UKBFF British 2017: Donna Murphy

Runner-up in the taller of two Bodyfitness classes in 2014, victim of the judges "firm stance against the more muscular [Bodyfitness] competitors" the following year, this was Donna Murphy's third British finals, but her first in the Physique division.



To qualify for the British Championships she had placed first in the Physique division at a regional show - the UKBFF West Midlands - two weeks previously. Prepared by Mr Corinne Ingman, Jordan Peters, tanned (and egged on) by Britain's IFBB Physique pro Carly Thornton, Donna was way too good for the competition on the day, but more importantly, "absolutely loved" the Physique experience. I feel I've found a class that suits me, she said afterwards. It felt great to be in this class for the first time. Women's Physique is a class I have always enjoyed following. And she epitomised everything she loves about it - "muscularity, elegance, and feminine muscle".



Two weeks later and she was "sipping on wine, chilled and having fun before show day" in her hotel - "naked wine drinking is the best part", apparently! - Donna was shadowed by friend of FMS and Brit super muscle photographer Rebecca Andrews, who captures her in all her golden glory (Donna says "tangerine", I say "golden").



Quite honestly, it would have been an enormous let-down if she hadn't won, but even the UKBFF couldn't f*** this one up. Donna has achieved, to borrow a phrase from Paige Sandgren (who we featured on Monday), "a package the judges can't deny".




So here she is, Britain's new Physique champion.



Endearingly, it seems like the only person who wasn't expecting it was Donna herself. And it also seems like she still hasn't quite realised what she has built, and what she might yet be capable of. With her looks and genetics, and the top-notch team she has behind her, the only limit to what she might achieve is the limit of her own ambition.



Follow the next stage of her journey on Instagram.



Congratulations Donna!

FBBUK: Donna Murphy's Ambition

Runner-up in 2014, ex-Bikini competitor Donna had been among the favourites to take the tall Bodyfitness title at the UKBFF British finals back in 2015, but it was not to be. Some superb physiques, most notable Donna Murphy and Rebecca Maughan, didn’t make the top six as the judges took a firm stance against the more muscular competitors, noted John Plummer in his contest report. Maybe, mused FMS at the time, Donna would need to make another switch in division and move up to Physique before she got some love from the UKBFF judges again. Well, it's taken a while but...



I was really motivated to do Physique, says Donna. I could really see that class going into the whole feminine muscle thing, which I love. To have size, and still be girly.



Since last December, Donna has been under the wing of Mr Corinne Ingman, JP Petersen, and the results are, I think you will agree, impressive. [He's] had a HUGE impact on my bodybuilding, she says. Everything from my training to nutrition; from my self-belief and the way I approach prep to my health. And for the first time she's having to work out a routine. Something new to me but something I've fallen in love with, she says. Just music and me moving and getting creative. It's brought me a new aspect of Bodybuilding and reminded me how much I love being in a studio.



As a British female muscle fan I can't help but be excited at the prospect of seeing her compete in Physique, and she would make a great British champion, not least because she has, I think, the same kind of star quality (though less naughtiness) as our current #1 pro Female Bodybuilder, Lisa Cross. The camera quite simply loves her.



So only natural she should get together with premier female muscle photographer, film maker, and, we are proud to say, friend of the blog Rebecca Andrews. Ambition, as plugged by Donna in her intro to today's post, is the result of a match made in heaven.



Donna on Instagram.

Rebecca Andrews' website  (RAP Media) is currently under construction. In the meantime, check out her Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channel for more.

Enjoy!

FBBUK Extra: Clips of the Week

From John Plummer at the UKBFF British: [In the tall Bodyfitness class] some superb physiques, most notable Donna Murphy and Rebecca Maughan, didn’t make the top six as the judges took a firm stance against the more muscular competitors...

We saw the gorgeous Rebecca and her "superb but too muscular" for the UKBFF judges physique last Monday, but not, in that post, the other "superb but too muscular" body of Bournemouth's Donna Ann Louise Murphy, who had - even more so than Rebecca - been one of the favourites to win the Bodyfitness category in Nottingham.

So here are TWO - you lucky people - quite different both terrific clips of Donna in action. The first is Donna's Fit Vids preview, the second a five-minute clip of Donna five weeks out from the British championships from the Majestic Gym channel.



Donna started out as a Bikini girl before switching to Bodyfitness in 2014. She won both the UKBFF South Coast Championships and the Welsh Grand Prix before finishing runner-up to Michelle Morris at the British Championships that year. But "too muscular" this year. Maybe another switch up to Physique for next year?



Only one way to find out - follow Donna on Twitter and Instagram.