Jen Hendershott practices what she calls the “YOLO motto”: You only live once. Though I’ve never been to one of her Phat Camps, I suspect it’s a running theme.

The photo above is a sneak peek at an extraordinary photo shoot Hendershott did with IRON MAN’s Michael Neveux not long after the two-time Olympia champ nailed her second Fitness International title in March. Mike, Jen and the gang from Gardena took a trampoline to Detweiler Beach in Playa del Ray, California, at the crack of dawn, and the breathtaking results will be featured in the September ’09 IRON MAN (on newsstands August 1).

It’s the one-time Ohio State cheerleader’s second IM Hardbody layout—a rare honor. I drew the assignment to write the “girl copy,” as we used to call it at Hustler, a perfect excuse to catch up with an athlete I’ve known since she burst (and I mean burst) onto the fitness stage in 1997. Jen and her husband, Brian Kinn, currently life in Burlington, North Carolina. Among other topics, our conversation touched on the IRON MAN shoot, the many things that keep her occupied these days—plus a few distractions—and, well, the obvious question.

You get kudos from me for getting Mike out of the studio. Whose idea was the trampoline?

Actually, I had contacted [IRON MAN Publisher] John Balik, and they were looking for the right athlete for this shoot. My timing was right on. I was headed to California for some other business ventures and said, “I would love to do it,” Getting Michael out was fun. He is a great guy, and I always enjoy seeing him and chatting about life and politics!

You sounded exhilarated in the e-mail you sent after the shoot. Was it that much fun?

The shoot was one of the most memorable and most professional experiences in my entire career. Michael, John and the team were so fun and easy to work with. I would shoot once a month if I could with them. It was amazing jumping for nine hours in the hot sun on a trampoline, overlooking the ocean, with airplanes from LAX going over every 30 to 45 seconds! Amazing!

I take it you are no stranger to a trampoline?

I am actually not that familiar with the tramp. However, you know I love to jump and I definitely think my cheerleading experience helped with the shoot. I jumped and jumped and hit pose after pose till we got the right shot.  I think at one point I jumped so high, I might have peed in my pants. Yikes!

I know you like shooting with Michael. What’s unique about working with him?

He is so simple.  He gets the shots. It’s not five hours to get one shot; he just nails shot after shot.  In the nine hours of shooting I believe we did 11 costume changes. That speaks volumes on his end.

The last time I saw you—at the Arnold—you were in the clouds, and from reading your blog at JennyH.com, I get the impression you still are. What’s it like to be Jen Hendershott these days?

I would not trade my life with anyone. I love being Jen Hendershott! You know I just take each experience and make the most of it. I don’t wait for my phone to ring, e-mails to roll in or money to fall in my hand. I work extremely hard promoting myself and running my businesses to make a good living and a good name for myself. My life is not perfect, but it is good! I am extremely blessed in so many ways. Most important,  I have my health and I am happy about who I have become. What else can a girl ask for?

However, it’s not always easy being me. There are lots of haters! They are the people who want to be me. Believe it or not, I love the people who are continuously throwing me under the bus. I have never mistreated a soul in this sport. I do stand up for myself, and sometimes people do not like the decisions I make, but I am not a doormat. No one is going to walk all over me or tell me how to live my life.

I am a woman with drive and aspirations to be the best I can be. The more they talk about me, the more people are curious as to who I am. I always say no press is bad press. Keep talking, and I will keep doing my thing with integrity and grace.

You never stop moving. You’ve got the Phat Camps and the choreography, you’re the IFBB athletes rep for fitness, you’ve got a new NPC competition, and didn’t I hear something about a TV show? Can you actually list all your current projects?

Finishing my winter/spring tour with Phat Camps right now; starting back in the fall: www.getphatwithjen.com.

Just finished filming the MTV show “Made.” That was a nine-week process. It airs June 20, with repeats all summer.

Just launched a new affiliate program to help athletes make money so they can keep competing or make a secondary income: www.pgnnutrition.com.

Promoting my NPC event [the Jen Hendershott All Women’s Weekend] on July 18 in Charleston, South Carolina: www.getphatpromotions.com.

I also joined forces with the team at Scivation to launch a new line of women’s supplements: www.pgnnutrition.com.

I am training many clients for shows around the NPC: www.getphatonline.com.

Hmmm. That’s what I’ve got going on right this minute, but each day new things come onto my plate.

What gives you the most joy in your career?

That I get to be a role model for so many women out there. Daily I get e-mails from around the world about how I have inspired them, changed them, impacted them in some way.  That is to me, what I was born to do—teach people to believe in themselves and live the YOLO motto!—You only live once. Life is so short, we have to live it while we are able to and make it the best we can.

You and Brian have an enviable marriage. What’s your secret?

Wow, lots of answers go into this: We are friends first. We don’t let others determine who we are as a couple. We are honest with one another, and we take time to spend together each day so we are always growing our life together as one.  We are not interested to see if the grass is greener somewhere else. We married for better or for worse.  We make our career decisions as a team: How will it benefit us?  We don’t yell or argue—that’s a waste of energy.  We discuss! We are the couple that can drink a protein shake or a beer together and enjoy each minute of it. We love each other very much. Life would not be as good as it is without each other!

You have recently expressed a passion for fishing. How long has this been going on?

I love fishing—always have—and I spend at least one-third of my summer fishing with my dad. I fish better than any of my four brothers. I am actually interested in becoming a professional fisherwoman.  Seriously, what a great life—it’s competitive, you don’t have to diet, and you live life in a boat. Ahhh, that sounds amazing.

What else are you doing for fun these days?

Honestly, I don’t get a lot of free time, but when I do, I spend it in Ohio with friends and family. Brian and I take lots of little vacations when we can. I also just try and read some good books. It keeps the mind and who I am in check with reality.

What are you reading now?

I am currently reading The Seven Secrets by John Hagee—an excellent spiritual and empowering book.

What would you like to be doing that you’re not already doing?

I would like to be doing lots of things: public speaking is one. I would love to start a nonprofit organization. I also would love to get more involved in TV and radio. I honestly like what I’m doing, but I am always open to new ventures.

Last March, after your second win at the Fitness International—and second Olympia win—you seemed headed into nothing-left-to-prove mode. Will we see you onstage at the Olympia in September?

I have nothing to prove, damn right! You know that I have not made this decision. If I do compete, it’s because I can, but I will bring the best Jen Hendershott that anyone has ever seen.  If I decide not to do it, then it’s because I am ready to move on. I do know this: Retirement is for old people, and I am not old!

Photos (from top):

A sneak peek of Jen’s latest IRON MAN Hardbody shoot with Mike Neveux.

Backstage at the Fitness International with Trish Warren (left) and Heidi “Fletch No More” Sullivan, shortly before the judging.

In costume and ready to roll at the Fitness I finals.

Anytime you get 29 fine-bodied women in bathing suits to lineup on a stage you’re likely to start a riot. Especially if someone who generates major interest among the onlookers finishes “too low.” Granted that’s a bit of an exaggeration regarding the California Pro Figure competition, which was held on May 23 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, but there’s definitely been some heated discussion both in the auditorium and in the ensuing days in places where people talk about these things. The question I hear first is not whether Heather Mae French should have won (she should have) but why Alicia Renee Harris in her pro debut missed out on a top-five finish.

Before I get to that, however, let’s talk about the women who did make the top five, starting with Heather Mae, who scored her first pro win at last. Having missed out on that honor by a single point at the Europa Show of Champions last month, she was determined. Battling bronchitis, she managed to step onstage looking as good as it gets, and the judges gave her a 14-point margin of victory over runner-up Sonia Gonzales.

You might say the law of the pecking order held true in this skirmish of the shorties. The 5’ 1/4” Heather finished one slot ahead of the 5’ 1” Sonia at the A-list Figure International in March, and that ranking held firm in Cali.

The rest of top five held some pleasant surprises. A balanced Kristi Tauti took third and the last of the Olympia qualifications up for grabs. Meriza DeGuzman, sporting her best-ever body in terms of fullness plus conditioning, was just three points behind her in fourth, while a nicely put together, as always, Rosa-Maria Romano enjoyed her first-ever top-five finish in the pros. (Talk about a smile from ear to ear.)

As for Ms. Harris. From the callouts it was clear that  she had at least one champion on the panel: Someone made sure she was compared with the top placers. In the end, though, the callouts provided an exact blueprint of the winner’s circle, and Alicia had to settle for sixth.

The reason? The 5’ 3/4″ former track athlete had about the best structure for physique competition as I saw onstage, but her mesomorphic curves may be “too much muscle for figure” for some tastes.

So should she lose muscle? you’re probably wondering. Not on my say-so. Besides, I like the way she looks—”beautiful female muscle” is the phrase—and I suspect a different judging panel might have seen it differently.

I also think she’d make a wonderful middleweight bodybuilder, but that’s not likely to occur anytime soon given the looks on people’s faces when I suggest it. Another topic for an other time. My guess is Alicia will soften up her look the next time she competes.

That can’t possibly be for a couple of months, as we’re now heading into something you don’t see very often during an IFBB season: A lull in the figure schedule. The next show, the Jacksonville Pro Figure Classic—promoted by Mr. Olympia Dexter Jackson—is scheduled for August 1.

Until then? There’s always the bikini-pro-card race heating up.

Photos (from top):

Heather Mae hits a runway shot before performing the more sedate quarter-turns.

Sonia sells it.

Alicia sparkles, making a huge impression on the fans and the panel.

Battling bronchitis but looking her absolute best, Heather Mae French scored her first pro win at the ’09 California Pro Figure competition, which was held last night, May 23, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, California. Second at this contest last year, second by a single point at the Show of Champions in Orlando, Florida, last month, she beat out ’07 Cal Pro winner Sonia Gonzales and was bubbling to beat the band backstage afterward. Here’s what she had to say, scratchy throat and all, in the heat of the post-victory moment.

Photo: An elated Heather Mae hoists her trophy backstage.

Last night on the instant messenger my buddy Ron Avidan asked who I thought would win the Cal Pro Figure, which will take place in Culver City this Saturday, May 23, along with the NPC California Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships. Fortunately, Yogi didn’t demand that I list my top five, in order—I’m not big on that—however, a glance at the final list of competitors gives an idea of the way things will trend.

For some time I’ve been assuming that Sonia Gonzales (formerly Adcock) would repeat her victory of two years ago. The last-minute entry of Heather Mae French, who lost the top spot in Orlando to Nicole Wilkins Lee last month by a single point, changed the landscape a bit. Heather, who was second to Felicia Romero at this show last year, finished one place ahead of Sonia at the Figure International in March, which would make her the favorite to win. On the other hand, Sonia has the Southern California hometown advantage, which makes the outcome a toss-up in my mind.

In an attempt to avoid making a choice, I pointed out that, although there are numerous talented rookies signed up to quarter-turn at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium—Jennifer DeJoya, Alicia Harris,  Carin Hawkins, Crystal Lowery, Amy O’Neil and Natalie Waples, to name a few—the first-year pro who is most likely to make a dent in the Olympia-qualifying top three is Sherlyn Roy, last year’s Team Universe overall champ. My comment wasn’t based on the fact that Sherlyn finished behind Heather and Sonia at the International, cracking the top 10 in her pro debut, but because that gal really knows how to sparkle on the runway—and her physique ain’t bad either.

In all 29 women are scheduled to get onstage in Culver City on Saturday, and despite the above comments, anything can happen. I’ll see you—and Yogi—there.

Photo: Will it be Sonia Gonzales (pictured), Heather Mae French or someone else picking up the biggest check at the Cal Pro Figure?

The results of the New York Pro Women’s Bodybuilding Championship, held on Saturday, May 16, were posted instantaneously, although it may have been a minute or two before I found them at 6:18 p.m. Cali time. My initial reaction—after the shock that a program of three pro-bodybuilding competitions could be over by 9:18: What, were all the so-called smaller girls in the lineup out of shape? Now that I’ve perused our photo gallery from the show, I know the answer: That pretty much sums it up.

A trip through the lineup of 24 babes with biceps who got onstage at the Tribeca Performing Arts center reveals that the guys and gals who marked the score sheets got it exactly right. ’08 winner Cathy LeFrancois was fully deserving of her repeat-perfect-score victory­­—complete and conditioned are the words that come to mind. Betty Pariso, on the Olympia-qualification trail after missing the Ms. International due to illness, was big and full, with plenty of cuts to go around, and took the second spot. Rosemary Jennings, less extremely conditioned than in recent outings but still big and full, was a good call for third.

Fourth-placer Debbie Bramwell looked good and was only five points behind Rosemary going into the posedown, but only the top three took got to pose down. A nicely conditioned Dena Westerfield rounded out the top five, with Jeannie Paparone just a few points behind her in sixth and Tazzie Columb just a single point behind Jeannie in seventh.

As for the so-called smaller girls, the ones I thought had a chance of making a dent in the Olympia-qualifying top three? Based on the photos, they were mostly, as L.T. likes to say, way smayth.  Maybe next time, ladies.

There are two more opportunities for the flexin’ females of the IFBB to qualify for the ’09 Ms. Olympia: the Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championship in Tampa, Florida, on August 7, and the Atlantic City Pro on September 11 and 12.

Photo: Cathy LeFrancois in New York.

Here’s a shot of the first callout from the New York Pro Women’s Bodybuilding Championship, which is taking place today at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center on the campus of the Borough of Manhattan Community College. It came to me via IRON MAN photographer Roland Balik’s iPhone. Ain’t technology grand?

From left: Rosemary Jennings, Cathy LeFrancois and Betty Pariso. Will it be a repeat victory for Cathy? To check out photos from the judging, which Roland will be posting shortly, click here.