November 7, 2009
As the pro season winds down to its last two shows of the year, there’s no shortage of storylines as the respective events host a pair of studio favorites in their IFBB figure premiers. Today on the west coast, Danielle Kifer steps into the limelight at the Sacramento Pro, seven weeks after winning at Team Universe. And coming next weekend, Jennifer Toth makes her heavily anticipated debut at the Kentucky Pro in Louisville…
Bluegrass Beginnings: Jen kicks off her pro career in Kentucky.
Inaugural bikini pro Shelsea Montes — along with fellow pert princesses of the two piece — will have the opportunity to slash the ribbon on their opening night party fittingly in the shadows of Hollywood. The first IFBB bikini show is now set for late March in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, catch the pint-sized pro in new galleries from her first appearance on the studio…
Appearing on the site this week, popular veteran bodybuilder and personal trainer Kris Clark — who launched a website recently — adds a remarkable chapter to the book of shoots covered at the eventful USAs over the summer. The hulking 47-year-old out of Texas, a proud mom of two teenagers, gives a glimpse of a lifetime of hard work and dedication to lifting in these sample shots…
California Dreams: Shelsea in L.A. for 2010 debut?
Figure girl Heidi Hansen has been busy on the ‘09 contest trail, competing at the Emerald Cup, Junior Nationals and Team Universe. Enjoy some highlights of the flaxen-haired Alaskan’s striking physique — great calves and some of the most outstanding hamstrings around — from her shoot earlier this year…
Finally, figure starlet Laura Pine flexes to perfection in another memorable capture from Las Vegas. This sublime and serendipitous image features Laura’s surprisingly peaked bicep with the added bonus of providing a sneak preview, more or less, of a clip to come. Look closely at Lou’s viewfinder and tell me that video isn’t worth looking forward to!
October 30, 2009
In The Pink: Figure Supermom Laura Pine brings her athletic prowess to the studio soon.
Over ten years in the fitness industry is more than enough time to pack a resume tight with achievements, and the highly accomplished Laura Pine — a 36-year-old personal trainer, fitness instructor and figure competitor from Las Vegas, Nevada — certainly fills the bill.
The wide-ranging, 5-foot-5, 120-pound athlete — a former collegiate wrestler at her alma mater, Central Washington University, and an experienced long distance runner who once ran in the Honolulu marathon — is coming soon to the studio.
Currently, Laura juggles home life, working with clients at the Las Vegas Athletic Club — where she also directs aerobics, kickboxing and yoga classes — and her own competitive career. The figure Supermom has three kids.
Laura didn’t have far to go when she competed at the USAs over the summer; but she did travel quite a bit to take the stage for Team Universe. She went on to finish ninth in her class in the Masters division at the New York show.
By far her best moment, however, was earlier this year at the Arnold Amateur, where Laura won the D-class. At 25 women strong, it was the most competitive of the six height classes in Columbus last March.
October 25, 2009
No looking back for tall class bikini newcomer Loraine Toone. Photo credit: Roland Balik, Ironmanmagazine.com
Many bikini competitors are pretty sharp when it comes to hitting sassy and playful poses. But combine the fun-loving attitude with genuine flexing savoir-faire — consider Abby and Shelsea in thier show-stopping new update — and you have the makings of something potentially irresistible.
That said, we could have another sleeper on our hands with newcomer Loraine Toone, a long and lean 28-year-old with striking abs and a joy for flexing coming soon to the studio.
On the contest side, the 5-foot-7 former figure girl out of Utah had two state wins to her credit before switching to bikini. Last spring, she was tall class winner of the surprisingly competitive NGA Utah Natural Bodybuilding & Figure Championships. It was her second win in the mountain states region.
But things didn’t go quite as well on the national figure stage. Jilted after missing the cut amidst the swarm of top amateur physiques at Junior Nationals, she decided to crossover to bikini.
Loraine finished eighth in her class at the USAs and more importantly, seemed happier and more confident on stage. With bikini looking like her niche, it could be the start of something big for this cute, wiry brunette from the Beehive State.
October 24, 2009
Rookie Raves: Akane has everyone talking after her smash debut at the Border States Pro.
Akane Nigro-Ismeal made a profound statement in her IFBB debut last weekend at the Border States Pro in San Diego. Still in top form less than three months after earning her pro card at the USAs, she dazzled on stage once again in a defining romp to fifth-place that boldly declared this was to be no ordinary rookie campaign.
The 5-foot-1 raven-haired Northern California beauty took SoCal by storm, eclipsing several elite competitors including one — fellow shortie Meriza DeGuzman — with an Olympia pedigree. Indeed, such a remarkable debut makes it practically certain that Akane herself will qualify for next year‘s “Big-O,” and maybe as early as her next show, the Sacramento Pro coming up on November 7th.
But that’s only half the story out of sunny San Diego. In other even more exciting breaking news from the coast, we caught up with the streaking pro star for an all-new photo and video shoot that’s coming soon.
Meanwhile, here’s a terrific highlight from Akane’s first appearance on the studio from footage captured at the ‘08 Junior Nationals. With her captivating looks and athletic, beautifully feminine muscle — including great biceps and steely calves that rank with the best in the sport — we could tell from the beginning she was destined for greatness.
October 16, 2009
Figure girl Patricia Nguyen
Patricia Nguyen is another luminous new figure star from the Sunshine State. The 27-year-old NPC competitor, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, owns her own personal training studio in Orlando called Blueprint Body.
So far, the 5-foot-6 winner of the 2008 Florida State Figure title has been making quite an impression on the national stage with a string of strong finishes. In fact, taking sixth-place at her most recent show, Team Universe, was the only time she missed the top five in four highly competitive amateur events.
Patricia was fourth in her class at the USAs and in top condition for a recent photoshoot. Expect this lovely brown-haired, brown-eyed lass — her great physique highlighted by flawless skin, angular biceps and amazing vascularity — to remain a serious pro card contender, blending exquisite femininity and athletic muscle.
October 14, 2009
Bikini Girls in Arms: Shelsea Montes and Abby Marie get together on the studio soon.
Summer might be over, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for some red-hot bikini action on the studio. Our first glimpse at the new division comes in an exciting tandem as a pair of figure crossovers — one a talented new star, the other a familiar face — show their stuff in a sizzling Sisters in Arms segment coming soon.
Headlining the act and making her studio debut is 23-year-old Shelsea Montes, who won the bikini overall earlier this year at the Junior USAs, capturing a slice of history as the first ever IFBB pro bikini competitor. The auburn-haired shortie, small but mighty at an even five feet tall and 104-pounds, had won a figure show just two weeks prior to her momentous win in Charleston.
Shelsea brushes away tears after winning the Jr. USA overall last May in South Carolina. Photo credit: Bill Comstock, Muscular Development.com.
Look for Shelsea — originally out of Puerto Rico and now a professional make-up artist in her hometown of Austin, Texas — to bring her polished look and confident stage presence to the Arnold Invitational next year, site of the inaugural pro bikini contest. She’ll try to add another notable feat to her resume by becoming one of the first to qualify for the Olympia out of the new division.
Joining Shelsea on our bikini double feature is fan favorite and fellow Austiner Abby Marie — in her fourth appearance on the site — who has met with topsy-turvy scores in her first season in the NPC. Abby placed second in her class at the Junior USAs before slipping to eighth at the USAs.
You might have thought that Abby was in need of a “lift” dealing with the disappointment of missing the top five. But after bodybuilder Kortney Olson sent her airborne during another shoot at the USA, it was Abby’s turn to do the lifting. So it’s the new pro, Shelsea, getting a pick-up from Abby in one of the many highlights from Las Vegas.
Who says bikini girls don’t have muscle?
October 6, 2009
Split Decision: Mona gives passerby a glimpse of her sensational bicep development during her shoot.
Mona Muresan is so close to achieving figure success that she can almost taste it…sort of.
Seriously, it’s not everyday you meet a top amateur figure competitor that’s also a major fixture on the New York fine dining scene. But that’s exactly the case with Mona, owner of the regal Nebraska Steakhouse and Lounge located in the heart of Lower Manhattan.
Smiling and bespectacled on the far left of this snapshot, here’s Mona posing with some friends during a recent event at the elegant downtown eatery. Besides being the tallest and having the deepest tan of the healthy and attractive quintuplet, the Romanian-born restaurateur also boasts the most chiseled triceps and well-defined legs in the group.
All of which serves the ambitious, classy brunette quite well in her other vocation as a rising star on the NPC scene. Third in her class at this year’s Atlantic States, the long-haired figure lass was one spot away from seizing a pro card at the most recent North Americans, where she finished second in class E.
Mona was second to none for our cameras over the summer in Cleveland, showing off sharp bicep peaks with striking vascularity and a mix of exotic good looks. If she shows up looking as strong next time, this European hardbody will undoubtedly taste victory on the national stage.
That will make for one great post-show party at the Nebraska.
October 2, 2009
Sealed with a Kiss: Laurie shows her cheering fans some love after winning the 2009 Emerald Cup. The young bodybuilder reveals her championship look for us on the studio soon! Photo credit: Muscular Development.com.
Laurie Smith has made tremendous strides since she began competing in bodybuilding just two years ago. Now, the 31-year-old is preparing for the Nationals coming up in Florida on November 20th.
The studio caught up with the 5-foot-4, flaxen-haired star — who is also a wife and mom to a young daughter — for a photoshoot at the USAs, where she was on the flip side of consecutive third place national-level finishes. Earlier this summer, she placed third in her class at Junior Nationals.
But Laurie’s proudest moment came during April, when she hoisted the signature sword as overall bodybuilding champion at the Emerald Cup. It was her first win since the Portland, Oregon native snagged the state title in 2008.
A lifelong soccer player, Laurie played her favorite sport throughout college at the University of Oregon, where she graduated with a degree in Exercise Science. Previously a personal trainer, she’s currently on the Executive Management Team at ClubSport, a high end health club where breaks are never squandered without squeezing in a workout or a cardio session.
September 28, 2009
Blonde is Back: Fair-haired figure girl Nicole Wilkins-Lee captures the 2009 Olympia! Photo credit: Dan Ray, RxMuscle.com.
After capturing the New York Pro less than two weeks ago, an excited Nicole Wilkins-Lee talked about the emotional win in her return to the same venue where she had celebrated earning a pro card in 2007 at Team Universe. “This title means a lot to me,” she wrote on her website.
Little did she know how much the next one would mean.
Nicole won the Figure Olympia in Las Vegas on Saturday night, rising to the pinnacle of the IFBB in only her second season. It was the third win of the year for the young star, who qualified for her second Olympia by winning the Europa Show of Champions back in April.
Even though the field was arguably more open in this year’s “O,” Nicole’s win comes as a sweet though unexpected surprise. Many fans, insiders and pundits in the sport had pegged Gina Aliotti — who was runner-up to ‘07 champ Jenny Lynn and ‘08 champ Jennifer Gates — to finally take the crown. But the 25-year-old from California took second place for a third straight year, surrendering the trophy this time to Nicole, another 25-year-old out of Michigan.
But this is no ordinary Midwesterner. For starters, the sporty and exquisite 5-foot-7 athlete grew up as a dancer, cheerleader and gymnast. She battled back from multiple knee surgeries to become a successful fitness competitor — a role she may reprise on the pro stage next season.
Nicole qualified for the Olympia last year in both fitness and figure categories, going on to place ninth before her meteoric rise to the top over the weekend.
Visit Nicole’s website for plenty of great pictures, video clips and more. And follow this link to RxMuscle to see her gallery from the Olympia, where she absolutely glowed in a her golden two-piece. Congratulations, Nicole!
As the pro season winds down to its last two shows of the year, there’s no shortage of storylines as the respective events host a pair of studio favorites in their IFBB figure premiers. Today on the west coast, Danielle Kifer steps into the limelight at the Sacramento Pro, seven weeks after winning at Team Universe. And coming next weekend, Jennifer Toth makes her heavily anticipated debut at the Kentucky Pro in Louisville…
