Pic of the Month: July

Once again there were two clear readers' favourites for June's poll, but ultimately Sarah Fechter's muscle beauty couldn't compete with muscle-woman-of-the-moment Shannon Seeley - even when we only see her in silhouette!



And so to this month's five to choose from.

Check them out, follow the link at the bottom, and vote with a single click.

FAY ELLIS - BRITISH BEEF



Fay brings "Cool Britannia" back with this instant classic. Big, bulging bicep, and that forearm - check that out and swoon! Take in the styling though, the beautiful skin, the lush, pouting lips. Effortlessly strong and effortlessly sexy at the same time.

SELINA FRY - AIRBORNE ABS



To be honest, I liked this picture a whole lot more when I didn't know anything about it. My imagination ran riot - as just one example I imagined this was proof to a doubtful fellow passenger that she really was in the fitness game. Sadly though my wilder musings were cut short as I not only got a name, but then an Instagram, and then a caption telling me this was Selina en route to Singapore and the WFF Universe recently, her head "pure chaos" as she tried to assesss the shape she was in. Consolation - my imagination is now wondering if she felt the need to assess any other body parts while in the air. Perhaps there are more pics from the flight to come...

EMMA TALL - AMBUSHED?



Found this apparent candid of Crossfitter Emma Tall (good name!) on a Tumblr. Caption: "You Can Run (But I Can Hide in the Bushes with My Camera)". Say what you like about Crossfit [is that still a thing, anti-Crossfit? really? - ed.], but it has given us some absolutely stunning women with some proper thick muscularity. I do like her minimal clothing, and that big thick glute we can only see one side of.

GINA CAVALIERO - THE PUMP IS REAL



One of many eye-popping pics that Florida NPC Physique competitor Gina has posted on her Instagram over the last few weeks, you may not be surprised to learn that she has been to visit the ER at least once during this prep. Top doctors may not recommend pushing one's body to such extremes, but that just adds to the thrill for me, and apparently also for Gina. Woman on the verge of an IFBB pro card...

Or perhaps an extended stay in hospital!

NAILAH GREEN - SERENITY NOW



One woman who is a new IFBB pro is superior Figure phenom Nailah Green. This was, I believe taken backstage before she won her Over 35 class at the recent NPC Universe. I do love a backstage selfie, and a woman this gorgeous really doesn't have to try harder. Get the feeling she was confident about that class win? Yeah, me too. And by the way, this is not a before-she-donned-the-hairpiece-to-go-on-stage pic. This is her look - on and off the stage. Clearly it works for her, and it really works for me.

Made up your mind?

OK, to vote you just need to go HERE and make your selection.

We'll post the winner next month when we invite you to vote for August's best.

Enjoy! And thanks in advance for voting!

Diana in New York

My bro-in-law is about to start a secondment in the Big Apple. One of two main reasons why I am ever so slightly jealous is the increased chance this provides him of running into (perhaps literally, he does actually run) the divine Diana Schnaidt.



Glorious whether glammed up or showing of her sexy, hard and veiny body in more functional attire, here she is in and under New York during the last year or so.



Bulging calves, and ballistic shoulders and biceps all looking especially yummy.



Diana on Instagram.

The Chance Encounter

OK, you've got 25 seconds to decide what to do and/or say.

Ready?

Go!



Come up with any bon mots?

No, me neither.

And Lola Montez was very much in slow motion right there. Real time would have given you even less chance. And let's face it, you were hardly under pressure, were you? I mean, Lola's not REALLY sashaying down the street towards you, is she? What would you do then? What, if you were indeed capable of speech at all, would you say?



I console myself with the knowledge I am not alone.

Pics and vids is one thing, says one fellow head. Seeing them right in front of you is entirely another. Sightings in the gym are most common, and while they are always awesome occasions, they are definitely the least exhilarating. Nothing compares to a chance encounter in public. Exhilarating in the extreme. Muscle ladies get my heart pumping for sure, confides another. My breath gets short and I cannot take my eyes off of them. The desire is simply overwhelming. Ah yes! The Madness. On the extremely rare occasions that I actually see a true female bodybuilder (even at the figure level) in public, it's like my body goes into red alert and I'm stuck on that moment for at least the next couple days. It's like seeing a unicorn. Well put, sir!

Unless you live in Miami or some such and it's an every day kind of thing.



Or maybe not.

A muscle woman is something I can't prep for. It's one thing seeing hundreds of gorgeous legs, chests, glutes onscreen. I could see the same woman through hundreds of different pictures, or a dozen videos. Nothing ever readies you for when you see her in the flesh. It's the difference between watching a video of a rollercoaster, and physically RIDING one. For me, just seeing one is like an epiphany, and all attempts at maintaining my gentlemanly dignity dissolve to mush as my mouth hangs open, my eyes bulge wide, my breathing gets laboured.

Perhaps we'd be better having our chance encounter elsewhere.

Public transport, perhaps?



I mean, at least the book might give us a conversation starter, and for the time being Tina's not going anywhere, so you don't have to worry about thinking that fast.

Although I'm curious how you'd start a conversation while the object of your desire (that's Melissa Wee on the left, by the way) is using said transport as a mobile gym...



All those muscles in constant motion...

Or indeed if (like "Elana", right) she is in a female-only section of the tube!

When I see a very muscular woman, which is very rare, I lose control. I'm so attracted to the bulk, shapes, veins, and muscle that my heart races. I often, if on foot, will change direction just to see if what I'm seeing is actually what I'm seeing.



Clocking those legs on the tube only to find out they belong to the new girl in HR.

Cue not-so-chance encounters on a daily (sometimes thrice-daily) basis...

The ultimate ecstasy, or the ultimate torture?!

Kicking off 2018 properly with a week of Muscle in Public on FMS.

Any stories? Comment below or send to 6ft1swell@gmail.com

Enjoy!