Fitting Observations: Is Brittani Simpson a future superstar in this industry?

Crossing over to a different division (fitness/figure to bodybuilding and vice verse, or fitness to figure and vice verse) is nothing new. It's been done for quite some time now. Some have competed in either fitness or figure, and put on muscle for about a couple of years to become bodybuilders, while those in bodybuilding have taken off some muscle to become fitness/figure. Now imagine having the right balance of muscle to not only do bodybuilding, but figure as well...for the same contest...and actually doing well in BOTH divisions. That's exactly what Brittani Simpson did at the 2009 Emerald Cup.

For those that are unfamiliar with the Emerald Cup, it's arguably the best regional shows in the nations, and one of the best ran shows period. A lot of big stars have come from the Emerald Cup, and I feel Brittani is going to be one of those stars.

Before I go on, how about you get a little visual aid of Brittani from the Emerald Cup earlier this year:



(Brittani competing as a bodybuilder at the Emerald Cup 2009)



(Brittani competing as a figure competitor at the Emerald Cup 2009)

Brittani isn't your typical physique star. Prior to competing, she has been involved in dance, cheerleading, rock climbing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and just about everything in between. (Source: Twixpix) In addition to having that in her resume, she's also a mother of two.

In her first year competing (2008), she competed in the Vancouver Natural (yes, her physique is natural) and won her class, won the overall title at the 7 Feathers Classic, and placed in the top three at last year's Emerald Cup. And then she kicks off 2009 in a big way by placing in the top three in both bodybuilding AND figure in her classes. Call me crazy, but that screams future pro to me. According to a video interview she did for Hardfitness (click here to view the video), look for her to make her national debut this November at the NPC Nationals.

She's only been competing for a couple of years now, but I feel it will only be a matter of time before she turns pro. Whether she will get it for bodybuilding or figure remains to be seen. Regardless of what she gets it for, look for Brittani to do big things in the years to come. And with her being a natural athlete, that says a lot about her character and determination. At this point, the only person that's gonna hold her back is herself, and I doubt that it will happen anytime soon. :-)

Brittani, on befalf of the FitGems Nation, we wish you the very best of luck in the future and hope you serve as an inspiration to working mothers around the world. The world is yours for the taking. GOOD LUCK CHAMP!!!

For more on Brittani, check out her website at http:///www.brittfit.com and her blog at http://wwwbrittfitcom.blogspot.com/.

Song of the Week-Survivor "Eye of the Tiger"

For this week's Song of the Week, we're going OLD SCHOOL. One of my favorite songs of all time: "Eye of the Tiger". I can't think of a single person who doesn't like this song. :-)

Congrats to the 1st-ever Miss FitGems FitMom, Niki Delgrosso!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered the 1st ever FitGems FitMom contest! There were over 600 votes, and Niki Delgrosso overwhelmingly was the winner of the contest with 273 votes. As a result, Niki will receive $100 USD through me via PayPal. Catherne Kronemer was the only mother closest to Niki with 161. Liza Hughes came in thrid with 43 votes. To view the entire poll results, click here.

Here's Niki's entry:

Hi,

My name is Niki DelGrosso, and I am the mother of 7-month old triplets. For years I said I would never have children. My life has been completely devoted to nutrition and fitness, and I completed my masters degree in Nutrition followed by certification as a personal trainer. Then it happened, I met the man of my dreams, and wanted to have children at the age of 30. My husband wanted 2 boys and a girl, and that is what we got! LUCKY!!

I was told that I was a high risk pregnancy due to multiples, and that I would not be able to work or work out for the entire pregnancy, that I would need to gain 80 pounds, and that I would be on bedrest at 20 weeks. I was also told I would be covered in stretch marks, would possibly need cosmetic surgery to repair the damage to my body, and that I certainly would never compete. I was determined to prove everyone wrong.

I decided I was going to make sure that EVERY calorie that went into my body was something those babies needed, and I continued to work and work out until the day I delivered. I gained only 55 pounds, worked every day, and even did my back workout the day I delivered three healthy babies!

Six months after the babies were born, I was on stage for my first competition, followed by another three weeks later where I took first overall, and ANOTHER two weeks after that! I feel that being a fit mom means being strong and healthy so that my children can look up to me as a role model as well as a mother. I believe that feeding them the best from the very beginning while pregnant, and breastfeeding them as long as possible (I continue to now at seven months), contributes to their future health and well-being. I want them to grow up confident and knowing how to eat healthy without deprivation, and be able to look back at the photos of that first show they attended, at six months old, when their mother competed in her first show and brought them with to watch something everyone told her she was not going to be able to do. I want them to know that they can achieve anything they set their minds and bodies to.

Niki will receive $100 dollars via PayPal from me to use at her discretion sometime this week.

Thank you to everyone that was a part of this special contest! If you have any suggestions for next year's contest, let me know through email or below on the comments.

Song of the Week-Adelitas Way "Invincible"

I know you are probably tired of wrestling songs as Songs of the Week, but damn it, some of these songs lately have been sick...especially the one by Adelitas Way! It's called "Invincible". If you haven't listen to this song...you're in for a treat! This is used for WWE Superstars, which is on WGN America at 7PM Eastern/6PM Central on Thursdays and replays at 11PM Eastern/10PM Central Thursdays and Noon Eastern/11AM Central on Sundays.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE FITMOM!!!

Thank you to everyone that entered this very special contest. There are 11 great individuals who entered this year. Those women are:

Cathleen Kronemer
Kassandre Harper-Cotton
Jade Smart
Amanda Zawojsky
Liza Hughes
Lori A.T. Raper
Ginny Gardea
Niki DelGrosso
Theresa Winterhalter
Suzane Germano
Amber Lobao

View each of their stories and a pic of them as well. After you do that, vote for your favorite mother. You have until Mother's Day to vote. GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!

The poll is at the front page of my site: http://www.fitgemsnation.net.

(UPDATE)FITGEMS FITMOM CONTEST DEADLINE HAS BEEN MOVED TO MONDAY AFTERNOON!!!!

Yes, instead of this Saturday at Midnight Eastern Time as originally planned, the deadline for entries has been moved to Monday at noon eastern time. After Monday, no more nominations will be taken for the FitGems FitMom Contest.

http://www.fitgemsnation.net/page/fitgems-fitmom-contest

As of this post, there are six nominees in the running.

http://www.fitgemsnation.net/page/nominees-1

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!! :-)

Song of the Week-The Veer Union "Seasons"

The competition season is underway, so I think this song is perfect for the occasion.

Twitter FitGems Nation!

Yep...I've gotten involved in the Twitter movement. HEHE...

For everything up-to-date on the FitGems Nation site, blog, HDPhysiques blog, and other things that I'll be doing involving the industry, Follow us on Twitter! :-)

http://www.twitter.com/FitGemsNation

Song of the Week-OK GO "Here it Goes Again"

This song is a fun song to do cardio with. Hell, the video itself can be looked at as a workout video.

SPEAK UP! Why hasn't Monica Brant-Peckham won a single figure title?

SPEAK UP! is a blog segment where I ask a question and you speak your peace in the comments below. There's no right or wrong answer, just your honest thoughts.

In a profession where there's a lot of beautiful and talented females, Monica Brant is in a class of her own. One can argue that she's the most popular fitness/figure competitors in our time. However, there's one thing that's alluded her throughout her career...and that's winning a figure pro show.

My question to you is...Why hasn't Monica Brant won a single figure title? Is is something she's doing or not doing? Does it have to do with politics? Are there people within the IFBB that just don't want her to win despite her coming in the way the judges want her to?

Again, I don't know the question. I'm just wanting to know your thoughts on this.