Today, it's Latvia.
Not so much an examination of issues today (unlike our first Around the World post, which focused on Iran) rather just a celebration of three women from Latvia who have made a big impression here at FMS in the last year or so. However, that doesn't mean we didn't do our research on Latvia's female bodybuilding history.
According to the Latvian Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation website, not only did bodybuilding begin in Latvia - not America and not Weider (like the propaganda has always told us, it says - but also the very first female bodybuilding champion, winner of the 'Beauty of the Female Body' as they describe it, was a Latvian woman named Richter from Riga. The contest is said to have taken place on August 24th 1911.
Whether these claims are true or not (and I've found no other references to either anywhere else) the fact that the claims are being made at all suggests at the very least that Latvia is a country where bodybuilding is taken seriously, although it appears that female bodybuilding in Latvia is largely confined to fitness and bikini divisions, with little encouragement for physique or female bodybuilding proper from any of the myriad federations (IFBB, NAC, WFF, etc. etc.) that have branches there.
It's not surprising then that the three beautiful Latvians with muscle talent who we'll be celebrating today aren't the biggest. Nevertheless, we think you'll agree that whatever they may lack in size, they more than make up for in quality.
KARINA AKMENS
Proabably the best-known of the three, Karina is a WBFF Pro Figure 'Supergirl' now resident in the USA (although last year, while she sorted out her US immigration, she lived in the UK - we missed our chance!). She was a dancer as a child, then became hooked on weights the first time I did a heavy squat, she says.
After only a year or so of training, she had won the Figure title at the 2012 NAC Latvia Open, and with her looks, it wasn't long before she started getting noticed. Obviously, us fans were there first, but 'The Industry' was close behind, and Karina was offered the chance to join the WBFF 'Supergirl' Team last year.
Exactly what the 'Supergirl' team is I am am not totally clear on, but according to the Team's founder, Frank Budelewski, Karīna was one of the VERY FIRST I contacted to be a part [of the Supergirl Team] and I was extremely excited when I received an emphatic YES! I believe she is ABSOLUTELY one of the SEXIEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL women in the industry. NOT just figure... THE INDUSTRY!
Hard to disagree with that, despite THE UNNECESSARY USE OF CAPITALS. And Karina is most certainly up for living the life that being a WBFF 'Supergirl' entails (whatever that is). Fitness and bodybuilding has taken over my life, it is the only thing I want to do for a living, so I am choosing a career as a fitness model, she says. I love being on the stage. I knew after my first competition that I was born to do this.
And you can follow Karina doing what she was born to do on her Facebook page.
NADEŽDA TRUSIJA
The face may be familiar, the name less so, and with good reason. Last year, FMS brought you a brief report on the YouTube channel of one 'Nadi Kor' (see Swell Digs, May 2013). Her full name, we noted at the time, was the considerably more elegant Nadežda Korepanova. Well, it seems that since then, 'Nadi' has got married (or divorced and has gone back to her original maiden name perhaps, or changed her name for another reason) because now she's popping up as Nadežda Trusija.
Our report last year noted the sheer volume of clips on her You Tube channel, nearly 200 at that time, and the unadulterated joy she exuded while flexing, whether it was on the bus, in the bath or at any other location. Well, the volume of clips may have diminished - she recently had a clear-out and there are currently only 19 clips of her up (ONLY 19!) but the unadulterated joy is still there.
Witness 'Oiled Latex Show on Webcam' (you were sold after the first two words, weren't you? Actually, on second thoughts, you were probably sold after the first one!). As we join Nadi it's clear this webcam show has been going on for a little while already, we've missed the application of the oil, and there seems to have been some ripping of the latex in order to better display her abs...
Now, if I can just get your attention back for a minute...
I found out about the name change out of curiosity as to why some of Nadi's clips were in Hamburg, and that for these clips she was in contest shape. Turns out she was there to compete at the NAC Universe at the end of November, representing her country in the Ms Figure category, and finishing 10th with her 'new' name.
So, the name may have changed, but neither the You Tube channel nor the love of public flexing remains the same. And you can also see Nadi competing at the 2013 NAC Latvian Championships on the only You Tube channel you will need to keep up with female muscle in Latvia (well, those who compete in the NAC federation anyway!), the very comprehensive Muscle Factory. And by visiting the channel you can find links to their website and forums for further information.
ANASTASIJA PEČKUREVA
My journey to becoming familiar with Latvia's Anastasija Pečkureva begins with the picture above left. I reckon I came across it well over a year ago, and the reasons why I found it memorable should be quite obvious. However, unfortunately, I had no idea what her name was. Fast forward to the beginning of this year, and I came across the picture above right. Did I connect the two? No. I'm pretty rubbish at the ID game. It didn't occur to me that it was the same woman at all. Doh!
Fortunately, FMS was able to call on the expert services of Pump It Up, who was not only able to give me Anastasija's name, but was also kind enough to send me a link to her in action at last year's NABBA Worlds, competing in the Toned Figure class. Skills!
Yeah, I know. She really is, isn't she?
In August or maybe September when you've grown tired of watching that routine of hers and are ready for something else from Anastasija, perhaps you might find it on her Facebook page. I'll see you there.
Birthplace of bodybuilding and home of the first female bodybuilding champion it may or may not be, but on the evidence of these three women, I think it's fair to say there's some talent coming straight out of Riga these days.
Enjoy!
Karina Akmens post a lot of amazing pictures on her facebook, her beauty is breathtaking!
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