Could a “Getting Physical” Remake Work in 2021?

Back in 1984, a made-for-TV movie called Getting Physical, starting Alexandra Paul. Paul starred in the film as Kendall Gibley, a woman whose weight was causing her to suffer from self-esteem. She decided to take up self-defense classes to lose wright but ended up getting into female bodybuilding after seeing the women in the gym. She would get into it so much that she ends up facing the pros for the championship. However her boyfriend and her dad aren’t exactly too thrilled with her new look. If you want to view the movie for yourself, click here.

For a made-for-tv movie, I didn’t think it was too bad. It strikes me as something that would fit Lifetime, Freeform, or any channel like that. There were some corny and cheesy parts to it, but that was par for the course when it came to movies back in the 1980s. Also for anyone that followed Paul’s career, it’s hard for her to portray a heavy woman (especially with one of her highlights in her career being on the hit show Baywatch) but she was able to pull it off. 

Speaking of pulling if off...could a Getting Physical remake be done in 2021? Personally, I’d say yes, BUT I would change a few things. One, it doesn’t have to be a heavy-set woman trying to get fit. My spin would be a woman who has a dangerous encounter with a man and wanted to take self-defense classes to protect herself. The premise would remain the same: she sees fit women in the gym and gets the bug and dedices to do physique competitions and works her way to the championship, with her boyfriend and dad not being so approving of her look. Another change would be the category that would be represented. At the time of the original movie, only bodybuilding was there for the women. Now there’s women’s bodybuilding, women’s physique, fitness, figure, bikini, and wellness. If it were up to me, I would choose between figure, bikini, or wellness, as I feel those three would be more acceptable to the mainstream audience. I would look-wise aim for figure with a bodybuilding-like style of flexing to it, to give the audience a show. Obviously the championship would not be the Olympia, as the IFBB owns that name. However, it would be cool to see some IFBB Pros in a remake of Getting Physical as part of not only the championship but also in the gym scenes that influence the main star to give muscle competitions a try. 

There’s a lot more to get into when it comes to a remake but this a general thought on it. With that being said, I’ll leave the floor open to you all: Do YOU think a Getting Physical remake will work in 2021? Do you WANT to see this movie getting a modern remake? Which IFBB Pros (or NPC athletes) would you like to see make an appearance in the movie? Which actress would you like to have Alexandra Paul’s role? We will have a follow-up post soon. You can either comment below, leave us a DM on our social media platforms, or email us at fitgemsnation@gmail.com. Looking forward to everyone’s responses!

The Rock's Potential New Show...A Potential Opportunity for Fit Female Talent?!

For those that have followed bodybuilding, one of the biggest supporters of the industry is one of the biggest names in Hollywood and wrestling history, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. While he has never stepped on a bodybuilding stage as a performer, he lives the lifestyle as most people who've seen him can attest to that. Announced today on his social media accounts, which has MILLIONS (AND MILLIONS!!) of Rock fans (and followers), his productions Seven Buck Productions (along with Flynn Pictures Company) has sold a script to USA Network (home of Suits, Royal Pains, Mr. Robot, WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown Live) for a one-hour original series called Muscle Beach.

BIG NEWS: Our @sevenbucksprod along with our producing partner Beau Flynn's @flynnpictureco sell a script titled "MUSCLE BEACH" to USA Network! Written by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer. An original hour long drama series who's found the perfect home at USA - a network who's been on fire with their brilliant dramatic television. "Muscle Beach" is set in a legendary bodybuilding gym in 1980's Venice Beach where a colorful tribe of lost souls struggle to reinvent themselves by bench-pressing their way to a bigger, better American dream, no matter what the cost. As the series explores the body obsessed fitness movement that took the nation by storm during the supersized Reagan 80's, the excess of the era and the many temptations of Los Angeles will expose the dark side of chasing dreams. 

As a kid growing up in the 80's it's exciting to produce a series that stays true to our brand and dig deep into an iconic time in bodybuilding and unique Venice Beach culture - the 80's. 

The 80's was a crazy time in Venice Beach with many lost souls. A very crazy time... #SevenBucksProds #FlynnPictures #USANetwork #OriginalDramaSeries #MuscleBeach

BIG NEWS: Our @sevenbucksprod along with our producing partner Beau Flynn's @flynnpictureco sell a script titled "MUSCLE BEACH" to USA Network! Written by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer. An original hour long drama series who's found the perfect home at USA - a network who's been on fire with their brilliant dramatic television. “Muscle Beach” is set in a legendary bodybuilding gym in 1980’s Venice Beach where a colorful tribe of lost souls struggle to reinvent themselves by bench-pressing their way to a bigger, better American dream, no matter what the cost. As the series explores the body obsessed fitness movement that took the nation by storm during the supersized Reagan 80's, the excess of the era and the many temptations of Los Angeles will expose the dark side of chasing dreams. As a kid growing up in the 80's it's exciting to produce a series that stays true to our brand and dig deep into an iconic time in bodybuilding and unique Venice Beach culture - the 80's. The 80's was a crazy time in Venice Beach with many lost souls. A very crazy time... #SevenBucksProds #FlynnPictures #USANetwork #OriginalDramaSeries #MuscleBeach

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Jul 20, 2016 at 10:30am PDT

Assuming this does get picked up by USA Network, how cool would it be to see some women from the fitness industry not only have cameos but be a part of this show as actual cast members! Now, of course the only divisions that existed back in the 1980s were men's and women's bodybuilding, but still the thought of a show being on a network such as the USA Network would be huge for the bodybuilding industry and give some people a well-deserve platform to showcase that they are much more than people who lift. I mean think about it...Nicole Wilkins, Erin Stern, Wendy Fortino, Amanda Kuclo, Tina Nguyen, Latorya Watts, Juliana Malacarne, Dana Linn Bailey, Ashley Kaltwasser (just to name a few)...on NATIONAL TELEVISION?!?! Imagine how many new eyes will be on the bodybuilding world should this come to fruition! With the Rock being involved, it's almost guaranteed that new eyes will watch just out of curiousity, and that in turn will lead to more fans knowing who these women and men are. It worked for American Gladiators, it worked for WWE, why can't it work with one of the hardest-working men in Hollywood?  

We will definitely be keeping up with this news and keeping you all informed on what could go down. Assuming this does happen and women are involved (I would be shocked in they weren't in some capacity), who would YOU like to see be part of Muscle Beach? Email us at fitgemsnation@gmail.com, send us a Facebook message, send us a tweet, or leave a comment below. 

OPINION: Is Hollywood Afraid of Fit Women?

All photos belong to their respective owners.

Hey ladies, if you ever want to have a successful career in Hollywood, here’s a small tip I can give you…don’t ever pick up a weight, but if you do, make sure it’s those colorful weights that weigh 3-5 pounds each.

You think I’m joking, don’t you? You honestly think I’m making a joke here. Sad thing is…I wish I was.

It has been made abundantly clear that Hollywood and the mainstream media seem to have some form of intimidation issue with fit woman and don’t want to showcase them in any positive manner when it comes to the entertainment world. However, the sports world is a different story, especially more now than ever before.

On August 1^st, 2015, Ronda Rousey defeated previously unbeaten Bethe Correia to remain undefeated in UFC, retaining the World Bantamweight Championship in the main event of UFC 190. Yes…the MAIN EVENT. As in THE fight that people pay to see the most. Since then, things in the division began to get very interesting when Holly Holm shocked the world at UFC 193 and defeated Rousey for the title (main-event, as well) and then at UFC 197, Mishea Tate defeated Holm to finally capture the title (part of a massive double main-event). For several UFC events, fit, tough women have been in the spotlight and have shown that fit women can draw a crowd if done right.

While it hasn’t always been that way, the sports world is beginning to see that women just aren’t the same “cute, cookie-cutter stereotype” they used to be. They are starting to realize that strong is the new sexy. The NFL has recently hired their first coach in Dr. Jen Welter, a football player herself who has no problem showing the men how it’s done on the gridiron. The NBA hired their first coach in Becky Hammon, who ended up making even more history by becoming the first women to win a championship in the NBA (yes, it was the Summer League, but a championship is a championship, nethertheless). CrossFit has become super-popular in a short amount of time, and many would argue that the reason for that is Camille LeBlanc-Bazinet, who won last year’s CrossFit Games but has been viewed as arguably THE Face of CrossFit (not just the female side) for quite some time. Even WWE’s got in on the “Strong is the New Sexy” movement with their #DivaRevolution with NXT favorites Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch making waves on the main roster (and will be heading to Wrestlemania to compete for the Divas Championship in a much-anticipated Triple Threat match), with ladies such as Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Askua, Emma, and Dana Brooke (who DOUBLES as a fitness competitor in addition to being a wrestler, BTW) leading the NXT women’s division to new frontiers. Pretty sad that Hollywood is too stuck on their ways that they can’t see something awesome that’s right in front of them.

WWE Divas Champion Charlotte leading the #DivasRevoltion in WWE, with fit, gorgeous women changing WWE's Divas division a day at a time, with names such as Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Bayley, Asuka, Emma, Dana Brooke, Natalya, Alexa Bliss, and Nikki Bella, among others. WWE will be launching a Tapout fitness line in April, shortly after Wrestlemania 32 in Dallas, Texas.

I mean, seriously, what is it going to take for Hollywood to see that fit girls CAN move a company and/or sport to new heights? Are they THAT scared of women with a little bit of muscle? There’s all this talk about “diversity”, but it seems to only be involved with color, sexual orientation/preference, and SOME body types. Apparently, it’s fine in Hollywood to be practically anyone (and I mean ANYONE) in Hollywood except a fit woman it seems. I mean there are tons of women in the bikini division (the least muscular of the female divisions) that would be great in Hollywood, and Hollywood is too afraid to give them a proper look. I swear I wish I was exaggerating, but here’s something big I want you to ponder on for a bit:

Unless you have been living under a rock the last few years, you have probably heard of a certain movie that is out, quite possibly THE biggest superhero movie of all time when it's all said and done…Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. As of this post being published, I’ve yet to have seen this movie, so I’ll hold off judgment on the movie as a whole until I’ve seen it. But one of the roles in the movie was for Wonder Woman, arguably the most famous female superhero of all time, and part of the Trinity (along with Batman and Superman). The disappointment I personally had when Warner Brothers/DC Comics choose Gal Gadot for the role was beyond words, but not because of WHO Gal was (I have no personal issue with Gal whatsoever, so please don't label me as a hater), but WHAT she represented: typical Hollywood outer beauty that would attract the masses. I will give credit where credit is due, she did take this role serious and according to an article on Yahoo.com, she did put on 17 pounds to give her a bit more of an intimidating look, but that depends on your definition of “intimidating”. (Oh yeah...this exact quote from the article gave me bad vibes;  “I don’t want to be big and bulky… I don’t want to look like a bodybuilder.”) You would think that Hollywood would have tried to get someone that would have fit the bill better, but ultimately they didn’t. I doubt the movie will suffer because of that reason (I hope it doesn’t), but imagine how better it would have been if they would have given a fitness-based woman an opportunity like that. Can you imagine what that could have done for women to see someone like that ON THE BIG SCREEN and go “Wow…she looks amazing! I would love to know her secret”. It’s revealed in some articles in magazines and BOOM. Gym memberships increase, fitness awareness in increased. Hollywood looks good in the progress sending a hell of a statement to a lot of people. It's a win-win for everyone. But clearly, they don’t want to go with that and choose sexiness over substance.

Think I’m still crazy?! Allow me to go even further.

Amazons?! Ehh...well it's Hollywood's version, at least. 

Next year, Wonder Woman gets her OWN movie, and earlier this week, the first photo from the movie was released. Yes, that's the photo about this paragraph. In addition to Wonder Woman (Gal) on the photo, Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), General Antiope (Robin Wright), and Antiope’s lieutenant Menalippe (Lisa Loven Kongsli). Great photo, but someone (not me) summed it up better than I ever could: It looks like an ad for a Victoria’s Secret Amazon Skinny Line. I mean, COME ON!! Can you REALLY say that the Amazons pose a legit threat when they look like they do in the photo? If you can say it to my face without hesitation, more power to you.

In comparison to men and muscles as it related to Hollywood, Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck went through hell to put on muscle for their respective roles as Superman and Batman. Ezra Miller was trending due to his apparent muscle gain for his role as The Flash in the DC Cinematic Universe. Will Smith packed on the mass to play famed boxer Muhammad Ali. Zac Efron is looking like a men’s physique competitor (borderline classic physique, to me) for the upcoming Baywatch movie. Apparently Mike O’Hearn is up for the main role in a potential He-Man reboot. Do I need to go on?

Yep...Zac is DEFINITELY out of High School (Musical) now. He's playing in Baywatch next year, but he actually looks...intimidating and believable as a badass (I can't believe I called a HSM alum a badass. Yikes!) 

I know what you're probably thinking…but Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey have had Hollywood roles, so your rant is kinda unjustified, don't ya think? Yeah..no. Both ladies were able to get Hollywood roles based on their MMA careers, not based off their fitness backgrounds. Oh, and before you go and think I'm a DC hater bring up Wonder Woman in a "not-so-positive" light, (far from it), I doubt Marvel Studios will get it right either. They can POTENTIALLY make a bold move when it comes to casting Captain Marvel (the only top female superhero for Marvel that I can think of coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe right now) and even that's pushing it. And if She-Hulk is ever part of the MCU or on a Marvel Netflix show, I shutter to think of who they will pick to cast her.

I hope one day that Hollywood will see the light and realize that fit women can truly play a great part in their world just like everyone else, but I fear that this something they will never understand or want to understand. But then again, it shouldn't be much of a surprise when a business like Planet Fitness exist and flat out discourages ANYONE with even a hint of muscle on them (male or female). I would love for myself to be wrong and eat crow and humble pie for the rest of my life if Hollywood were to ever embrace fit women into their world. Some will argue to their grave that this would never work. How can it never work when it's never even been given the opportunity TO work, or fail for that matter? What is Hollywood and the mainstream media so afraid of when it comes to giving fit women an opportunity to show that they are more than just ladies who happen to workout in the gym? Since we're so into hashtags these days, here's my hashtag to Hollywood about fit women...#WhatAreYouAfraidOf?

Someone as beautiful as Amanda Kulco (Latona) is considered "manly" by Hollywood/mainstream standards because she works out with weights...and that''s sad. :( 

Now that I've spilled my guts out involving a subject that has been eating away at me for quite some time, I want to hear from you all: fans and critics alike. Can fitness-oriented women be a part of Hollywood and the mainstream world outside sports in a positive manner? Why or why not? Leave a comment below or send us your thoughts at fitgemsnation@gmail.com, or on Twitter or Facebook.

IFBB Bikini Pro Potentially Heading to WWE?

Editor's note: All photos belong to their respective owners

IFBB Bikini Pro...future WWE Diva?

In early March, all eyes were on Columbus, Ohio during the Arnold Sports Festival, which could explain why what I'm about to say might have fell under the radar. We noticed that IFBB Bikini Pro Eboney Chipman made an interesting post on March 6th:

JAYSUS!!!!
DID I JUST GET A MESSAGE FROM THE WWE ASKING ME TO COME TO TRY OUT #DIVA 󾌯󾌯

󾍁󾍁󾍁󾍁󾍁󾍁󾍁󾍁󾍁󾍁󾍁

— Eboney Chipman (@EboneyFitness) March 6, 2016

As you know from our previous posts, we do our best to highlight any fitness personality that enters the rankings of sports and entertainment. Of course, we have been checking to see if anymore has come out of it, and less than a week later, she revealed on Twitter that she sent in her application. Now the waiting game begins for her. Most women from the fitness industry have gone on to have great success such as Torrie Wilson, Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria), Lexi Kaufman (Alexa Bliss), Ashley Sebera (Dana Brooke), and Celeste Braun (Kaitlyn). And do we even need to mention a certain fitness model who became a 7x WWE Women's Champion and currently youngest female WWE Hall-of-Famer of all time? Should she get this opportunity, we think she could do very well. She has the height, beauty, and athleticism to have a good career in WWE. We will keep you all posted on how things go with Eboney and if WWE will be part of her future going forward. From all of us at FitGems Nation, we want to wish you best of luck, Eboney!

Potentially coming to a WWE arena near you...

For more on Eboney, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Alison Victoria: America's Fittest Interior Designer

All photos belong to the original owners. 

Every once in a while, you will flip channels on your television and you discover someone or something that draws your attention to where you can't look away. That is exactly what Alison Victoria did to me a few years ago. I discovered Kitchen Crashers by accident, and I can honestly say that I'm so glad it happened, as it has introduced me to one of the fittest women on television, bar none.

For those that are unfamiliar with Alison Victoria, she is an interior designer out of Chicago, Illinois with kitchens being a specialty for her, hence her own show on HGTV and DIY Network called Kitchen Crashers, where she is the first (and so far only) Crashers host. Her love for interior designing goes back to her childhood, and thus far, it has brought her a lot of success beyond just hosting her own TV show. Her success has won her many award nominations (including being a 2x nominee for Fit Female Celebrity at our FitGems Awards) and she has received the Rising Stars of Business award by the Las Vegas Business Press back in 2011.

Yeah...she's strong, folks! 

She might not look like it at first glance, but Alison is ONE STRONG WOMAN! She's got to be with the work she does on Kitchen Crashers. No, she's not one that just talks the talk, she walks the walk and then some. Rebuilding a kitchen in three days with a crew takes some muscle, and she has plenty of it, trust me. She gets her workouts in, which include weights, CrossFit, barre, whatever she can get in with her busy schedule. Her workouts are clearly paying off in the interior designing part of her life, as well as her overall body transformation. Her progression has went from a tough beauty who can swing a hammer around to borderline fitness-model level muscle that would not be out of place whatsoever on Muscle and Fitness Hers and Oxygen Magazine (Hint-hint, magazines...that's your cue to contact her for an interview with your publications!). All over her social media, when she posts outfits revealing her figure, people are blown away by her physique and have nothing but great comments about it. Funny how those seem to be her most popular pictures on social media...

If you haven't seen Kitchen Crashers, I'd highly suggest you give it a shot. It's hosted by a woman who looks amazing and does an awesome job at it. Who knows, maybe one day she will pop up at your local Home Depot in the Kitchen isle and ask you if you want a new (and free) kitchen in three days. If I were you, I would take her up on your offer. 

For more on Alison, check out her website at http://alisonvictoria.com/, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. Also don't forget to follow Kitchen Crashers on HGTV and DIY Network. Check your local listings.

Fitness-model material...easily.

Kaitlyn Gone from WWE

She will always be known as "The Hybrid Diva"!

Former NPC figure competitor Celeste Bonin aka Kaitlyn is (as of today) no longer under contract to WWE. If you think about it, this shouldn't come as a surprise to a lot of people based off the news of her being engaged to PJ Braun. No, we are in no ways saying that her engagement has anything to do with her departure. But this isn't the first time a Diva has left the company shortly after getting engaged. Eve Torres did this one year ago around the same time, and in 2006, Trish Stratus left the company. Both ladies were able to leave on their own terms: Trish retired with the title and Eve put over Kaitlyn in her home state of Texas.

Kaitlyn's departure will be no different, as she will be taking on her best friend in real life, AJ Lee on ION Television tonight. Usually when one does right in the eyes of WWE, you are able to have your own moment as sort of a "thank you" gesture and not be embarrassed, and it looks like Kaitlyn will get that "thank you" gesture tonight.  Besides her engagement, apparently she is working on something big according to PJ. We can't wait to see what the former Divas Champion and NXT Season 3winner has in store for everyone now that she's not a part of WWE. We hope to have something posted about it once we get word on it.

On behalf of FitGems Nation, we would like to say "Thank You" for everything you did during NXT Season Three and during your time as a WWE Diva. We look forward to seeing what's next in your life!

Miss WWE Fitness Diva Tournament (Big Cross-Promotion Event)

Which past/present WWE Diva will be crowned Miss WWE Fitness Diva less than a week before Wrestlemania 30?! Photo credit to the original photographers. Put together on Picmonkey.

WWE will be celebrating a milestone this year, as it will be hosting the 30th Anniversary of Wrestlemania on April 6th at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. To celebrate this historic mark in sports-entertainment history, Diva Physique, Fit Model TV, and FitGems Nation are teaming up to host a special event: the 1st-ever Miss WWE Fitness Diva Tournament! Beginning on Monday, January 6th, you get to vote for who you feel is the fittest WWE Diva of all time! 16 women from WWE's past and present have been selected based on their incredible physiques, from the most muscular to the leanest to the most out-of-this-world figures, these woman did their parts in being above and beyond awesome when it comes to having Diva bodies in pro wrestling.

The women are (in no order):

Eve Torres

Chyna

Beth Phoenix

Victoria

Natalya

Trish Stratus

Ivory

Mickie James

Torrie Wilson

Michelle McCool

Tori

Jamie Keyes

Jazz

Sable

Jacqueline

Kaitlyn

First round of voting begins on January 6th and end on January 26th. The eight women who get the most votes will go to to the next round, which will begin on January 27th and will end on February 16th. Final Four voting will begin on February 17th and will end on March 9th. On March 10th, the Miss WWE Fitness Diva Championship round will begin and voting will conclude on March 31st. Miss WWE Fitness Diva will be announced on April 2nd. Tiebreakers will be done as needed during the end of each round, and they will be one-day tiebreakers. 

BOOKMARK THIS LINK: http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/587645/. You won't be able to access the ballot until Monday, though. 

Best of luck to everyone. May the fittest prevail!

For more on the sites that are hosting this event, check out the links to their main sites and social media links below:

Diva Physique

Main website: http://www.divaphysique.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divaphysique

Twitter: https://twitter.com/divaphysique

Instagram: http://instagram.com/divaphysique

Fit Model TV

Main website: http://www.fitmodeltv.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fitmodeltv

FitGems Nation

Main website: http://www.fitgemsnation.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitgemsnation

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fitgemsnation

Instagram: http://instagram.com/fitgemsnation

Diva Physique: First Wrestling Website Dedicated to Wrestling's Fittest Women

The FitGems Network continues to evolve with each passing year, it seems. A few months ago, I had this crazy idea in my head about a website dedicated to the best female physiques in professional wrestling history. For those that know me, you know how big of a wrestling fan I am, so it only seemed right that I open a site like that. In fact, there's not a site like it in the wrestling fansite world today, which makes it all the more unique. The name of the site is Diva Physique.

Part of our upcoming banner!

As a wrestler, you have to be in pretty good shape to deliver moves and take moves. But there are times where you can't help but notices how toned and fit a decent amount of them are. That's where Diva Physique comes in.

The site has been opened for a few months and already there have been photos of past and present female wrestlers from WWE, WCW, ECW, and TNA such as Miss Tessmacher, Torrie Wilson, Trish Stratus, Ivory, Jamie Keyes, Eve Torres, Madison Rayne, and more, with plenty of more ladies to be postedas the site progresses. So yeah, this site is FAR from being done, and the best part is, that in time it will continue to evolve with new wrestlers and former wrestlers possible getting in better shape than when they were wrestling. In time, we hope to have some past and present WWE Divas, TNA Knockouts, independent wrestlers, and wrestlers from past organizations such as WCW and ECW to provide fitness tips and stories, and maybe even some fitness secrets that that would like to share with the wrestling fanbase and fitness fanbase alike.

Check Diva Physique out at http://www.divaphysique.com. Diva Physique is also on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/divaphysique), Twitter (https://twitter.com/DivaPhysique) and Instagram (http://instagram.com/divaphysique). If you have any suggestions, comments, concerns, or if you would like to join the Diva Physique staff (we are currently accepting members, BTW), you can email us at divaphysique@hotmail.com.

If you're a wrestling fan, this is a site you must check out!

Fox Sports One and the Bodybuilding/Fitness World...Could It Happen?

For those that are sports fanatics, a new multi-sports channel called Fox Sports One will be launched on August 17 of this year. This is a big thing as it will give sports-news juggernaut ESPN a run for their money. Currently, the main sports that will be part of Fox Sports One are college basketball and football, MLB (in 2014), NASCAR, NFL (ancillary programs), soccer and UFC.

Photo credit: Fox Sports MSN website

On that note, FitGems was thinking...can Fox Sports One eventually be a future home for our sport? ESPN used to be the home of bodybuilding events. A lot of you can recall the days that the Fitness America Pageant was broadcast on ESPN2 and for some, it launched their careers in a big way. I owe them a reason  for me even FINDING OUT about the sport of bodybuilding. But sadly, that's no longer the case on ESPN and I highly doubt they will ever show events like that again...not at long as spelling bees and hot dog eating contests are telecast on there. That, and more OPINIONATED material rather than actual sports news and sporting events.

Fox Sports One has the opportunity to truly become an alternative to ESPN by broadcasting some of the events of the bodybuilding world such as the Arnold, Olympia, and Nationals. The market seems to be out there. I mean, people watch "crap" (and I'm using it the nicest way I humanly can) such as Honey Boo Boo and the Kardashians on a weekly basis, so why not? There are crazier things on TV...things that get big ratings, BTW. And if it can't be a cable network, maybe make it an online channel for apps or something. It seems like with the emergence of divisions that are less about size and more about a more attainable look (bikini division, I'm looking right at you) now would be a great time to truly take this sport to a mainstream level in terms of exposure.

What do you think? Should Fox Sports One look into having bodybuilding (and by that, I mean all the divisions) on their upcoming channel, or even with the more "mainstream-look" divisions, the sport is too "cult-like" for mainstream television? Comment below or leave a comment at our Facebook fan page at https://www.facebook.com/fitgemsnation.

WWE Divas Division Adding Some Muscle...Literally!

There were plans that Paul Levesque aka Triple H was going to rebuild the Divas division via development, and it looks like based off today's news, the rumors appear to be true. Announced by various wrestling sites, IFBB bikini competitors Lexi Kaufman and Christina Vargas have signed WWE development deals.

Get ready, WWE Universe! They are coming to take over the Divas division!
Credit: Christina Vargas's Facebook

While most wrestling fans are just now finding out about this, we at FitGems Nation (as well as our good friends over at Fit Model TV)have known about this for months. In fact, fans of Lexi and Christina have known about this for months if they have followed them on their Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. To say we are proud of these ladies would be an understatement. The WWE Divas division is in need of some serious muscle right now, and WWE has LITERALLY added that with these two ladies on the scene. 

The hardcore wrestling fans (aka marks and the IWC, which stands for internet wrestling community) are gonna be hard to please because they didn't come from the indies, but if they knew what we know, they have nothing to worry about. Both ladies have put in hard work for years to attain their physiques, and they will put in the effort to entertain you as WWE Divas. We hope they will make it far and take WWE by storm. We're rooting for you both!

Check out the links below for more on WWE's newest developmental divas:

Lexi Kaufman

Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lexi-Kaufman/171733126219865

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lexi_Kaufman

Instagram: http://instagram.com/lexi_kaufman

Christina Vargas:

Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/CVargas26

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VARGAS26

Instagram: http://instagram.com/christinavargas

The Warrens to be on National TV

Photo credit: Bodybuilding.com

It's awesome to see those in our industry to be part of mainstream television. On her Twitter account (http://twitter.com/trishwarren), Trish Warren mentioned that her and her husband Branch will be on the Discovery Channel in the near future! Here's her exact Tweet:

Branch and I filmed a documentary for the Discovery Channel, I will keep you posted on when it will air!

 

 

So as soon as I hear word of this, I'll pass this information down to you all. So, if you haven't gotten the Discovery Channel, now would be a great time to get it. Congrats to the Warrens! Hope many of you all tune in!

Steel Divas: New Show on Lifetime

It's always good to pay attention to your Twitter (if you have one). The most shocking news can happen when you least expect it (I believe we've ALL experienced that over the past few days, but that's for another story). This news I'm about to post here came to light due to a tweet from someone I follow on Twitter, MsPersianDoll (http://twitter.com/MsPersianDoll). She mentioned that Felicia Romero was on "Steel Divas". I went, "Huh?! What the heck is Steel Divas?" So I asked her was it a local or national show? She replied back that it was a National show. She would post more tweets mentioning that it was on Lifetime. "DAAANNNGGG" was my first reaction. Immediately I searched to get more info about it...so here's what I've found out about the show.

Steel Divas is a reality show focusing on female competitors getting ready for competitions, with the main focus on figure. I believe the show is based from Arizona from what information I've gathered. Gym owners Roxanna Wood and IFBB Figure Pro Felecia Romero are featured in this series, as well as others. According to a quote from Roxanna (http://www.dailypress.com/health/dp-nws-steel-diva-20110503,0,5156473.story), "It's housewives meet pumping iron."

This aired Tuesday night at 11PM Eastern/10PM Central on Lifetime television. I have not seen any replay times for this episode, but I can tell you that I'm stoked to see what happens with this show going forward. I will do everything in my power to let you all know when the next show will be on ahead of time so we can all watch, get this trending on Twitter, post this like crazy on Facebook and the message boards, etc. This show looks like a great opportunity to showcase a different side of this industry, as most mainstream people only have knowledge of female bodybuilders.  Steel Divas could change that a bit, even if by a little. Hey, every bit helps. Let's do our part on the next show by watching it live or setting your DVRs. Either way, let's show the ladies we got their backs.

Who FitGems would cast as Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman, from back cover of Wonder Woman: The Ultimate Guide to the Amazon Princess

For those that are fans of the iconic superheroine Wonder Woman, a new TV series is set to be made soon. And the actress that will play this iconic role is Adrianne Palicki. For those that don't know, Adrianne is from Friday Night Lights. I've done some research on her, and has found out that she can act, she's pretty tall, and she can take a hit or two. Not to mention, she's very beautiful. Be that as it may...I'm just not convinced that she's the right person. This is not meant to be a knock on Adrianne, just my own personal observation. When I envision Wonder Woman, I see someone who has an athletic, imposing look about her. Again, for some reason or another, I just don't see that in Adrianne...not right now, anyways.

However, I do know of five past/present women from the fitness industry who (in my honest opinion) could pull off being the most iconic superheroine of all time:

1) Courtney West

Photo credit: Muscular Development

This rising figure star in IFBB Figure is among the tallest figure competitors out there today, with one of the most slender and toned physiques in the industry as well. I don't know much about her acting skills though, but from what I've heard, she has one heck of a personality on her. Plus, as far as having heart is concerned, anyone who donates their entire paycheck for their first pro win to a worthy cause such as breast cancer is truly has a great heart. To me, Courtney strikes me as someone who could wear the suit with pride.

2) Erin Stern

Photo credit: Muscular Development

Much like Courtney, Erin has that imposing yet slender physique that resembles most people's idea of what a superheroine looks like. She's also a bit of a goof as well (which is a good thing. You don't need to be TOO serious all the time), for those that have her on Facebook. Another one of those people that you just want to be around, as she's that cool. In addition to that, she's pretty strong as well. She trains almost like how you expect to see Wonder Woman train.

3) Amanda Latona

Photo credit: Muscular Development

Perhaps the most experience when it comes to mainstream exposure, Amanda is one of those women who you have to be absolutely CRAZY not to like. I've heard from many that she's one of the most energetic and craziest people you'll ever meet. She's established herself as one of the top bikini competitors in the world right now, with two pro wins and a top-five finish at this past year's Bikini Olympia. She's unbelievably gorgeous. She's got the height for it as well. Oh...and did I mention that she's got some talent on her?! If you haven't heard her sing, you need to. Someone as multi-talented as Amanda would be a great Wonder Woman.

4) Valerie Waugaman

Photo credit: Muscular Development

Take one good look at Valerie, and one wouldn't have to guess why she would be a great choice to play Wonder Woman. She's tall, EXTREMELY built, and she's tough as nails, as she proved to the world as Siren on NBC's revamp of American Gladiators. No to mentioned that she's strikingly beautiful. She's even been giving a cool superhero nickname (The Green Goddess)! IMHO, she might have the best "Wonder Woman" combination.

5) Jennifer Widerstrom

Much like Valerie, Jennifer has amazing strength and beauty that is hard to duplicate. She's a well-likable person, appearing in multiple advertisements and most recently, the Weider X-Factor workout machine. Her major claim to fame was being Phoenix on NBC's American Gladiators, and her physical appearance and dominance was definitely one worthy of Wonder Woman.

For the record, this is not to change the minds of NBC, or to spark fires. I simply wrote this to see how you would think about having Wonder Woman casted by someone from the fitness industry (which I think would come off more believable in this day and age, just saying). Do you agree or disagree? Is there someone I missed? Leave your comments below, and if there's enough replies, I'll share your answers on a future post.

Monica Brant...Dancing with the Stars?

If you're a fan of fitness, then you have obviously heard of Monica Brant. If you haven't, before you read this thread, you might want to Google her name and spend a little bit of time getting to know who she is. To be honest, it's hard to be a fan of this industry and NOT know who Monica is.

On her official Facebook page, Monica has stated that she would like to be part of the popular dance show Dancing with the Stars (DWTS for short). If she was to be on the show, I think she would have a legitimate chance of making it far in the show...heck, maybe even win it! I mean, she doesn't have just one of the most impressive physiques in the industry; she's also among of the best athletes in the industry as well. I personally think it would be cool to see one of our own on one of the biggest shows on television.

For those that are not her friends on Facebook, here's her exact message.

Hi Friends~ I have been thinking a lot over the past several months about various goals and interests I have.  I have always been athletic and love dancing so one of my goals is to be on Dancing with the Stars.  At first I thought me.. Dancing with the Stars..can I do it?  And then I said YES!  They have never had an athlete from the Bodybuilding &  Fitness Industry as a contestant, so why not try to be the first! Can you see it now..Monica Brant, WBFF Figure Pro Champion & Dancing with the Stars Contestant. Ha! Ha! Makes me giggle!  I need your help.  Can you write to ABC and request I be considered for next years season.  The more people that speak up, the greater chance I have! Then, I can get passes for all of you to come and watch! Ha! Ha!  I would not be able to even consider this without all of your years of support! Love you all!xoxo

To consider Monica for a spot on the next Dancing with the Stars, go to the link below and let ABC know that you want to see the fitness icon on DWTS. Remember, the more people speak up, the better chance of Monica's goal to be on Dancing with the Stars a reality!

http://abc.go.com/site/contact-us

Fitness Stars Invade WWE; A Change in the Air?!

Are we looking at the return of fitness muscle in WWE?
From Left to Right: Kaitlyn (Celeste Bonin), Aksana (Zivile Raudoniene), Jamie (Brittany Beede)
Photo credit: WWE.com

As some of you know, I happen to be a big fan of wrestling, especially WWE. One of their big things happens to be their Divas, the names for their female wrestlers, or more appropriately, their female entertainers. For the most part, the Divas are seemingly fit, but not in the realm of fitness/figure competitors, at least not since the days of Trish Stratus, Chyna, and Torrie Wilson. The closest to that kind of physique right now is Beth Phoenix...at least until this past Tuesday.

This past Tuesday was the season premiere of WWE NXT, and this season's an all-Divas season. I mentioned earlier on this blog that Aksana (Zivile Raudoniene) and Jamie (Brittany Beede) are two fitness stars that are a part of the cast this season, and as broken first by Isaac Hinds, we would find out that ANOTHER fitness star would join the NXT rankings.

Before NXT even began, WWE NXT was down one Diva (Aolesia) due to some outside complications that surfaced before the season began. So they teased a new Diva coming in for Pro Vickie Guerrero. That diva would be Kaitlyn, but for us, we know her by the name of Celeste Bonin.

Celeste's a former NPC figure competitor who was contemplating going to bodybuilding, but obviously that is out the window now with her being in the WWE. Her look alone has definitely caught the eye of WWE fans, collectively known as the WWE Universe.

This article is not about how well they did (For those interested in THAT, go to my NXT column on Diva-Fiva.com. WARNING: I get a bit personal and carried away a bit when I do wrestling talk.). Rather, this article is about how it seems like the winds of change are fast approaching WWE, and possibly mainstream entertainment. Let's be honest, things are not the same anymore. Thin is not in when it comes to what people LIKE to see. It seems like those with a bit of meat on their bones are being more praised. No, I'm not saying that female bodybuilding is becoming the norm. That could be some time, as I don't think the mainstream is quite ready for that yet. But there are those seemingly willing to give those in figure/fitness/bikini a chance to showcase themselves in the mainstream eye.

I might be jumping the gun a bit, but there's a good chance that these three ladies in this aricle might be going something more than they realize. They might holding the keys to the future of entertainment, possibly the future of what women's aspire to be. Maybe not wreslter, but fit yet feminine women who can do anything they can put their minds into. The Original American Gladiators did it in the 1980s. Kiana Tom did it in the mid-1990s into early 2000s. These three (regardless on how long they last in the competition) just might be the start of something big in the world of mainstream entertainment. Only time will tell whether these three help make a difference by just being on TV, but if their past achievements are of any indication...I wouldn't bet again any of these ladies and the influences they can bring in in the short-term and long-term.

Aksana Avenue

If you are a fan of IFBB Figure Pro Zivile Raudoniene, aka Aksana in FCW, then you're in luck. Aksanians (or fans of Aksana) now have a site dedicated to one of the newest FCW stars called Aksana Avenue. Aksana Avenue is your destination for all things Aksana! Here is where you will get updates and looks at the FCW Diva on the rise and possible future WWE Diva. It's also the place where you can take a look back at her previous career (being an IFBB figure competitor) and get up-to-date news on the Lithuanian beauty. Let's support one of our own as she looks to make it to the mainstream! :)

To view the site, go to http://aksanaavenue.blogspot.com.

Kiana's Back!

Yep, you read that right. Kiana Tom, one of the top fitness personalities in the world, is on the show business again. For those that are unfamiliar, Kiana was part of Bodyshaping on ESPN in the early 90s. She then went on to host her own show called Kiana's Flex Appeal, and as they say in Hollywood, the rest is history. She became beyond just a fitness icon; she became a household phenonenon. She wasn't THE one that made women having muscles acceptable, but you'd be lying to yourself if you said that she didn't have SOME part to it.

Well, now the woman that revolutionized the fitness industry will be making her return, but for a different type of audience. She will be focusing on mothers, as she is one herself. Plus the show is online, which is a smart move in today's world. Her new project is called Fit Mom TV, and will launch on January, 1 2010.

Here is what the official Fit Mom TV website says about the new online show:

“Kiana’s Fit Mom TV” is a brand new, 1st of it’s kind, fitness series on the web – just for moms. Kiana Tom, founder and host of Kiana’s Fit Mom TV makes fitness simple and highly doable for moms to incorporate exercise into their busy lives.

Internationally renowned fitness expert, Kiana Tom, leads moms through exercises that can be done at home or in the gym, using hand weights and household items. Workout routines are demonstrated to target common trouble areas for women such as the tummy, hips, thighs, butt and arms. Kiana Tom, mother of 2 young children, will share her personal fitness tips and tricks to getting back in shape quickly after having a baby and staying in shape with as little as 30 minutes per day, which can be accomplished in doable 10 minute increments.

Kiana’s Fit Mom TV is brought to you by the producers of the #1 rated fitness series on ESPN, “Kiana’s Flex Appeal” and takes the proven, successful format and tailors it just for moms! Kiana’s Fit Mom TV features workouts that can be done around a busy moms schedule, multi tasking exercises to get more done in less time, problem solving exercises to fix women’s common trouble areas, workouts for the gym and home, healthy recipes, tips, motivation and interviews with some of the most inspiring, fittest moms in the country. Fit Mom TV is for all moms who share the passion for health and fitness – all around the world.

“Kiana’s Fit Mom TV” will officially launch on www.fitmomtv.com, on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2010, just in time for those New Year’s Resolutions. Visitors to the site before January 1, 2010 can sign up for the Fit Mom TV email list to get Mom specific exercises delivered to their inbox and get a chance to win Kiana’s Fit Mom TV swag.

“Fit Mom TV fills the need for quality fitness programming to help busy moms get into shape while balancing family, children, work, household and daily demands. Moms are the center of the family unit – if we are fit, healthy and feeling good about ourselves, everyone is much happier. We receive thousands of emails from around the world – from India, Germany, Italy, Dubai, soldiers in the middle east, moms who are marines – all over the USA – you name it. The common concerns for busy moms are “time and energy limitations and not knowing what to do.” Fit Mom TV will answer all of those concerns. The Internet is the perfect vehicle to reach millions of moms – 24/7. As a busy mom of 2 young children, I don’t have time to watch television, but I can access the Internet anytime that is convenient for me according to my schedule,” explains Kiana Tom, Founder, Host and mother of 2.

I'm not one to tell anyone what to do, but I would suggest for all mothers out there to check this out and see how this could help you. As a fan of Kiana and a regular watcher of Flex Appeal, I can assure you this will be a good thing. Who knows, maybe this will be the birth of more fitness shows across the internet for everyone. I mean, the internet is THE place to go these days for pratcially everything. Just a thought.

Be that as it may, We at FitGems Nation wish Kiana the best of luck in her new venture and hopes lives are forever changed in a good way! :)

For more info, go to http://www.fitmomtv.com.

Zivile's FCW Name Is...

Well, as announced on Diva Dirt today, the wrestling name for IFBB Figure Pro Zivile Raudoniene will be Aksana, at least that's what it will be for her in Flordia Championship Wrestling (FCW), which is World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)'s developmental territory. I prefer this name than her previous name, Olga. That screamed EPIC FAIL!! But I can definitely live with Aksana.

Here's her profile pic curteousy of FCW's official website:

From what I've gathered, she's supposed to make her FCW debut sometime next month. There are a few pics out from the taping right now, but since the show hasn't aired yet, I won't actually post a pic from the tapings. I can though give you the link to some pics I found of her FCW debut if you click here for them. I think she looks great, and if you were to have told me a few months ago that the current IFBB Figure International champion would be heading to the biggest sports-entertainment company on Earth (WWE), I would have though you were crazy. But now, it seems like Zivile is well on her way to being a television star.

I'm pulling for Aksana to do well in FCW and eventually WWE. I hope she follows the paths of other fitness stars such as Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson, and Lisa Maria Varon (Victoria in WWE, currently Tara in TNA) and become a big star in wrestling.

From the FitGems Nation...Kick some a$$, Aksana!!!! :)

Jenny Hendershott on MTV's MADE Next week

The date for Jenny Hendershott's apperance on MTV's MADE has been announced. According to her Facebook account, the show is scheduled to air on September 12th at 11 a.m. Set your DVRs and let's support one of the top fitness competitors in the world today!

July Poll Results and New Poll for August

Hey everyone!

Just thought I'd let you know that the FitGems Nation site has gotten somewhat of an uplift, and will be redone a tad over the days ahead. Hope you enjoy the changes!

http://www.fitgemsnation.net

Also, thanks to everyone that voted on the July Poll of the Month. I asked last month Which form of publicity do you feel is the best in the female muscle industry? 58% of you said that it was the Internet, which in this day and age came as no surprise. 33% said magazines, and only 8% said television. OUCH!

Now...onto what may be my most nerve-hitting question yet: For this month, the poll of the month is...After seeing the NPC bikini contests so far, in terms of the entire package, do you see a real difference in bikini and figure?

This is a touchy subject on a few boards I'm a part of, so I'm interesting to hearing what you have to say about it. Let me make...this...point...clear: I've yet to see a show except for pictures, so that's all I can judge by. My words mean NOTHING on this subject!

In the span of a month, the Fitness AND Figure Olympia is looking to be more and more interesting by the day. I'll speak on the implications of these events sometime this week, as well as the relationships between the Internet and this sport that might just interest you.