Pittsburgh Pro Bikini—Baird Bags It in the ’Burgh

Her win at the Pittsburgh Pro Bikini on May 7 couldn’t have been a bigger one. Jaime Baird, a member of the first group of gals to earn pro cards in bikini—in her case at the ’09 USA—and one of the classiest competitors to stride down the IFBB’s pro bikini runway, had competed previously in seven pro shows, by my count, always close but no cigar when it came to the top prize: third at the Pittsburgh Pro last year, four at the ’10 Olympia, fifth at the ’11 International, second to Nathalia Melo at the Show of Champions, last year as well as last week. This time, though, it was all Jaime, baby, as the 5’6”, 117-pound-in-contest-shape Floridian earned a unanimous first-place score from the panel at Jim Manion’s annual NPC and IFBB physique fest in the ’Burgh.

Seventeen stride ’n’ snapper brought their best to the stage of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. After the ladies’ initial intros, the judges wasted no time zeroing in on newcomer Juliana Daniell as a person of interest. It’s not hard to see why—she’s adorable and has a very nice shape to her physique. A class winner at last summer’s Team Universe, she made the top 10 in her debut at the Jacksonville Pro last summer but really found her footing here, earning a unanimous score for second.

Coming in third was the always effervescent Shelsea Montes, with Ali Rosen and Natalie Pennington landing just a point apart to round out the top five.

This was a tough lineup, no mistake—so tough, in fact, that Jennifer Andrews and Jessica Jessie, first and second in St. Louis in March,  were relegated to sixth and seventh, respectively at this show.

Photo courtesy of Dave Liberman (from left): Juliana Daniell, Jaime Baird and Shelsea Montes.

Here are the complete results:

’11 Pittsburgh Pro Bikini

1) Jaime Baird
2) Juliana Daniell
3) Shelsea Montes
4) Alison Rosen
5) Natalie Pennington
6) Jessica Jessie
7) Jennifer Andrews
8) Missy Coles
9) Tianna Ta
10) Justine Munro
11) Genevieve Brodeur
12) Vanessa Prebyl
13) Brandy Leaver
14) Jennifer Dietrick
15) Michelle Lamb
16) Nicole Moneer-Guerrero
17) Lindsey Morrison
*Qualifies for the ’11 Bikini Olympia.