Muscletease: Home of the Hand Bra

Nowadays, hand bra selfies are two-a-penny, but in the early days of the internet, they were extremely rare. However, from about 2005, there was Muscletease. Its creator, female muscle photography legend Juan Carlos Lopez, made the style (in Muscletease-speak, 'implied topless') one of the trademarks of the site and through his work there and on his free online magazine Hardfitness, the hand bra made a mighty comeback.

Casey Brocato, 2008

As well as some of the more famous fitness and figure athletes like Tara Scotti or Mindi O'Brien, Muscletease featured many women that were new to this ex-member. I've chosen Casey Brocato, who competed in figure from 2008ish to 2010, as an example. A second place in her class at the 2010 NPC USAs was her highest finish and as far as I know she never turned pro. A word of warning if these images whet your appetite for more of her - there is now an over-35 MALE physique athlete with the same name. Refine your search if you want to avoid an unpleasant shock!

Heather Green, 2006

One of the most memorable sets from my first (of a few) times as a Muscletease member was this one of the mouth-watering figure competitor Heather Green, who turned pro the year after these were taken. Now competing in the WBFF physique division, you might want to reconnect with Heather via her Twitter.

Outfits: It is up to the model to bring her own clothing. Bring at least three different outfits you can use. Preference is swimsuits, skirts, gym wear, heels, contest suits. If you are in contest shape it is best to go with swimsuits mostly. Optionally I can provide swimsuits as well but they will be smaller and much sexier usually from Colleen Kelly Designs, DreamGirl, Wicked Temptations etc.
(Photoshoot information, Hardfitness)

Juliana Malacarne, 2007

With over 30 photo sets still listed there, Juliana must be one of the Muscletease's most photographed models, if not the most photographed. I'm pretty sure the site introduced me to Juliana, and if that were the only reason I had to be grateful to Juan Carlos Lopez, I wouldn't need another. For Juliana at least, the introduction of the physique division heralded the most successful period of her career so far, and now pushing 40 (if she isn't there already) La Malacarne seems, like a fine wine, to be getting better and better with age.

Karen Zaremba, 2005

This set of FMS Abs Queen Karen Zaremba ('Blue Bed' is its title, and there are five parts!) is, I suspect, as familiar to female muscle heads as any of the most renowned sets from WPW, HerBiceps or any other female muscle photo site you care to mention. The images will be 10 years old next year, but Lopez still uses these pics all over Muscletease and Hardfitness as examples of his work, and I don't blame him. Classic stuff. What was I saying about iconic female muscle photography the other day...?

As well as on Muscletease and Hardfitness, you can keep up with the work of Juan Carlos Lopez via Twitter, and the Hardfitness Facebook page.

Enjoy!