For me, the ultimate joy of these big national amateur shows comes when I "discover" women I've not come across before. And if the field is as big as the 60+ who competed in the Physique division at this year's NPC Nationals, that can mean a lot of joy.
I've only had time to select a top 6 from the women who are newly on my tribute list after Miami - the Nationals provide a very real reminder just how ignorant I am about the NPC scene - so I urge you to do your own explorations and find your own joy via Muscular Development, NPC News Online or the ever-excellent FTVideo.
But before you do that, check out who I've been digging...
CHAREECE MOORE
4th, Class A
Chareece from rear was featured heavily by C. Moore Glootz on Tuesday, and it's easy to see why. She hails from North Carolina, and this was her second Nationals appearance after she had finished 5th last year. I have been stopped a lot tonight and asked if I was doing bodybuilding, she said after the show. Also easy to see why! And she's not discounting a move to the big division either - I'm about 5 mins away from switching over, she confessed. Find out what happens next on her Instagram and/or Facebook fan page after you've enjoyed this October Femflex preview of Chareece.
JULIANNE TREBING
3rd, Class A
Every show I fall in love with the looks and expressions I bring, says the very gorgeous 23-year-old Julianne Trebing. I am stoked with my physique, definitely my best package and look to date. She was competing in the Fitness division last year, and brought those skills to the most gymnastic fantastic routine at the show.
She's getting plenty of attention from the female muscle lovin' community. She's on Instagram, and there's a nice clip of her training back earlier in the year here.
Also in Class A, Swell has been digging runner-up Donna Jones, winner Traci Ivey (both new IFBB pros), the marvellous name and body of Barbie Titus (6th), and Alexandria Mossbarger (11th), who's like a mini Julie Bourassa!
INDRELL THOMAS
Winner, Class B
Not much I can tell you about this new IFBB Physique pro, I'm afraid, except that despite appearances she's in her mid/late 30s and her contest photos from the last couple of years suggested that she was due the big win she achieved here.
JODI LYONS
6th, Class B
Jodi was also featured heavily by C. Moore on Tuesday - again, easy to see why! Less easy to understand is how the judges managed to place her as low as 6th, probably something to do with Jodi having "too much muscle" or similar nonsense. Check out this clip of Jodi's routine from the beginning of last year and you'll be even more impressed by her muscular development - and there's also 9+ minutes of Jodi getting sweaty while training shoulders with Geri Villanova to enjoy here. [I'm] Building my own destiny one day and muscle at a time, she says on her Instagram page.
See also in Class B: the dark and sultry beauty of runner-up and new pro Victoria Settler, the ridiculously young Laurel Fredette (3rd), and the unbelievably gorgeous (though, on this occasion not very ripped) Lauranda Nall, who got 15th.
LAUREN QUINN
3rd, Class C
Why is Lauren so beautiful? mused one female muscle head after seeing her at the Nationals. I think it must be the fact she has made such dramatic improvement to her development that it is almost a delightful shock to see her perfect skin being stretched so much more by beautifully developed she muscle. Plus, she has the confidence to exercise her awesome full power. A Crossfitter, powerlifter and (in her own words) "sarcasm dispenser", Lauren seems to have been around for ages, so how come nobody told me? Check out Lauren being interviewed earlier this year. She really needs a sharper interviewer, but manages to hold back on the sarcasm. Or does she?
Nobody came close to Laurel's muscular sex appeal in Class C (few women in the entire show did), but the class and overall winner Stacia Woods is worth checking out, as are the glutes (and the rest of) Sydni Watson, who was 5th.
DELISE JOHNSON
3rd, Class D
Can't wait to see more of her, reads the single comment that accompanies the single image of Delisa at Girls with Muscle, and I think we're all on the same page there. What a stunning hunk of muscular womanhood! The already blurred lines between the bodybuilders and the Physique women got well and truly smudged by the women in the biggest of the Physique classes, and the delectable Delise was one of the chief smudgers. Apart from one previous contest - the NPC Universe earlier this year - I've come up with nothing. And I've tried. I've really really tried. Help! Anyone?
Class A was packed with muscle talent. Some - like the class winner and new pro Alyssa Stroud, and Christine Moyer (a ludicrous 13th) - were familiar. Among the names new to me, Sheena Washington (2nd, new pro), Mary Beck (9th), and Jennifer Keller (5th) impressed just that little bit more than the others.
Now go explore!
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