Mary Ellen Jerumbo: In It For The Long Haul, Honey!
Las Vegas, Nevada, September 28th: The Ms. Olympia. Whether looking at its past history and tradition, or the continuing mystique it carries with it to the current day, the contest is still magic in the world of women's bodybuilding. Virtually every year has brought a remembrance that adds to the storied heritage of the event. Legendary personalities have grown from this contest over the past three decades, and with each passing year new light is shed on those who are fortunate enough to make it to the Olympia stage. This year's edition – the 33rd since the inaugural event in 1980 – brought with it the most varied group of competitors possible in a field of just 13 entrants.
Sarasota, Florida, September 8th: You could say that when Patricia Valenti became a IFBB pro after winning the overall title in the Bikini division of the 2010 NPC Masters Nationals, she jumped in with both feet - not only as a pro competitor but also taking on the ambitious effort of promoting a pro event as well. For any promoter, staging a first-time event is a stressful learning experience especially when still active as a competitor. But none of that deterred the owner of the Evolution Fitness Center in Sarasota, Florida. Valenti was up to challenge. With the Hyatt Regency Hotel serving as the venue of this inaugural event, she was determined to make a positive first impression in the hopes of building a tradition for this fledgling contest. With divisions for men's bodybuilding and physique, the women also took center stage in fitness, figure, bikini and physique divisions with prize money offered in all divisions.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 31: It's been 30 years since the first North American Championship was held back in 1982. That year an up-and-coming star named Cory Everson became this event's first winner. Since then, the IFBB North American Championships has established an illustrious tradition that has gone on the produce an additional pair of Ms. Olympia winners in Lenda Murray and Kim Chizevsky as well as many outstanding pro competitors who have represented Canada, Mexico and the USA in the past three decades.
Tampa, Florida, August 11: Ask any amateur bodybuilder about the anxieties of first reaching the pro level and what the future will bring, and most will say they only hope for the best and to be judged fairly. All realize that making a strong first impression is important. More often than not, and on many occasions the experience of making a pro debut can be a sobering one. Of those, some have even been driven away by an initial placement that leaves them numb and to the realization that the pro ranks are far more difficult than they realized. Others - made of stronger stuff - hold out with a deep desire and passion to succeed. Of those who stick around – and there are many – ultimate success is elusive. But every so often, the cream does rise to the top. A glowing example of that fact came by way of Texan Sarah Hayes as she landed the top spot at the 2012 Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships in the Audubon Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Hotel.
Las Vegas, Nevada, July 28: Dedication is a valuable commodity in many facets of a given sport and it isn't an exclusive arena for athletes alone. Coaches, training partners, sponsors and of course, promoters all share in the need for unwavering dedication. So, when you speak of dedication in the world of promotion in bodybuilding, and more specifically as it pertains to the NPC USA, Jon Lindsay is the poster boy of dedication to bodybuilding promotion at this huge annual event.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 20: The NPC Masters Nationals is an event that has a long history dating back to the 80's. In fact the 1987 Masters was held in Everett, Washington, when Shirley Kemper won the women's Masters, while husband John took the men's division. Over the years the contest has produced many outstanding women's winners including Kim Buck in 2006, Debbie Bramwell in 2007 and Gayle Frankie in 2008 – since their victories at the Masters Nationals all three have competed in the Ms. Olympia. Last year's winner Janet Kaufman has also begun to compete on the pro level entering the 2012 Battle of Champions in June.
For the past several years, the contest has been held in Pittsburgh, and this year promoter Gary Udit staged the event at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Ballroom downtown with the lure of IFBB pro qualification to the winners of the various divisions. In women's bodybuilding, the winners of the three age groups would earn qualification to the pro ranks
The first thoughts of Brazil bring images of the magical color and excitement that surrounds the scenic beaches and the beautiful women who walk the sands of Ipanema and Copacabana. And as a 'people watcher', if the stunning visuals on those beaches don't satiate your appetite for physical beauty, Rio de Janiero's annual Carnival brings millions of people into the streets for a festival that is thought to be the largest in the world. Bodies abound in a constant dance frenzy that lasts for days.
It is from this cultural background that makes Brazil unique in all the world when it comes to breeding a female population the oozes with a vibrant, exotic, intoxicating appeal. And so it is in the world of physical culture where bodybuilding, figure, fitness and bikini displays enjoy a avid fan following.
A Trio Con Brio
With the addition of a new pro Physique division this year three Brazilians are the living, breathing, walking, talking epitome of what Brazil offers when taken a step beyond the casual thong bikini beach goers. KARINA NASCIMENTO, PATRICIA MELLO, and JULIANA MALACARNE each embody the colorful lifestyle from which they came. Aside from the striking overall physical appearance they possess, the trio exudes an intangible presence that causes anyone to take a closer look. They bubble over with magnetism.
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