The Optimum Pro Women’s Physique Classic, which was held last weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana, slipped on to the IFBB schedule with less fanfare than it deserved, considering the quality of the competitors it attracted. Karina Nascimento topped a lineup of 12 with a perfectly buffed and muscled physique. The one-time bodybuilder won two physique competitions last year, including the IFBB’s very first WPD event, so it’s only fitting that she earned her qualification to the very first Olympia Women’s Physique Showdown, coming up in Las Vegas in September.

Tycie Coppett, who’s on her way to finding the right balance of muscle and conditioning on her lean, athletic body, was the runner-up, and Joele Smith, in her first outing of 2013, garnered third. The top three were all unanimous decisions, while fourth though sixth were separated by a single point each: Evangeline Belton went from out of the running at the Show of Champions in Orlando last month to fourth, Venus Nguyen took the fifth spot, and Karin Hobbs, who arguably could have finished higher, had to settle for sixth. The show also marked the long-awaited pro debut of ’11 NPC USA champ Sheilahe Brown, a former “smaller” bodybuilder who still carries a lot of muscle for physique, according to eyes on the scene.

Regarding the invite list for WPD’s first appearance at the Olympia, Nascimento is the fourth woman to qualify. Going into the New York Pro on May 25, Coppett and Nguyen were tied for first in the point standings.

Speaking of the New York Pro, it’s shaping up to be a battle of Brazilian bombshells as far as women’s physique is concerned, with Nascimento, looking to make it two in a row, going pose for pose against last year’s N.Y. Pro champ, Julianna Malacarne. Come to think of it, the upcoming WPD Olympia is shaping up to be an even bigger battle of the Brazilian bombshells, with early-season winner Patricia Mello also favored to be in the mix. Maybe there is more to that butt workout than meets the eye.

Photo: Karina Nascimento.

 ’13 Optimum Pro Women’s Physique Classic
1) Karina Nascimento
2) Tycie Coppett
3) Joele Smith
4) Evangeline Belton
5) Venus Nguyen
6) Karin Hobbs
7) Jennifer Robinson
8) Candrea Judd-Adams
9) Antonia Perdikakis
10) Samantha Hill
11) Sheilahe Brown
12) Lindy Waid

Pittsburgh Pro Figure champ Gennifer Strobo made it two for two, notching another unanimous victory at the ’13 IFBB Powerhouse Pro Classic Figure, held in Detroit on May 11. Natalie Waples earned the runner-up Olympia points in the lineup of 23, with Dana Ambrose, fourth in a week earlier in Pittsburgh, moving up to third. Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz took fourth, and Allison Frahn rounded out the top five.

Look for a bicoastal blast of pro figure on May 25, with the New York Pro in the east and the California Pro Figure in Culver City in the west.

Photo: Gennifer Strobo

’13 Powerhouse Pro Classic Figure
1) Gennifer Strobo
2) Natalie Waples
3) Dana Ambrose
4) Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz
5) Allison Frahn
6) Monica Specking
7) Chaya Boone
8) Corinna Booth
9) Heather Nappi
10) Julie Mayer Hyman
11) Rebecca Vera
12) Monica Labriola
13) Patty Zariello
14) Vicki Counts
15) Kenyatta Jones-Arietta
16) Katerina Tarbox
16) Kiana Phi
16) Nicole Sims
16) Ninamarie Richter
16) Rebecca Book
16) Sarah Venturini
16) Summer Bernard
16) Tammy Bravomalo

Sometimes it seems as if the competitive bikini season is one long continuum of hot-physique women playing musical chairs within the upper end of the rankings. Not that that’s a bad thing. It’s just that the results are not always unpredictable. Consider the results of the recent late-spring shows. At the Europa Show of Champions on April 20, it was lean, long-legged Courtney King for the win, with Ashley Kaltwasser taking second, and Aly Veneno landing in third. Two weeks later at the Pittsburgh Pro, with King out of the lineup and Yeshaira Robles in, Robles got the win, Kaltwasser was second again, and Stacey Alexander finished third. Flash forward one more week to the ’IFBB Powerhouse Pro Classic Bikini, which was held in Detroit on May 11, and when I tell you that King, Kaltwasser and Alexander were in the lineup, you’ll know where this story is going. This time it was Ashley K’s turn to notch her first pro victory, with Alexander, who won the late-season Houston Pro last fall to earn her own ticket to the ’13 Bikini Olympia, moving up to second, and King returning to the stage to take third.

These are all gorgeous gals, of course, and never has the phrase, “Any of them could have won, and no one would have complained,” been more true. Eighteen athletes hit the stage for this one. Jessica Renee and Maura Bouchard, in order, moved into the top five to earn their first Olympia-qualifying points.

Next up in bikini: the New York Pro on May 25.

Photos:
Ashley Kaltwasser (top).
Aly Veneno, Courtney King and Kaltwasser at the Show of Champions in Orlando.

’13 Powerhouse Pro Classic Bikini
1) Ashley Kaltwasser
2) Stacey Alexander
3) Courtney King
4) Jessica Renee
5) Maura Bouchard
6) Rachelle Dejean
7) Maria Annunziata
8) Jaclyn Wilson
9) Noemi Olah
10) Vladimira Krasova
11) Francesca Yumul
12) Lynn Sambuco
13) Heather Gonyea
14) Sandi Forsythe
15) Jennifer Elliott
16) Becky Clawson
16) Janet West
16) Natalie Abrhiem

Note: This report is out of order but includes a few points worth noting as we flex our way to the Olympia Women’s Physique Challenge in September.

Patricia Mello blew away the idea of West Coast vs. East Coast judging—at least as far as women’s physique is concerned—by following up her victory at the Los Angeles Grand Prix on April 13 with another big win at the Europa Show of Champions in Orlando, Florida, a week later. The Brazilian bombshell of WPD—well, one of them, anyway—has put together an elegant package of muscle, proportion and stylish presentation. This time she topped a powerful lineup of 26, newcomers as well as vets.

Mikaila Soto, finished second with another solid performance, while third went a former bodybuilding champ in her long-awaited pro debut. Amanda Dunbar took the women’s overall title at the ’05 NPC USA with the proverbial total package of shape, proportion and not too much muscle but never competed on a pose-for-pay stage. Women’s physique could prove to be the opportunity she has been waiting for.

Fourth went to a nicely conditioned Frances Mendez, with Jillian Reville rounding out the top five.

Mello’s East Coast win didn’t stop fans and followers from declaring that the West Coast judges like ‘em softer. While that’s always been the rap, it really depends on who’s judging, who’s onstage and who’s in shape. Take Jill Rudison, the overall winner at last year’s North American Championships. She’s got a fabulous shape—proportion, symmetry and muscle, although maybe it’s a little too much muscle and conditioning for physique. That’s what crossed my mind when she had to settle for fourth in L.A., but, then, she dropped to 13th at this show; so maybe it’s not as cut and dried (if you’ll excuse the expression) as many think.

While it’s safe to say Mello has established herself as one body to watch when the ladies pose down at the Olympia Women’s Physique Challenge in September, it would be premature to suggest that she has a lock on it. I can think of at least two other WPD Brazilian bombshells who might have something to say about it.

Photo—A key callout (from left): Frances Mendez, Mikaila Sota, Patricia Mello, Amanda Dunbar and Jennifer Robinson, who placed sixth.

’13 Europa Show of Champions Pro Women’s Physique

1) Patricia Mello
2) Mikaila Soto
3) Amanda Dunbar
4) Frances Mendez
5) Jillian Reville
6) Jennifer Robinson
7) Kristina Curci
8) Melissa DiBernardo
9) Asha Hadley
10) Janet Koehler
11) Alecia Marie Rankovic
12) Leonie Rose
13) Jill Rudison
14) Rachel Baker
15) Jill Dearmin
16) Amanda Brawn Harris
16) Tammy Patnode
16) Tiani Norman
16) Anne Marie Lasserre
16) Cinzia Massoro
16) Danielle Reardon
16) Audrey Presson
16) Candrea Judd-Adams
16) Danielle Soucek
16) Evangeline Belton
16) Stacy Simons McDowell

It was one big abbondanza of amazing bodies in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when a sizable chunk of the physique world convened there on March 4 for the ’13 NPC/IFBB Pittsburgh Championships, which attracted more than 400 bodies onstage in the amateur and pro divisions. The festivities included pro shows in figure and bikini, as well as men’s physique, all of which drew large lineups of athletes heeding the call of promoter (and NPC and IFBB Pro League head) Jim Manion.

In Figure what appeared to be a close contest between Gennifer Strobo and Ann Titone for the top two spots turned into a unanimous win for Strobo, with Titone getting the unanimous nod for runner-up. Strobo was the best we’ve seen her for a while, with just the right amount of conditioning and bodyparts flowing in fine harmony. Titone, with her ever-improving symmetry and proportion, had also put forth one of her best ever packages.

All told, 27 game gals got onstage at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall. Dana Ambrose appeared to have the panel’s attention for the third spot at the judging until they moved Candice John next to Strobo and Titone in a later callout. By the time the winners were announced at the finals, Candice had slid into third ahead of Dana by a single point.

Laurie Schnelle rounded out the top five, with Monica Labriole just a point behind her in sixth.

Strobo picked up her invitation to the ’13 Figure Olympia, and Titone, who certainly would have like to have won, left venue with a smile on her face anyway, secure in the knowledge that she looked wonderful and was already qualified for the O via her win at the Kentucky Pro Muscle at the end of last season. Meanwhile, Ambrose is the current leader in the Olympia point-count derby, and Schnelle got on the board with her fifth-place finish.

Next up in pro figure: The Powerhouse Classic in Detroit this coming weekend, May 10 and 11, followed by the bi-coastal bonanza of the California Pro and New York Pro on May 25 and then the Toronto Super Show on May 31 and June 1.

Photo (from left): Ann Titone, Gennifer Strobo and Candice Johns.

Here are the complete results from Pittsburgh:

’13 Pittsburgh Pro Figure Championship

1) Gennifer Strobo
2) Ann Titone
3) Candice John
4) Dana Ambrose
5) Laurie Schnelle
6) Monica Labriola
7) Corinna Booth
8) Dawn Fernandez
9) Patty Zariello
10) Swann Cardot
11) Elizabeth Jenkins
12) Krista Dunn
13) Julie Rengert
14) Agnese Russo
15) Danielle Sereluca
16) Amy Puglise
16) Jessie Hilgenberg
16) Katerina Tarbox
16) Lauren Cascio
16) Melissa Frederick
16) Ninamarie Richter
16) Satrice Rigsby
16) Summer Bernard
16) Tammy Bravomalo
16) Tanya Weinle
16) Yoko Washington
16) Sarah Venturini

When you’re on a roll, you’re on a roll, and ’13 Pittsburgh Pro Bikini champ Yeshaira Robles has been coming up sevens since she hit the professional ranks after qualifying at the NPC Team Universe in 2011. Having notched wins at the Valenti Gold Cup and Fort Lauderdale shows in 2012, the latter of which qualified her for this year’s Bikini Olympia, she already had the judges’ attention. She managed to keep it, for all she was not at her absolute best and despite the determined efforts of 25 of the IFBB’s finest veterans and newbies, who flocked to the ’Burgh to get onstage at Jim Manion‘s annual big body show.

It was unanimous scores all around for Ashley Kaltwasser, in second; Stacy Alexander, third; Lacey Deluca, fourth; and Polianna Moss, rounding out the top five. Also getting this reporter’s attention: Aly Veneno, who took sixth here, unanimously, but will undoubtedly be moving up as the season moves on.

DeLuca is currently ahead in the Olympia points derby, with Kaltwasser, along with a couple of others, only a couple of digits behind her.

The next few weeks hold plenty of potential for changing those dynamics. The Powerhouse Classic is coming up in Detroit this weekend, May 10 and 11, followed by the New York Pro on May 25 and the Toronto Super Show on May 31 and June 1.

Photo (from left): Ashley Kaltwasser, Yeshaira Robles and Stacey Alexander.

Here are the complete results:

’13 Pittsburgh Pro Bikini Championship

1) Yeshaira Robles
2) Ashley Kaltwasser
3) Stacey Alexander
4) Lacey DeLuca
5) Pollianna Moss
6) Aly Veneno
7) Nicole Witbeck
8) Ashley LeBlanc
9) Yarelis Gonzalez
10) Gigi Amurao
11) Natalie Pennington
12) Vladimira Krasova
13) Jennifer Elliott
14) Anna Starodubtseva
15) Melissa Sayles
15) Natalie Abrhiem
17) Maria Annunziata
18) Becky Clawson
18) Cassandra Dubois
18) Heather Gonyea
18) Jessica Renee
18) Kelsie Burgin
18) Lynn Sambuco
18) Michon Leddy
18) Rachelle Dejean

Patricia Mello scored an easy victory at the Los Angeles Grand Prix Pro Physique on April 13 in Culver City, California. It was the second win of her career as a women’s-physique competitor, the first since the newest women’s sport earned a spot at the Olympia. I say easy because hers was easily the best total package of symmetry, proportion and just enough muscle and conditioning onstage at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, but make no mistake—the lineup of 16 featured a lot of depth.

In second, former fitness performer Venus Nguyen had perhaps the most polished presentation in the show—spot-on conditioning and drop-dead gorgeous posing—even at the judging. Karin Hobbs, (formerly Kimura), another total-package type, took third, while the symmetrical and proportionate but maybe a hair too muscular Jill Ruddison landed in fourth. Loan Leonard, a rookie with a physique reminiscent of Hobbs’s took fifth, getting on the Olympia-points board in her pro debut.

In the race for the most overlooked competitor, Debbie Barrable (formerly Leung), a one-time Canadian National champ in bodybuilding as well as figure, gets my vote. Barrable, who took third in physique at the Toronto Pro, is one former bodybuilder whose physique was made for physique. She looked better than 11th place to these eyes, but the season is young, with the Europa Show of Champions in Orlando, Florida, and the Optimum Classic in Shreveport, Louisiana, coming up over the next two weekends.

So far only three women are qualified for the Olympia Women’s Physique Showdown, which will take place in Las Vegas during the big weekend, September 27 and 28—Tamee Marie, Sabrina Taylor and Mello. So each of the nine WPD contests scheduled to take place before then should be very competitive.

Photos: Patricia Mello (top) and Venus Nguyen

’13 Los Angeles Grand Prix Pro Physique
1) Patricia Mello
2) Venus Nguyen
3) Karin Hobbs
4) Jill Rudison
5) Loan Leonard
6) Susan Graham
7) Michelle Trapp
8) Anne Marrie Kam
9) Tycie Coppett
10) Antonia Perdikakis
11) Debbie Barrable
12) Anne Marie Lasserre
13) Janessa Roy
14) Keri Ann Heitzman
15) Stacy Simons McDowell
16) Elizabeth White

Bethany Cisternino picked up her second pro win at the FIBO Power Pro Fitness in Cologne, Germany, on April 13; not only that but she nailed it, earning unanimous first-place scores in both rounds. Cisternino’s 5’3″ physique was at its best, full and shapely with plenty of fitness-appropriate muscle all around, and her routine, one of her best when the New Jersey gymnastics and track coach performed it at the Fitness International six weeks earlier, impressed the FIBO judges as well.

The rest of the lineup of  10 were also impressive. In fact, the judges were so impressed with Regiane DaSilva and Ryall Graber-Vasani that they almost couldn’t make up their minds between the German star and the Canadian comer. The two were tied at the end, with Graber-Vasani getting a two-point edge in the physiques and DaSilva ahead by two points in the routines. In the tie-breaker, the runner-up spot went to Ryall.

For their efforts, Bethany earned her spot in this season’s Fitness Olympia lineup, Regiane is now number one in the point standings, and Ryall moved into second.

Photo: Bethany Cisternino, courtesy of RxMuscle.com

’13 FIBO Power Pro Fitness
1) Bethany Cisternino
2) Ryall Graber-Vasani
3) Regiane DaSilva
4) Whitney Jones
5) Kizzy Vaines
6) Nicole Duncan
7) Diana Monteiro
8) Babette Mulford
9) Amanda Hatfield
10) Somkina Liudmila

Sad news…

Joe Weider  Legendary Bodybuilding and Fitness Icon Dies at 93

November 29, 1919 – March 23, 2013

Joe Weider, the legendary fitness and publishing figure who popularized the modern conception of fitness and nutrition, and is considered the father of the sport of bodybuilding, died this morning in Los Angeles of heart failure. He was 93 years old.

Joe Weider’s influence is felt in every area of fitness and health. He created a massive fitness publishing empire, which included Muscle and Fitness, Flex, Shape, and Men’s Fitness magazines. He popularized the use of fitness equipment in people’s homes and was a leader in establishing the use of nutritional supplements. The company he founded, Weider Health and Fitness, became synonymous with fitness, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

A weight training pioneer, fitness crusader, and magazine publisher, Joe Weider overcame the challenges of childhood poverty and lack of education to create a sports movement that changed modern culture’s conception of physical beauty and the way athletes and everyman exercises and diets. Through the magazines he published, the sports federation (International Federation of Bodybuilders) he created, the bodybuilding contests he promoted, and his groundbreaking advocacy of fitness for women, Joe Weider created a sports legacy that has a worldwide reach and affected the lives of millions of people.

Born in 1919, Joseph Weider grew up in a tough neighborhood in Montreal, Canada during the Great Depression. An undersized child, Joe became easy prey for older and tougher teenagers, which prompted him to head off to the Montreal YMHA to request to train with their wrestling team. The coach turned him down for fear he’d be hurt.

Undaunted, Joe made his way to a local newsstand in search of inspiration. “I went to the local 5 and dime store and I bought two magazines for a few pennies,” he recalled. “One was the 1930 edition of the Milo Barbell Company’s magazine, Strength and it really opened my eyes.”

Inspired by the message and images within their pages, Joe scavenged a local train yard for an old axle and two flywheels, which he cobbled into a makeshift barbell. He lifted, pumped and pressed the scrap metal endlessly, transforming his physique from scrawny to brawny. His reputation as a powerhouse quickly began to spread throughout Montreal.

“Then somebody knocked at my parents’ door and asked for me,” he continued. “He said ‘I represent the Verdun weightlifting club. Would you like to come try out for our team?’ When I saw the gym, saw the guys working out, supporting one another, I was mesmerized. That experience changed my life.”

At 17 Joe competed in his first weightlifting contest which earned him a national ranking. Letters and calls began inundating the Weider household with requests for Joe’s advice. Realizing he hadn’t the time to attend to each query he chose to create his own magazine.

With $7 in his pocket he began to work on the first issue of Your Physique, which was published in August of 1940. Orders poured in immediately and within 18 months Joe had turned a $10,000 profit. Soon he started the Weider Barbell Co., a mail order business, using his magazine to advertise its wares.

In 1946, Joe and his younger brother Ben rented Montreal’s Monument National Theater to host the first Mr. Canada contest. They formed the International Federation of Bodybuilders that night.

In 1965 Joe created the Mr. Olympia contest, which to this day is the premier event in bodybuilding. Joe created the Ms. Olympia contest in 1980, and added the Fitness Olympia contest in 1995 and the Figure Olympia in 2003. He also mentored numerous young bodybuilders, including young Arnold Schwarzenegger. Recognizing Arnold’s potential, he said, “Every sport needs a hero and I knew that Arnold was the right man.” Joe brought Arnold to the United States from Austria, financing his trip and helped him become established in business. Joe maintained a very close relationship with Arnold for the rest of his life-they were close friends and visited frequently.

To help support his family young Joe Weider was forced to drop out of school in the seventh grade. Self educated, he was an avid student of history and a collector of art, particularly of the American West. In 2010 he oversaw the donation of money and priceless bodybuilding artifacts, photos and documents that established the Joe and Betty Weider Museum of Physical Culture at the University of Texas, Austin.

Twelve years ago Joe was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a heart condition with which he was expected to survive about three years. Doctors credit his amazing fitness and nutrition ethic—until recently he trained every morning and made frequent public appearances—for allowing him to survive an additional nine years.

Two competitions a world apart marked the IFBB pro circuit for the second week in a row on March 15 and 16. This time out it was the New Zealand Pro Bikini on one side of the earth and the St. Louis Pro Figure and Bikini competitions on the other.

In Aukland Nicole Nagrani, third at the Bikini International on March 2 and second in Australia the previous weekend, topped the New Zealand lineup, with Polianna Moss, fourth in Australia, moving up to second, and local gal Jessica Pendergrast getting third. Another New Zealander, Jade Mackinnon, and Australian Amy Wright earned Olympia points in taking fourth and fifth, respectively, in the contest, which was produced by Moe El Moussawi in conjunction with a big amateur show.

In St. Louis promoters Jack and Ann Titone attracted a couple of slam-bang lineups, with the figure title going to Alea Suarez, a competitor who just keeps getting better. Nineteen athletes got onstage for this one. Second was to Aleshia Hart, who looked so good, it had to be close, while the third spot went to Natalie Waples, who’s had more ups and downs in her career than a skier. Speaking of ups and downs, all three women finished out of the top 10 at the Figure International two weeks earlier but definitely presented improved packages here.

Maria Garcia Sanchez of Spain and Monica Labriola, who finished only a point apiece, earned Olympia credits for fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively.

Also improving on her finish—and her physique—at the International, in this case the bikini competition, was Jennifer Andrews, who won the St. Louis Pro Bikini for the third time. Second in the lineup of 15 was Jessica Arevalo, who caught my eye at the Musclecontest Pro Bikini a week earlier, and third went to pixie bombshell Narmin Assria.

In addition, Christie Marquez in fourth and Noy Alexander, fifth, earned points toward Olympia qualifications.

This weekend the action moves back to California for the Governor’s Cup Pro Figure in Sacramento on March 23.

Photo: Alea Suarez