MUSCLE! @Omaha Pro 2018

Before we get on to the rest of the muscle up on the stage in Omaha (for the Physique dreams at the show see Tuesday's post), let's stop by the Wings of Strength booth...



The Queen herself, Theresa, Kristina Nicole Mendoza, and (as far as I know) for the first time at one of these events, Pauline Nelson, as well as Boss Lady Lenda Murray. You don't have to search very hard to find pictures of fans (male and female) with these magnificent women, and nor do you have to search very hard to find one of more of them cosying up to women from the Physique division either.



Margie had already publicly suggested Valentina Mishina try the more muscular division during the Toronto show, and the charm offensive apparently continued here as well, with Lenda adding her own powers of persuasion. I will think about Female Bodybuilding, Valentina wrote on her Instagram. Maybe I will try the division. (Qualified) Good news! But don't pop your champagne cork just yet. This was, you may recall, Valentina's 7th show of the season, so "not this year" was her ultimate verdict.



There was, however, one new recruit in the Omaha line-up - Canadian beauty Amanda Smith made her FBBing debut, a week after competing in Physique in Toronto.

Looking suitably Amazonian, she explained her reasons to Hayley Delf...



I wonder whether there is an active policy among the WoS posse to woo more muscular Physique women into their cabal. It would be understandable - the future of pro Female Bodybuilding has got to come from somewhere, this year (and last) the line-ups haven't exactly been overflowing with entrants. It's pretty irrelevant whether it is in fact a concerted effort to bring more Physique women into the WoS fold, or whether it's just a combination of Margie, Lenda et al being so damn nice, the size of the prize money available in Female Bodybuilding these days, and IFBB Physqiue judges being so anti-muscle. Either way, it is at the very least getting some great Physique competitors thinking about having a slice of the Wings of Strength pie.



5th place Amanda sounds as though she's here to stay anyway. The comradery [sic] amongst these ladies is indescribable, she wrote afterwards. It’s like a family. And I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from people (which no doubt made a nice change given the kind of feedback she got in Toronto!). I think I’ve found where I belong.



So do we, Amanda. So do we.



A special mention should also go to Amy Hauck. Well over 50 now, Amy won her only previous pro outing in Pittsburgh last year, a Masters class with women up to 15 years her junior in it. This was, therefore, her first non-Masters pro appearance.



As well as going to "new" FBB Amanda for her 5th place, Rising Phoenix qualification points were bagged by Angela Rayburn (4th), LaDawn McDay (3rd), and Canadian beefcake Maria Mikola, who was, as in Toronto the previous week, runner-up.

And the winner...




In sexy "Jessica Rabbit red", Isabelle Turell.



Also seen during the weekend in blue for Dan Ray, bunny ears (just for herself, I think), and in purple for Awefilms - previews of which are available on their Instagram and (if not already seen) will make you glad you bothered taking the time to check.



She also wore the red for Wings of Strength, and was gushing in her praise.

Earlier in the year I was given a great opportunity to be an Ambassador for Wings of Strength. This was a huge honor for me as Bodybuilding is something I love and I love to meet fans and entertain them. I get to go around to shows and events spreading the word of Bodybuilding and meeting the awesome fans. Along with my fellow iron sisters it has been a very rewarding experience and journey. The people behind Wings of Strength - Jake Wood, Alexandra Bandida, Alina Popa - were very understanding with my contest prep, and really accommodated me around it and made a lot of things possible. I honestly could not have accomplished what I did in Omaha if it wasn't for Wings of Strength. They believed in me from day 1 and gave me the tools I needed to help me pave the way for my journey. I will be forever grateful.



With reviews like that, who wouldn't want to compete for them?!

Enjoy!

Love Muscle #1: FBBs @RP2016

Although most of the line-up would probably have had lower expectations than her, Helle Trevino wasn't the only lady at the Rising Phoenix who didn't get the result she was dreaming of. No doubt most if not all the FBBs loved the experience of being top of the event bill, but many of them have had considerably better competitive days.

But there's no reason why they shouldn't be celebrated. FMS does, after all, love our female muscle, and despite the fact they finished at or near the bottom of the judges' scorecards, muscle - and lots of it - is what these women brought to the stage.

JAY FUCHS (12th)




A fan favourite, some noted she seemed to be "in great shape" before the show and she was touted as "a serious candidate for the top 5" on her Rising Phoenix debut. Sadly, things didn't pan out quite so well for Jay, but as always she was a stunning sight, and her choice of evening wear for the after party was a surefire pulse raiser.



Ultimately she was happy to have been part of the show, and thanked Wings of Strength "for this moment" on her Instagram a few days after the show. Time is quality, she noted, comparing her 2016 self favourably to last year's model. She'll be back, and she'll be back bigger and better and loving her muscles more than ever!



Thank you Jay!

AMANDA AIVALIOTIS



It looked as though Amanda's muscles were in grave danger of busting right out through her skin - a full 10 days before the show!!! The much anticipated (by me anyway) Aivaliotis on stage most muscular she must have kept back for her evening show routine (pics of which aren't on the sites I'm plundering for free - yet). Sigh!



A tanned and beaming Amanda thanked Wings of Strength "for an incredible show" after the event. She was certainly one of the ladies who was happiest "just" to be there, and clearly loved every minute of her weekend, despite ending up out of the placings altogether. That Spartan Greek blood won't, she says, let her quit sculpting her fine and freaky physique though, and while FMS looks forward all those freaky most musculars to come, her back double biceps on the RP stage will do very nicely for now.



Love your meaty glutes Amanda!

RITA BELLO (10th)



It might seem a bit churlish to be saying that a top 10 competitor didn't have her greatest of days, but I have my reasons. Having finished 8th last year, there was more than a hint of disappointment in Rita's post-show comments. It's always an honor to be here, in the most important show for pro female bodybuilders in the world. Proud to be between all those giant bodybuilders, very hard competition. As always, I did my best. As always, the best condition in the competition. Ouch!!!



Even the backstage photographer Rob Pick managed to catch Rita looking... let's say "somewhat stern" - here. I'm betting he backed right off once he'd clocked that glare!



Cheer up freaky Rita!

SILVIA MATTA (14th)



In direct contrast, gorgeous Silvia Matta was all suggestive eyes and pout for Mr Pick when he approached her with his lens, and as her evening routine (found those pictures now!) reached a climax (brace yourself for a bad joke and a clause as suggestive as Silvia's big brown eyes) it looks very much as though she did as well!



Seemed she had fun during the prejudging too. As Silvia was one of the late invitees, it's not surprising that she didn't have the best conditioning at the show, nor indeed the best conditioning we've ever seen her have, but absolutely (though it may or may not be a completely unenhanced one) she had the best pout in the line-up!



Silvia, I love how you love showing off your muscles!

LAURA CAROLAN



Now I've said that some of these women didn't have the best of weekends, but Canadian super freak Laura Carolan really didn't. Sadly, she was hit with a stomach virus in the week leading up to the show but despite being unable to keep food down, she battled through and made it to the stage for the prejudging, though by the time it came to the evening show, she had nothing left and never performed her routine.



Well, it's Monday after what was supposed to be an exciting weekend, she said on her Facebook on, er, Monday. Unfortunately, when the body doesn't co-operate, it is beyond your control! The biggest thing I missed out on was socializing with my peers/iron sisters afterwards. What a great bunch of ladies in the FBB division! Thanks to Kristal and Jake Wood and Brian Tosco Belo for ensuring my health was taken care of, and for keeping our beloved sport alive! Words can't express my gratitude, hope to be able to come back next year with my health intact!



Still looked pretty freaky to me, considering. Those glutes have had freakier days, but they are always quite a sight. And funnily enough, though she was outside the top 15 on the judges' scorecards, she didn't actually finish dead last. Get well, Laura!

LORA OTTENAD (15th)



It's wonderful that at 53 (though you couldn't imagine a 53-year-old who looks less like her age), Lora Ottenad got to have her moment on the biggest stage in female bodybuilding. If only because she has given so much pleasure to so many of us over the years, especially in the legendary clip - you know what I'm going to say already, don't you? - of her in bed, hard as stone and naked and sweaty and dominating her man, her insane glutes flexing as she thrusts into him again and again and again...



Yep, Lora deserves whatever rewards she can still get from her sport, and judging by the look on the face of the young lady to Lora's right (our left) in the backstage shot above, she's still got something back there which can grab and hold the attention!



Lora, thank you for all the hard times!

ISABELLE TURELL (13th)




Isabelle was one of the poster muscle goddesses for the event, and like Jay Fuchs, was touted by a good many fans as a top 5 contender. In the kind of shape she was in earlier in the season in Puerto Rico and Omaha that would have been a fair call, but sadly for her (and her fans), this was not her best shape by any means.



But having said that, when you are such a gorgeous hunk of womanhood, you don't have to be at your absolute best to have me (and I dare say many many others) swooning all over the place. So wide at the top and so thin in the middle. Whatever condition she's in, she never loses that fantastic, stuff-of-fantasy, V. And of course, she always has one of the best moves of any show, and she didn't disappoint during her routine nor during the posedown. The hair, the tan, the ABS! And she can do that!



Oh, Isabelle! I feel another swoon coming on...

ALANA SHIPP



Well this was a new feeling for Alana. For the very first time in her career (as an amateur or a pro) she was outside the top placings, and not just a bit out either.




I'm not even going to attempt to explain why the judges saw it this way, I simply can't, and I'm not the only one who's utterly mystified. What the hell happened with Alana Shipp? one muscle forum member demanded to know when the results were posted. How can that (I won't say whose picture he put up to illustrate his point - this post is all love) beat that (picture of Alana, above, bottom right)???!!!



She was quiet all year, and unlike 2015, didn't do a warm-up show before the Rising Phoenix. Now, if she is to get back to the Greatest Female Muscle Show on Earth, she'll need to qualify, and as a mother living in Israel, that is a trickier task for her than most on practicalities alone. But her contest history suggests she can, I just hope she will and that we'll be seeing her again soon. Alana, you're a Goddess!

As all the women we've featured here today are. And they weren't the only deities to be seen at the event either. Two of the largest of the large were raising tentpoles in Scottsdale, one working the WoS stall, flogging the merchandise...



The other working the room (well, doing a meet & greet anyway) and a shoot or two...



It's good to see them both keeping "in" with Wings of Strength (Iris, take note!) but great as they both look, I'd much rather see them showing off on stage next year!