Sass vs. Crass
I could not sleep last night. At 4 a.m. a song I haven’t thought about in a long, long time was thumping through my head—a very clever ditty called, “Smut,” by the legendary Tom Lehrer, a Harvard and M.I.T. math professor and underground satirical song writer of the 1960s and ’70s who went wide via a TV show called “That Was the Week that Was” and wrote some of the wickedest stuff ever penned by a math professor or anyone else. You can Wiki him. Or you can listen to the number in question here.
Not to get too deeply into early-’60s nerd humor or U.S. history, but “Smut” was an anticensorship “protest march” that glorified pornography—back when you could go to jail for selling what you can now see online for free. Its lyrics reference a 1957 Supreme Court ruling (Roth v. U.S), in which, the court said, among other things, that, as Lehrer put it:
“To be smut it,
It must be ut-terly
Without redeeming social importance.”
Of course, subsequent rulings and the Internet have blown all that all to heck, but in a time when Playboy was considered too risqué for the room, Lehrer’s glorification of all things prurient was pretty funny. Still is. Some how in the wee, small hours, with lines like this keeping me up, it seemed totally to the point:
When correctly viewed,
Everything is lewd.
I can tell you things about Peter Pan,
And the Wizard of Oz—there’s a dirty old man.
Which brings me to the other thing that was running concurrently in my brain: a photo that I had seen recently—several actually—of a fast-rising pro bikini competitor doing the stride and snap to the rear. Except instead of snapping she’s holding with her legs astride and her glutes popped up and out in a stance that says, “Soldier, take aim!”
Now, I’m no prude. Yeah, I hate it when people say that too, but, seriously, I was an editor at one of the dirtiest magazines on this planet at one time, and it takes a lot to shock me. Consequently, I like to think I know a Beaver shot when I see one.
One of the most striking things about pro bikini competition so far is how much more polished the women all look than those at amateur shows—smoother body lines, smoother presentation—with each on the road to finding her signature poses from the front and back. Most of the back shots are kind of cute—sassy, with the head and hair tossed back and a knowing smile.
I think most women (well, a lot) have fantasies of looking hot in a bikini or lingerie and heels and exuding a ’tude that says, “Eat your heart out”—even if some of us prefer to keep it to an audience of one. The success of bikini in the NPC and other organizations is ample evidence of that. Thanks to the Supreme Court and generations of First Amendment fanatics, the bikini gals have the right to do it, too, onstage and in front of a cheering crowd, without the place getting raided. And I will defend to the end that right.
Still, when I was flipping through the online photos from the prejudging of this particular show and happened upon the picture, it was like, Whoa, Dude, that moon’s bright! I wondered if the judges would agree and take it into account. Based on the results, I don’t think they did; so maybe it was just me.
It’s not because it was a back shot, BTW. I’ve seen some front-view poses that made me stop short since bikini hit the NPC circuit last year. You have to admit, though: things are always smuttier when they involve that angle. (Remember the “Sex in the City” episode when Charlotte doesn’t want to be the “up-the-butt girl”?)
Sass has become the buzzword for bikini—it’s all about sass, as one early winner told me last summer—and there’s nothing wrong with sass. Or crass, for that matter, but I have to ask the questions, When does sass become crass, and should it matter in a quasi sport like pro bikini competition?
I’m talking about onstage posing here. Off-the-stage female fitness modeling—in all its forms—is a whole other subject. I will point out that not every gal who tries on an ultrasassy look looks as good in it as the young woman discussed above, something every aspiring bikini babe should consider when putting together her presentation. That’s a whole other conversation as well but worth mentioning.
I don’t usually solicit replies here, but I’m interested in knowing what people think about the sass vs. crass issue. There has been some sharp talk on the Internet, mostly from commentators of the male persuasion, but I’d like to hear from women, especially bikini competitors and other physique athletes. If I’m overreacting, I’ll stop whining and start practicing my “stride and pop to the rear” (for those private performances). If people would prefer to see some limits, though, I’d like to hear it.
All the photos included here come strictly under the heading of sassy in my book. I’m not running a shot of the competitor I mentioned, as it’s not my intention to embarrass her—or anyone. You can find pictures online easily enough (how many pro bikini shows have there been?), or you can find similar photos of other competitors. Do they set off your crass meter? Leave a comment below or drop me a note: ironwman@aol.com.
This weekend the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Bikini and Pro Figure competitions are going down in my hometown—offering plenty of opportunity to browse the photo galleries and see what I’m talking about.
Sassy ladies (from top): Monique Minton, Stacey Oster-Thompson and Alea Suarez.
First-Timers Rule at the Show of Champions
A trio of first-time winners got the big thumbs-up at the Europa Show of Champions, which took place in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, April 17. Pro fitness, figure and bikini were the women’s sports contested. Camala Rodriguez, Erin Stern and Nathalia Melo, respectively, were the champs. Nathalia who? I hear you query. We’ll get to that in a minute.
Let’s start with fitness, where Rodriguez, arguably the hottest rookie to come along in years, took her upward trajectory to its obvious conclusion. She took both rounds to score the biggest win of the evening—at least in terms of points—coming in 20 points ahead of runner-up Myriam Capes, with Regiane DaSilva nabbing the third Olympia-qualifying spot.
A dozen professional practicers of the art of kicks, splits and strength holds heeded the call of promoters Ed and Betty Pariso. From the physique callouts, you might have thought that Kristina Rojas, seventh at the New York Pro a couple of weeks ago, and Erin Riley, returning to the stage after a year out due to shoulder problems, were in line for top-three finishes. This show was clearly won in the routines, however, and there were more deserving performances than there were rewards. Rodriguez, Capes and DaSilva took the top honors, finishing a very close first, second and third before earning those spots in the final placings. Rojas and Riley had to settle for fourth and fifth, with the ever improving Allison Ethier taking fourth in the routines to land in sixth overall.
Also the obvious conclusion of an upward trajectory was Stern’s victory in the Show of Champions Figure battle. Second to Nicole Wilkins-Lee at the Figure International, Erin was the favorite going into this show, not to mention a hometown favorite from nearby Ocala, and she didn’t disappoint. Bringing perhaps her best conditioning ever, she took charge of the 19-woman lineup from the first quarter-turn and nailed a perfect score.
Nailing a perfect score for second was someone who was not a precontest favorite. Marcy Porter, who got early kudos as a class winner at our NPC IRON MAN Figure in 2004 and turned pro at the Nationals that same year, has not had the success on the next level that some might have predicted. Off the stage since the ’07 Kentucky Pro Muscle, where she got stuck in the tied-for-16th pool, she came back with a vengeance. Sporting a new look—leaner, more sculpted and brunet—Porter strode right by someone who was a favorite going into the contest, Cheryl Brown, relegating her to third.
Latisha Wilder, looking the best she has in a while—and tiny!—took fourth, and Candice Keene rounded out the top five.
Now for the bikini story, and it is a story. Newcomer Nathalie Melo won her pro debut—only her second contest ever—with a perfect score. The Brazilian bombshell, the latest in a distinguished line of Brazilian bombshells now living in the U.S. that includes figure pros Larissa Reis and Julianna Malacarne, turned up at the NPC Fort Lauderdale Cup last October and blew everyone away. That includes everyone who counts (not always the case), as Nathalia was allowed to apply for her pro card, and you can see what came of it.
I wasn’t present in Orlando, but after viewing the contest photos and a sweet postvictory interview with Dave Palumbo at RxMuscle.com, I’m Nathalia fan. She has a very different physique style from Sonia Gonzalez, who won the first two pro-bikini shows—leaner and not quite as curvy—but she has the requisite sass for sure.
Jaime Baird (my prediction for first) was the panel’s unanimous choice for second in the 14-woman lineup, with Missy Coles earning a perfect third-place score. Both were making their pro debuts as well and, along with Nathalia, earned invites to the Bikini Olympia, to be held during the Big O weekend in September.
Photos (from top):
Camala Rodriguez.
Myriam Capes.
Erin Stern.
Nathalia Melo (courtesy of Rxmuscle.com).
Find the complete results from all three Europa Show of Champions events below:
’10 Show of Champions Fitness
1) Camala Rodriguez*
2) Myriam Capes*
3) Regiane Da Silva*
4) Erin Riley
5) Kristina Rojas
6) Allison Either
7) Sylvia Tremblay
8) Nicole Duncan
9) Melissa Fredrick
10) Kayde Puckett
11) Sandi Stuart
12) Victoria Larvie
Qualifies for the ’10 Fitness Olympia.
’10 Show of Champions Figure
1) Erin Stern*
2) Marcy Porter*
3) Cheryl Brown*
4) Latisha Wilder
5) Candice Keene
6) Marie Ann Newman
7) Petra Metrl
8) Ann Titone
9) Candice John
10) Danielle Kifer
11) Elvimar Sanchez
12) Jessica Wright
13) Linda Fodor
14) Tessa Wood-Thomas
15) Listy Allen
16) Taylor Waldrop
17) Tammy Strome
17) Ginette Delhaes
17) Nina DiTommaso Morgan
Qualifies for the ’10 Figure Olympia.
’10 Show of Champions Bikini
1) Nathalia Melo*
2) Jaime Baird*
3) Missy Coles*
4) Kira Rivera
5) Janet Harding
6) Khanh Nguyen
7) Marzia Prince
8) Jessica Lawrence
9) Shay Monroe
10) Shelsea Montes
11) Sheryln Roy
12) Kat Holmes
13) Safiya Johnson
14) Julie Costa
*Qualifies for the ’10 Bikini Olympia.
Weekend Cycle: A Birth, a Death and a Bodybuilder in a War Zone
Three pieces of news crossed the Pump & Circumstance desk this week represented kind of a cycle of life thing, although they were not related. The first was the sudden passing of designer Tony Nowak, who made the custom leather jackets given to winners at the Arnold Classic and Ms., Fitness and Figure International competitions and who was known fondly to anyone who’s been around the big Columbus, Ohio, weekend for any length of time. The other was the announcement that ’08 Figure Olympia champ Jenn Gates had had her baby, a boy, Jaxon Michael Latimore—the baby she was expecting when she announced that she would not defend her title last year. For Tony’s family and friends, a great sadness; for Jenn’s circle, a bundle of joy. “O-bla-di o-bla-da life goes on.” A little happy news along with the sad is always welcome.
The third news was a welcome note from Nola Trimble, a Southern California–based figure-competitor-turned-flexer who’s on assignment as a contract firefighter in Iraq. I ran a photo segment about Nola and her colleagues in the April ’10 IRON MAN. As that issue recently went off the stands, it seems like a good moment to shine a little light on an athlete I really admire.
Nola, a firefighter, EMT and hazmat tech, has appeared in IRON MAN numerous times, including a Michael Neveux Hardbody layout a couple of years ago and, more recently, in Jerry Fredrick’s Serious Training segment in the November ’09 issue. I’d last seen her at the ’09 USA in July, when she made her national-level debut as a middleweight bodybuilder, and I kind of expected she’d enter the Nationals. Instead she went to a different kind of war zone.
Nola was at the base exchange, leafing through IRON MAN last fall, when she discovered that Jerry’s photos of her, taken months before, had been published, and she dropped him a line. We set up an interview, which led to the photo spread.
“I can’t explain in words what it means to these guys over here to be recognized in your magazine,” she wrote after the Iraq photos in Pump & Circumstance came out. “It makes me happy to recognize them because they do so much for our country.”
Nola and her fellow firefighters—”a great group of guys I would call my brothers anytime”—put in a lot of heavy specific training, including drills for structural egress and aircraft egress and live-fire training. Gym time is in addition to all that.
Here’s my complete update interview with Nola:
RS: The obvious question: how did you get to Iraq? The last time I saw you, you were onstage at the USA and working at March Air Reserve Base.
NT: I had been at the March ARB F.D. for 2 1/2 years, and although I enjoyed living in L.A. and training at Gold’s Gym in Venice, I was not feeling a sense of accomplishment at my job, so I needed a change. I was in the U.S. Air Force for seven years and never got the chance to deploy—I was always stationed state-side, in South Carolina, Maryland, Texas and Florida. So when I saw this job opening it was the perfect opportunity for me to experience a deployment to Iraq. It has allowed me to meet and work with a special group of people. I am fortunate to have made good friends here while seeing and doing things I never had the chance to before. So far it has been a great experience.
RS: Where exactly (or inexactly) are you? How long have you been there—and how long will you stay?
I am at an FOB—forward operating base—in northern Iraq. I have been here since August 2009. I will be here until August 2010 for a total of one year.
RS: Is it noisy or quiet there?
NT: Things here where I am are pretty quiet for the most part.
RS: You obviously have a huge spirit of adventure. What was the deciding factor that got you on the plane?
NT: Several things actually. I wanted to change my life for the better, and this gives me the opportunity to do so. Also, I wanted to make a small contribution to our country in some way, especially in honor of all the fallen firefighters from 9/11. I have always had the dream of opening my own gym and starting my own workout clothing line, so coming over here sets me up to get that started when I return to the U.S.
RS: I have to ask: what’s the male-to-female ratio in your unit?
NT: For the first two months I was the only female in the F.D.; however, now there are two of us. As far as the base itself, there are far more men than women, but I have seen an increase in women lately (mostly Army) with the new units that have arrived.
RS: Did your coworkers know you were a fitness model before the training layout in IRON MAN?
NT: Yes, they told me they had looked me up on Facebook and checked out my Web site, www.NolaJTrimble.com, before I arrived. They made the comment that they didn’t think I was real. They wondered why in the world I would want to come here to Iraq. :)
RS: When did you shoot with Jerry Fredrick?
NT: I shot with Jerry in March ’09, just prior to my first bodybuilding show, the San Diego Championships, where I placed second in the women’s division. I was in the best shape of my life at that show thanks to my trainer and friend, Dave Palumbo.
RS: At that time you were weight training six days a week, basically one bodypart a day, and doing cardio seven days. With all the occupational training you’re doing now, are you still keeping up with that schedule?
NT: For the most part yes. There are days when I cannot get to the gym due to workload or manning issues, but I make every attempt to continue training six days per week. I do my cardio at 5 a.m. every day before my shift begins at 7 a.m. That way I can just focus on my training in the early afternoon and the cardio is already out of the way. Sometimes I am able to do additional cardio in the evening.
RS: What what have you encountered on this tour that’s made the greatest impression on you or maybe changed your perspective on something?
NT: Over here I am fortunate to work with people from all over the world. I have met some great people and learned about many different cultures. I am honored to work closely with the military members that give so much of themselves for our country. Being over here has also really made me appreciate the small things (that are not available to us here) that I didn’t think about while living in the states. I am very grateful to my family for sending me nice things in the mail.
RS: Any thoughts about your next appearance on a bodybuilding stage?
NT: I would like to compete again in the near future, however, at this time I am focusing on my job and my duties here in Iraq. So the competing may be on hold for a bit but not forever. I love training and staying in shape and I love this sport, so I guess you could just call my tour in Iraq a little break. I am, however, continuing to train hard and eat right over here.
Also, I’d like to send a special thank you to all of you out there that support us over here. It is greatly appreciated by so many.
Photos (from top):
Middleweight Nola at the USA.
And on a Blackhawk.
Structural-drill prep (from left): Avery Hanoumis, Nola, Doug Withers, Eric Wiser and Tyler Gilbert.
Army Captain Jason Bruno saw Nola’s shots in IM and came to the F.D. to meet her.
On a tour of a monastery. Back row: Chiefs Ziegler and Van Boerum; middle row: Eric Thompson, Carlos Corum, Tamarcus Parks and Merritt Henderson; front row: Eric Wiser, Christopher Russell, Tim Spencer, Johnny Owens and Nola.
Carlos Corum and Tamarcus Parks.
Blackhawk training with Sarah Goldman and Doug Withers.
Wiser, Hanoumis and Withers wise off.
Nola on a tanker.
New York Pro Fitness-Tanji Polishes the Apple
Tanji Johnson took Manhattan by storm on Saturday, April 3, making off with a 15-point victory at the ‘10 New York Pro Fitness Championship. It was a third-time’s-the-charm win for the ’09 Olympia runner-up, who finished fourth in her two previous attempts at the Steve Weinberger-and-Bev Francis–produced competition, in 2002 and ’04. This time she hit the stage at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center as the top seed—a superb athlete at the peak of her career, physiquewise and routinewise—and the predictable result seemed more like a triumph than the same old, same old.
The third time was not the charm for Trish Warren, who earned the runner-up spot for the third year in a row (last year to Shannon Meteraud and in 2008 to Heidi Fletcher). It was not for lack of trying, however. The leaner, meaner Trish continues to gain fans with her revamped body and ever-improving routines. She took first in comparisons this time—quite an accomplishment considering how put together Tanji looked—but Warren’s superior flow of the bodyparts tipped the numbers her way.
That very quality, flow of the bodyparts, gets Bethany Wagner into the good callouts these days. In New York it got her the third place in the physique roune, which, along with the third-placed performance brought her the third Olympia invite that was up for grabs.
Tina Durkin took fourth, missing out on a money spot by just four points, while Canadian rookie Allison Ethier took a big leap from her last-place finish at the Fitness International to round out the top five. A high school math and science teacher when she’s not cavorting around the IFBB stage, Allison smoothed out her presentation after the International and put on an energetic routine that took second only to Tanji’s in the 13-woman lineup.
The show marked the return to competition of ’06 NPC National Fitness Overall champ Amy Villa-Nelson, who took a maternity break for a couple of years and now has a year-old daughter. Also coming back for more was veteran routine dazzler Stacy Simons McDowell, who called it quits a year ago after having to withdraw from the ’09 New York Pro Fitness due to back problems.
Below are the complete results.
Photos (from top):
Tanji Johnson, Trish Warren, Bethany Wagner and Allison Ethier.
’10 New York Pro Fitness
1) Tanji Johnson*
2) Trish Warren*
3) Bethany Wagner*
4) Tina Durkin
5) Allison Ethier
6) Sylvia Tremblay
7) Kristina Rojas
8) Kayde Puckett
9) Amy Villa-Nelson
10) Stacy McDowell
11) Lauren DeNapoli
12) Amanda Marinelli
13) Julie Costa
* Qualifies for the ’10 Fitness Olympia.