figure standards. With the photoshoots she did last year showing off her improved physique, maybe it’s time for Heather to do another shoot with Marc and see what magic they can provide this time around.


Ariel Khadr

It’s been a dream for Ariel to make it to the Olympia stage and seven years after becoming the youngest fitness competitor at the time to win an IFBB pro card, she has now emerged as a top fitness competitor and will be stepping on the Olympia stage for the first time in her career. Her exotic looks are made for photoshoots such as the one Marc will be doing next month. Being part of this photoshoot AND competing in her first Olympia? Taki about one heck of an first-ever Olympia experience!

Natalia Coelho

She will be one of the youngest competitors on the Olympia stage, but has one of the craziest physiques in the entire figure division, or any division for that matter. Very photogenic and knows how to pose for someone her age. Natalia’s stock is only going to grow as her competition career goes forward, and being part of this shoot would be an instant boost for her.


Juliana Malacarne

The women’s physique division was created for a woman such as Juliana Malacarne. In fact, calling Juliana a woman is almost an insult, as she’s more of a living, breathing goddess, which practically anyone who has ever seen her can back up this claim. The 2x Physique Olympia and first-ever Physique International champion will look to win the Olympia Physique Showdown for a third-straight year against some of the most competitive talent to date. With her aiming to be at her best yet, it’s only fitting that she is part of this shoot, showing why the women’s physique division is the perfect combination of muscularity and femininity.


Camala Rodriquez-McClure

Camala is a bonafide star in every sense of the word. She has competed in multiple Olympias and Arnolds, including winning the Figure International title back in 2015. She has also shown that she can kill it on photoshoots, displaying great muscularity for the figure division with her trademark curves and Latina charm. She will be in Vegas competing in hopes of winning her 1st Figure Olympia title, and being part of this photoshoot would be a great thing to add to her already-impressive resume.


Ashley Kaltwasser

The definitive bikini competitor, Ashley is arguably THE most successful competitors in the short but deep history of the IFBB bikini division. 3 Bikini Olympia titles and 2 Bikini International titles, there’s arguably no one in the division as dominating as her. This beauty from Ohio would be a great fit to Marc’s photoshoot, as she will already be in Vegas anyways defending her title and aiming for an unthinkable FOURTH-STRAIGHT (!!!!) Bikini Olympia championship.


Meriza Deguzman-Ciccone

Meriza hasn’t stepped on stage in years, but the way she looks (much like Christine), you wouldn’t know it. She has kept herself in incredible shape since the last time she competed, for the simple fact that she LIVES the fitness lifestyle rather than the competition lifestyle. But make no mistake, she can get photoshoot-ready whenever she damn well pleases, which she has proven over the years.

So there you have it...our list for the twelve women we would like to see be part of Marc Thyssen's Olympia photoshoot next month. So what about you. Who would YOU want to see be part of this historic event? Let us know in the comments or send us a Facebook message. We will forward all of your suggestions to Marc. As mentioned earlier, any additional news we get regarding the event, we will make sure to let you all know. 

Marc Thyssen's Fitness Supermodel Weekend...Five Years Later

Flyer for this monumental event back in 2011.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of (to us) one of the best fitness modeling events to ever take place. We’re talking about the Fitness Supermodel Weekend, which was hosted by Marc Thyssen. This event was a follow-up to FitHeat, which took place about a year earlier. Some of the biggest names got together and did a massive photoshoot with Marc and his crew. The ladies that participated were as followed:

Nicole Wilkins

Christine Pomponio-Pate

Heather Dees

Felicia Romero

Sonia Gonzales (now Sonia Querido)

Larissa Reis

Adela Garcia

Natalie Pennington

Khanh Nguyen

Kristy Chin

Dayna Maleton

This weekend-long event took place at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino at Las Vegas during the 2011 NPC USAs. Fans were able to get a look at the stars in person, and see one of the best fitness photographers in the world in action. To hold such an event took some guts, determination, and some luck, but Marc was able to pull it off in a way that has helped paved the way for others to establish their own super modeling events. While Marc is far from the first to discover how to bring beautiful, fit women together, he has become somewhat of a master at it.

Once in a lifetime event...or is it?!
With Marc in this photo is (From left to right, front) Christine Pompoiono-Pate, Adela Garcia
(from left to right, back) Sonia Querido , Larissa Reis, Felicia Romero, and Heather Dees

Coming off the heels of this event, Marc announced on his social media accounts that there will be a similar event to take place at this year's Olympia, September 16th to be exact. If the 2011 event was any indication, expect this year’s event to be one for the ages. As we get more info, we will pass it along to you. 

For those that want to relive the historic event from 2011 (and who doesn't), check out the link below to some photos as well as a video of the event:

http://marcthyssen.com/FitSupWE2011.html

For more on Marc Thyssen, check out the following links:

Website: http://www.marcthyssen.com/Welcome.html

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marc_thyssen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarcThyssen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarcThyssenProductions/

Our interview with Marc back in 2011 (pre-Fitness Supermodel weekend): http://fitgems.blogspot.com/2011/07/interview-with-photographer-marc.html

EXCLUSIVE Interview with Brittany Beede

Last year, fans of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) were introduced to a Diva who described herself as three simple words: Sexy, Strong, and Unstoppable. Her name is Brittany Beede, although most WWE fans will know her as Jamie Keyes. Whether she was ring announcing on Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) and WWE NXT Season 2 or kicking butt in the ring and competitions during NXT Season 3, Jamie seemed to find a way to get the attention of many of the WWE Universe. She's been gone from the WWE since October 2010 and has since begun to help people reach their fitness goals and begin her own journey into becoming one the next top fitness celebrities. Although her schedule is as busy as ever without WWE, Brittany was kind and gracious enough to conduct this interview with us.

All pictures used in this interview were provided by Brittany herself and are property of the original companies.

Original source: Body by Brazil

FitGems Nation: May you start off by telling a little bit about yourself?
Brittany Beede: I'm Brittany Beede, 26 years old, and blessed to be born and raised in the beautiful city of Sarasota, Florida!:) I found my passion for the fitness lifestyle at a very young age. I was extremely active growing up, taking part in every sport I was able and was very serious about my 11 years as a cheerleader! I have always liked challenges and when I saw there was a wrestling school in Tampa (FCW) I enrolled with the goal to make it in the WWE. Lucky for me I achieved that goal and after a short time training in the WWE developmental program I was on TV as Jamie Keyes.

FitGems: We’re gonna get the wrestling questions out of the way. First up…what made you become a fan of pro wrestling in the first place?
Brittany: My dad was always a fan of wrestling! I grew up watching it on t.v. with him and attended a few local shows. He was very supportive and proud when I expressed my interest in becoming a diva myself.

FitGems: How did you begin your wrestling career, and how did you end up in WWE?
Brittany: As I stated earlier, I attended FCW's wrestling school before being hired with the company. I was actually attending nursing school at the time. I began training to be a wrestler (sports entertainer!) under the leadership of Steve Kiern and Norman Smiley. I actually drove over an hour, the day of the first class, and was greeted by the Celtic warrior himself, Sheamus! I wasn't hired immediately after completing the school, but with persistence and drive I was given my opportunity! I made the move to Tampa, Florida and ended up on the road after only a month!

FitGems: You were brought into WWE as the announcer for Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) and WWE NXT Season 2 and eventually became a Rookie Diva on NXT Season 3, going by the name Jamie Keyes. What did you enjoy about each of your roles while being a part of the company?
Brittany: I think wrestling fans are incredible! Being able to perform live and impact audiences in sold-out arenas as both an announcer and a wrestler was a tremendous opportunity and blessing!

FitGems: During your time in the company, did you learn any new workout tips that helped you out when it came to training?
Brittany: We were given the privilege of being trained by WWE's incredible strength coach, Rob MacIntyre. Through his knowledge and expertise I learned the importance and benefits of the power lifts and Olympic lifts. I still look to his mastery when planning my own Booty camp group classes.:)

FitGems: I gotta be real with you…I thought WWE didn’t do enough to push your character during your time, and from what I gathered from others, they feel the same way. Were you the least bit surprised that you were the first person eliminated on NXT Season 3?
Brittany: Not at all! What I think people don’t realize is how quickly I was put on the road. I was only in developmental for a few months. I didn’t have as much time to train once I was hosting. Then all of a sudden I was on NXT. I was honored but overwhelmed. The other girls were much more experienced than I was. I was lucky to even be there. I am honored to have fans that feel differently but the truth is I felt my inexperience was apparent.

FitGems: And now the million dollar question, in your own words…What (at the time) was the reason (or reasons) you decided that WWE’s just not for you right now? In other words, what’s the REAL story behind your release?
Brittany: Ha ha. I wish I had a scandalous story for you! There is no story really. As I said in the previous answer I hadn’t been there long before I had been put on the road. It is hard to imagine how tough the WWE schedule is until you do it. I joined the WWE because I was a fan, and wanted to promote the fitness lifestyle. However, after being with the company for a while I learned I loved fitness more than wrestling. Everyone treated me great. I loved the people. I loved the opportunities. I didn’t have any fights backstage or anything interesting to talk about. I just felt I could pursue a career helping others with health and fitness that would be more fulfilling to me.

FitGems: Since your time in WWE, you have shifted gears towards fitness, which has been your main focus from the beginning. How did you get involved in fitness in the first place?
Brittany: Like I stated previously, my adoration for the fitness lifestyle was apparent at a very young age. I participated in countless extra curricular activities and began teaching group fitness classes while attending nursing school and continued through wrestling school. Even with the tedious schedule on the road with WWE I always made my workouts a top priority. It's something that I take very seriously and will carry with me for the remainder of my life!


FitGems: Let’s be honest…from your recent pics, you look like you can step on stage and hold your own in a physique competition. Do you actually see yourself competing one day?
Brittany: I have no interest in competing. I stay in shape for me and because I truly love working out.

FitGems: What is your favorite kind of workout to do?
Brittany: My workouts constantly change, but there is nothing like lifting heavy weights at fast speeds over your head or the feeling after completing a long run! I like to do it all! I want to be known as the girl who knew her limitations only because she consistently challenged them. I want to look back at my life and have no regrets! If I am capable, I will attempt it!

Original source: Lift Studios/Hardbody

FitGems: When your website (BrittanyBFit.com) was launched, many WWE personalities went to Twitter and put you over, including Natalya, Chris Jericho, and Joey Styles. Did you expect some of the WWE people to do that, and how did it make you feel?
Brittany: I felt very honored! WWE is successful because of every single person involved! Everyone from the cooks to Mr. McMahon himself were welcoming, supportive and encouraging during my entire career with the company.
It's an incredible feeling to have been given the opportunity to work side by side with such talent and prestige!

FitGems: How important do you think fitness modeling is for the fitness industry? Some competitors just work out and compete and that’s all we ever see them is in competitions.
Brittany: I am certainly not an expert on the industry but I think in the world of women’s fitness, there is more of a differential between competing and modeling. Competitive male bodybuilders sell men's magazines. Fitness models sell women’s magazines. They don’t necessarily have to compete. The people who buy these things don’t really know who won the fitness Olympia. They just want to see a hot, fit girl. So I see no problem if someone just wants to compete. There is not a shortage of fitness models.

FitGems: What magazine would you like to be on the cover of someday?
Brittany: I'd love to be on the cover of Oxygen! I love what they stand for and have had a subscription for years!
 
FitGems: If you were not in fitness, what would you be doing right now?
Brittany: Wishing I was!

FitGems: What advice would you give to people who want to start living healthy lifestyles?
Brittany: I would tell them that it's a process, yet something that will be the most positive, life-altering decision they will ever make. Fitness and making smart decisions with nutrition is not easy! If it were, every person would be healthy and fit. I don't believe that anything worth it is ever comes without a tremendous amount of passion, dedication and hard work! Set your mind to be ready for the change and be consistent!

FitGems: Oh…here’s the OTHER one million dollar question all former wrestlers are asked…is there a chance that one day you might be back in WWE?
Brittany: Never say never.

FitGems: What are your future plans in the fitness industry, and where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Brittany: My goal is to continue to be a personal trainer, life coach, and source of inspiration to each and every person that I am able. Fitness has changed my life in so many incredible ways, and I plan to share my revelation with as many people as possible by empowering them to live positive, healthy, happy lifestyles, through proper diet and exercise.
Of course I will always continue the challenge of refining my own physique and lifestyle to be the best I can be!

FitGems: How can your fans connect with you and contact you if they want to know your upcoming plans or want to book you for future endorsements, commercials, print work, etc. (website, email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)?
Brittany: Other than www.BrittanyBFit.com, please contact me through Facebook and twitter! Here are the links!:)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BrittanyBeede
Official Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brittany-Beede-Jamie-Keyes-WWE/151485664892299

Original source: Body by Brazil

Again, huge thanks to Brittany for doing this interview with us! In addition to the links she provided, she writes for this very blog periodically, so be on the lookout for more articles from Brittany in the very near future. Hope you all enjoyed this special interview, and to all wrestling news sites, if you plan on reposting the interview by parts or in full, please credit FitGems Nation. Thank you.

Fit Model TV: The Fitness Model Media Blog

There are sites all around that support the female competitors in terms of competition, sponsorships, financial advice, etc. But there are VERY few sites that have to do with the modeling side of the industry. For many, modeling is a major part of their career.

New blog Fit Model TV, created by dallas3, hopes to spread the news about fitness photographers and fitness models, as well as when competitors do modeling as well. Already, the blog has featured work from photographers such as David Ford, Isaac Hinds, Marc Thyssen, and more, along with videos and photos of models/competitors such as Monica Brant, Ava Cowan, Alicia Harris, Mandy Blank, and the Vitrix Model Team, among others.

You can view modeling contests, get info on photographers, see modeling photos/videos, and more! This site is just starting, but from what is on there so far, it is looking to become one of the top sites in this industry, especially in terms of size and importance to the models, athletes, and photographers.

To visit Fit Model TV, go to http://fitmodeltv.wordpress.com. 

Vitrix Model Team Online Model Search

Yesterday (January 15), the Vitrix Model Team opened up their voting for their first-ever online model search contest. There are 61 hopefuls competing in the January contest, ranging from fitness models to IFBB competitors.

To view bios, pictures, and video of all the competitors for this month, click here and vote for your favorites. You can vote once every 24 hours until February 15th. This is going to be done every month, so you can click here to enter future contests. Monthly winners receive a free photo shoot as well as makeup, hair styling, and a wardrobe styling consultation. Images from the shoot will then be featured on the Vitrix Model Team website (www.vitrixmodelteam.com) along with any video captured and/or blogs provided by the winner at the discretion of the hosting company. The winner/winners are also awarded a trip to Las Vegas including economy air fare and accommodations for two nights in Las Vegas for the scheduled photo shoot. In addition, all monthly winners will have an opportunity to be considered for membership on The Vitrix Model Team which includes an endorsement contract with Nutrex Research.

For those thinking about entering for next month or any month in 2011, please do so. This is a great opportunity to be part of one of the top emerging female groups in the fitness world today. Good luck to everyone in this month's contests and to others that will be entering next month and in the months ahead!

WBFF Heading to USA in 2011

As first reported on BodySport.com, the WBFF (World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation) is going to have a few shows in the United States in 2011. This is a big step for the ever-growing federation, which has seen top fitness icon Monica Brant join the WBFF back in the summer and reaching new popularity over the last four year. WBFF will be entering year 5 next year, and things are looking to be bigger then ever for them.

Many people have wanted to be part of this for a while now, but with most of the shows being in Canada, for the most part, it was impossible. Now with this expansion, expect the WBFF to continue to reach greater heights yet maintain their trademark production and treatment of athletes that they are best known for.

Here's the dates for the shows next year:
April 16 - Connecticut
May 21 - Kansas City
June 25 - Rhode Island

For more on why WBFF CEO Paul Dillett decided to make this change and could more come from this expansion, click here, and for more on the WBFF go to http://www.wbffshows.com.

2011 Bodybuilding.com BodySpace Spokesmodel Search Voting Has Begun!

The 2011 Bodybuilding.com BodySpace Spokesmodel Search is on, and there are a LOT of women in this contest. Here's just a few of the names on here:

• Erin Stern (2010 Figure Olympia champion and a 2010 BodySpace Spokemodel Finalist)
• Felicia Romero (Top IFBB Figure Competitor)
• Brittany Beede (Formerly Jamie Keyes of WWE)
• Mandy Henderson (New IFBB Figure Pro)
• Shelsea Montes (First-ever crowned IFBB Bikini Pro)
• Laura Bailey (Top NPC Figure competitor)
• Nicole Nagrari (Top IFBB Bikini Pro)
• Laticia Jackson (Top IFBB Fitness Pro)
• Missy Coles (Top IFBB Bikini Pro)
• AND THIS ISN'T EVEN HALF THE LIST!! NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!

Seriously...there's not a shortage of star power for the ladies this year. I can't make a prediction on who will end up in the finals when it's all said and done. What I CAN do is tell you to vote for your favorite, whether it be the ones I've listed or someone who wasn't listed on here. You can only vote once per day, but you can vote every day until November 30th. So tell your friends, family, fans, whoever and whatever that if you want your favorites to move on, they need to vote and vote daily!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2011-bodyspace-spokesmodel-search-voting.htm Click on the Women tab and click on the lady you want to get your vote for. Oh, you can also click on the Men tab and vote for your favorite guy as well. LOL.

Good luck to everyone!!

Brittany Beede: Fitness's Next Breakout Diva

Fitness industry...meet Brittany Beede!
Photo credit: WWE.com

A couple of weeks ago, Jamie Keyes was eliminated from WWE's show NXT. This week, she was given her pink slip from the entire company altogether. Needless to say, this struck a nerve with quite a few people, including yours truly. So what's a girl to do after seeing her dreams of becoming a WWE Diva crumble before her eyes? Simply...pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go forward. Jamie is doing more than just going forward, folks. She's aiming to create a fitness empire!

Fresh off her WWE venture, she's hopping right into the fitness world full-steam with a campaign unlike anything I've seen from one individual. She's launched a Youtube channel, a Google profile page, and an official Facebook fan page, not to mentioning changing her Twitter name to better suit her current and future fans, and that's just within a mere few hours! Imagine how things are going to be for here when everything starts to take off! THIS is what is going to set her apart from many in the fitness industry. She's aiming to become someone in the industry, not just a name or a face in the crowd. It's pretty clear she doesn't need the WWE to succeed (Trust me, they need her a hell of a lot more than she needs them), but I wouldn't rule out a possible return somewhere down the line. But for now, look for Brittany to make an huge and lasting impact on the fitness industry. There's a possible chance that you might see her at the 2011 Arnold "hint..hint". Just like when FitGems Nation supported Brittany during her days as a WWE Diva, we will continue to support Brittany during her journey to becoming fitness's next breakout diva. Good luck, Brittany!! :)

Here are the links to follow Brittany on her quest to becoming the next fitness icon:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BrittanyBeede
Official Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brittany-Beede-Jamie-Keyes-WWE/151485664892299
Google profile page: http://www.google.com/profiles/britter1231
Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/britter1231
And of course, her fansite that was created prior to becoming a star in WWE: http://www.jamiekeyes.com

EDIT: For all fans of Brittany, I've created a fan page called the Brittany Brigade, to help keep up with all things Brittany, from the beginning of her career until now. You can join it by clicking here.