To Kompete Or Not To Kompete?

The last show I did in 2011 left me saying "I swear I'll never compete again". I ended up driving myself mad, spent a majority of the time miserable, and started adopting new ridiculous habits that were borderline disorders. After losing first place to a woman who looked like she had locked herself in a closet for 3 months and didn't eat a single thing, I packed up my toys and said "F**k this sh*t. I quit!"



Kortney "Thigh School" Olson can think of a few reasons for not competing, her previous experience just one of them. They include damage to your self-esteem, and the possible effects preparing for competition can have on your health and mental well-being in general. Then there's the cost, which, for the women especially must be paid with absolutely zero expectation of any reward for their competitive efforts. Some federations put on well-run shows but their judging is ridiculous. Others might have more consistent judging, she says, but lack the event promotion know-how.

And yet... KO is kompeting again.



110% in love with my body, she said of the above picture, taken 7 days before her first show back. All I've wanted to chase over the past 12 months was the image of beauty that I've created for myself in my mind. And that's Kortney's own bold.

Yes, it's all about body love, about achieving 'the latent image in her mind’s eye' that Dr Tanya Bunsell refers to in her wonderful Strong and Hard Women. And you can't help but be struck how similar KO's description of her own 12-month dream is.

This time around when it comes to competing it's different, Kortney said before her show. ZERO f**ks given about "winning" [her capitals]. This time it's about me.



Well, in deference to the amount of f**ks Kortney gave about winning, I have made absolutely zero effort to find out how she placed. But I can tell you she was 110% happy with her hair. The make-up though, it's fair to say she wasn't so 110% happy with.



Don't judge my face. Just the body! she pleaded with her Instagram followers/ disciples. I'm hiding because I straight can't look at it any longer today! But as always, Kortney was able to turn a negative into a positive. Think I learned my lesson this show, she said afterwards. Natural looks way better when your face is depleted! Which is a fitting conclusion for a woman who once called herself "All Natural KO".



But apart from the neck up to just below the hairline, it was all kool, especially those fabled quads. FINALLY see my legs get lean but yet still hold muscle, she said, indicating what an important part of her self-created "image of beauty" this was. And she looked amazing up there. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. You were simply incredible to watch yesterday! Amazing! one of her fans told her. Thank you again for doing such a unique, inspiring routine. LOVED it! Best I've seen.



Words, I'm sure, that will mean so much more to Kortney than any prize or placing, or even any new cut emerging on her quads. I want to be the Female Kai Greene, she said. The Woman who entertains and leaves people feeling ACE!



And after having had 4 years off, she's kompeting again within a month. Another 28 days to get these legs peeled, as she puts it. She'll be entertaining that crowd, no doubt. And no matter how she places, she'll be in love with her body all over again, perhaps closer than she has ever come before to achieving that personal "image of beauty".



Don't fall behind at Thigh School now.

Rolling Thunder 016-031

QUEEN OF QUADS



The Queen, and what she's all about.

NO COMPARISON



And speaking of gainz, here's the gainziest of them all right now, the Super Freak herself, Nataliya Trukhina, and a rather depressed looking companion. What do you mean you can't see him? He's small but he's not invisible! He's right there, a respectful distance to Nataliya's left. He's kneeling down, appropriately...

(KNOCKIN' ME OUT WITH THOSE) BRAZILIAN THIGHS



MARIANA DANTAS



The FMS research department had a bit of trouble with Mariana. Brazilian she most certainly is, Associate Professor of History at Ohio University she is not, although coincidentally, Professor Mariana Dantas does specialise in, among other things, the Colonial History of Latin America. Wonder if she's got any theories about how the colonial experience of Brazil has influenced the quadtacular development of the women there. Now that would definitely be a research paper well worth reading!

THIGHLIGHT

KORTNEY OLSON: THIGH SCHOOL



After her move to Australia a few years ago, Kortney became the first ever Aussie Female Arm Wrestling champ, and last year made the news in the UK for her - somewhat kontroversial - breast augmentation surgery. But these days, Kortney is all about the thighs, and has even renamed her Instagram "Thigh School".




Apparently, this new direction came about as a result of her involvement in a documentary series called Stan Lee's Superhumans. Kortney featured in an episode called High Voltage in the third season of the show and was, after "scientific testing", "officially" declared to be the Woman with the World's Deadliest Thighs.



I haven't found a site that will let me watch the show yet, but you might have more luck depending on your location. It's Stan Lee's Superhumans, season 3, episode 8, High Voltage. It was broadcast on the History channel, so I'll keep an eye out to see if it airs here again and will let you know. They do look pretty deadly though, don't they?

QUADS IN MOTION

WARNING! DANGER OF HYPNOSIS!

It's an oldie but a goodie. From back when Juliana Malacarne was just another struggling Figure competitor but could still deliver a most memorable quad shake. Actually, this is probably a big clue as to why she was so struggling back then!

CLOSE-UPs

HULDA LOPEZ



Hulda's a first for me, the first Honduran I've come across (as far as I know) on my female muscle explorations. And she's not just any Honduran muscle woman, she's the Honduran muscle woman of 2015, well, as far as the Women's Physique division is concerned. GOD I've worked so hard for these wheels! she says. Good news is, she's determined to keep on getting better. Sure as HELL the best me so far, she said after her win at her national championships last month, but still not where I want.

You can follow Hulda and her "wheels" on Facebook and Instagram, and FMS also recommends a bit of "The Queen of Honduran Bodybuilding" (as she seems to be known/call herself) in an excellent clip from (I think) a Honduran TV sports show.

KAROLINA HOLUBCOVA



The world class thighs of the Czech Republic's NABBA Worlds and WFF Universe-winning Karolina. By the looks of things before (super vascular) and after (smooth and bulbous) one or both of her triumphant competitions this year. Can't say I know which I prefer - the "turning inside out" look is stunning but then so are the bulging quads by the pool. I'd probably need to give them both a good oiling to really decide, and if the first applications weren't conclusive, another round or two might be necessary...

REMEMBER MY NAME!



FABI SUPERPODEROSA



I'll let you decide which of the three lovely brasileiras above is Ms Superpowerful, and tell you that her real surname has considerably fewer letters but still has a ring of power about it - Cid. Fabi hails from the same north-eastern part of Brazil as Rosy Silva, who we met yesterday, though she is now based in Rio, and involved in something called the "DNA Experience" - which may sound like a genetic mutation programme (with her as its most successful experiment perhaps) but actually seems to be a "normal" fitness studio. I seriously doubt that having adopted the "Superpoderosa" monniker that Fabi's a shy wallflower type. Decide for yourself on her Facebook (8,000 followers and counting) and/or Instagram (just under 5,000 followers).

And we leave you for today with...

ALEESHA



Because... why not?

Enjoy!

IWD and the FBB

Here at FMS, we like to think that we celebrate women, or muscular women at least, every day. But last Sunday, International Women's Day, was the official day for the whole world to do so. It's celebrated in different ways in different regions, ranging from a general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political, and social achievements.



And although we were in the middle of the posting frenzy of the The FMS Hot and Hard 100 on the day, we like to think we are ever-diligent, and couldn't fail to miss an article on the International Women's Day Global Hub by news blogging legend zennie62.

The article had originally appeared on zennie62blog.com on IWD 2013, with the title Get Strong for Change, and featured Sarah Hayes and Kortney Olson.

The article argues that Sarah, Kortney and by extension all FBBs are the epitome of female empowerment, and as such are the perfect poster girls for International Women's Day. It's partly their physical strength that empowers them, but more importantly than that, it's their attitude because, the author points out, They don’t wait for others to empower them, they empower themselves.



It's a passionate and obviously personal piece of writing that gives female bodybuilders the kind of praise you would only normally find in places like, well, FMS.

Personally, I've liked women who were, as they say, buffed, or athletic, since I was 14 years old. I never grew up with the idea that a woman had to be weaker than me, or that I had to be able to physically control a woman, the author tells us.

And there's a simple and direct message for the female muscle haters: For those who think there's something wrong with women who have muscle, please get over it. That idea must be jettisoned from the World's society, and the sooner the better. Let's start by celebrating female bodybuilders, passionately, and openly!



Meanwhile, over in Brazil (fabled land of quality female muscle - see FMS passim), FMS reader Francisco, formerly known as O Carteiro, the blogger and artist who in the past brought us Cartas de Musculosas, Super Trunfo Musculosas, and Blog das Musculosas, was inspired to celebrate IWD 2014 by combining pictures of some of his (and our) favourite FBBs with some of his favourite quotes on female empowerment.

FMS is honoured that Francisco has allowed us to feature his work, and have chosen a few faves from the 32 he sent us to illustrate today's post, but you, dear reader, can download all of them and select your own favourites if you prefer.



Dedicated, with thanks, to O Carteiro

Domestic (Muscle) Goddess of the Day

Sunday is Muscle Barbie Day

[That's 'barbie' as in Australian English for 'barbecue', not as in 'Barbie and Ken'.]

My kind of Sunday. Amanda Folstad cooks up some good-looking meat as a reward for me mowing the lawn, but it's not nearly as appetising as her beefy arm. I, for one, would love to give that a squeeze before sinking my teeth into it.



You'd think Kortney Olson would know a thing or two about a good 'barbie' as she's now based down in Oz. But judging by this pic, she doesn't seem to have realised you're supposed to actually cook something on it. Hard to be critical though when she's dressed like that. Thighs and heels specially for you, Aiden. Enjoy!

More sizzling (literally) female muscle tomorrow.

Hot and Hard

It's been a while since we had one of our regular Hot and Hard posts, showcasing some of the most lens-meltingly hot images of our kind of women that our researchers have lovingly gathered for your viewing pleasure, accompanied by the kind of ramblings that can get a man committed if he's not careful. So let's not waste any more time and get straight to it.

Su Farrell

I wonder if you are reminded, as I am, of the Angel of the North by this lovely lady's rooftop pose. Imagine a city overlooked by a huge sculpture of a muscle woman. Imagine every city so. Something to encourage the inhabitants to look up once in a while. A new project for Mr Gormley perhaps? 'More definition this time please Ant...'

Female Muscle Slave loves technology


Especially the technology that makes this possible. Self-portrait photography is so ridiculously easy now, and it's also simpler than ever to share your efforts. And thsnk the Lord it is so. Suddenly there are hundreds of thousands of images of fit, sexy women out there. In fact there are whole feeds devoted to just these kinds of images, so we don't even have to search for them. It sure beats the old days, waiting for magazines to come out for a handful of images of muscular women. And while they are never going to win any photography prizes, it is amazing what can be achieved with a decent lens, a steady hand, and a tight, toned muscular bod, as these pics demonstrate. Well done to all of them!

The J-MEG

My new acronym, J-MEG stands for Just Muscular Enough Girl (for the more mature ladies, this could be adapted to J-MEW, Just Muscular Enough Woman). Think it will catch on? The hottie on the right here is the J-MEG, by the way. If you check the calves on the angel on the left, you'll find she's a P-MEG: Plenty Muscular Enough...

Love the Lean Meat

The irony for me when some 'fans' have digs at the leaner meats is that when I first got into female muscle many many years ago, the top bodybuilders were about as muscular as today's fitness and figure competitors!

Be Warned

Neither Dovila Simanaviciute nor Andrea Brazier can go out in public without a guy waving a red flag in front of them to prevent the kind of chaos that such extreme sex appeal can leave in its wake. Most recently, Dovila was responsible for the deaths of several sailors after a walk along the docks in Vilnius. Andrea, meanwhile, was forced to leave her native Brazil and move to Britain, a country where the climate necessitates covering up in public, because health services were unable to deal with the number of heart failures she brought on while strolling along Copacabana beach. Citizens are advised, upon seeing either Dovila or Andrea, to close their eyes immediately and run in the opposite direction.

They Love Us


Really, they do. Check it out: My best friend and boyfriend is the most positive role model because he is one of the few men who isn’t intimidated by strong women. He knows that women can be just as strong, if not stronger than him, and he celebrates that. We have to give credit to those men that are fighting the ‘strong is sexy’ fight right along side us. 
Let's keep up the good work, men! (From What Makes A Great Female Bodybuilder)

*[bottom left picture complies with new Female Muscle Slave policy of at least one picture of Holland Canter per post] Approved - ed.

Double Take

Is it just me or does she remind you of Dayana Cadeau? I've been looking at her for hours, and I'm still not 100% convinced that it isn't. Does she have a younger sister? A clone? Seriously, is it just me, or is this lovely spookily similar (in a good way)?

And finally...

Mallory Haldeman gives Female Muscle Slave an exclusive preview of her costume for the first annual FMS fancy dress party. According to Mallory, she's coming as the sexiest librarian in the world.

Enjoy!