Chicago 2017: Victoria Is Back to Big

Victoria's pro debut, 2015 Dallas Europa

Earlier in the week we saw how Hanna Hallman had moved up to Bodybuilding, and she wasn't alone in making that move. Victoria Dominguez, aka Mistress Tresure, moved up also, back up. Since winning her pro card (as Heavyweight and Overall winner) at the 2013 NPC Nationals (see FMS passim), Victoria had only, before Chicago, competed as a pro in Physique. This was her pro Bodybuilding debut.


Physique in 2016 - LA Grand Prix (left) and Europa Orlando

Whether this had any bearing on her decision to return to close-fisted flexing or not, she enjoyed extremely modest placings as a Physique competitor. 14th out of 18 on her debut in Dallas was her best result. Last year she looked uncharacteristically smooth at the LA Grand Prix and was awarded 10th - out of 10. Then she brought a bigger and more defined package to the Europa Orlando and failed to place at all.



Chicago was a very different story. As she waited there next to Brittney O'Veal for the runner-up announcement, she must have felt that she'd made the right decision whoever's name was called. She was a winner as an amateur Bodybuilder in the NPC (albeit at a time when line-ups were beginning to thin out), her debut pro Bodybuilding result in Chicago suggests she'll be a contender in the professional ranks as well.




She was runner-up here in the biggest and best line-up of the year so far. She almost certainly would have won had she competed in Puerto Rico (even I can say that with some confidence), and would have been my choice if she'd brought the same package to Norfolk the week after this show. Nevertheless, Victoria is well-placed in the qualifying table for an appearance at the Rising Phoenix if she wants to go through prep again in 2017 - she's never made any secret of how tough she finds it.



And not just the prep but also the contests themselves. I've SO MUCH respect for bodybuiilders that have been doing this year after year, for show after show, she said back in 2013. Imagine being on stage, dehydrated, tired, hot lamps and you have to f***ing smile in the process. I mean who wants to smile when you're dehydrated and tired and about to cramp the f*** up? Unbelievable! But the show must go on...




$2,500 she made for finishing runner-up. She probably makes that with a lot less effort through her various Mistress Treasure activities (no doubt there were some appointments made in the Chicago area after the show). But, just like Hanna Hallman, Victoria's smile suggests the money has got nothing to do with why she put herself through the rigours of competition once again. Unless it's just relief it's over!



Treasure's Place

Victoria Dominguez @NPC Nationals 2013

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BIG Is Back @NPC Nationals 2013

The annual pre-Christmas treat of the best amateur female muscle beef in the USA that is the NPC Nationals took place last weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

I don't know about you, dear reader, but I always look forward to the Nationals. How could you not when past winners have included Sarah Dunlap (2002), Gina Davis (2004), Sheila Bleck (2008), and last year the juanderful Juanita Blaino?

And there are weight classes! It's one of the last places where you can see lightweight against lightweight, heavyweight against heavyweight (and middleweights and light-heavies in between), which is how I think it should be. And to cap it all off, the class winners (who all get pro cards) have a big ole posedown for the overall title.

What's not to like?


Class winners in the midst of their 'big ole posedown'.

Well, this year, what's not to like is the alarming fall in the number of female bodybuilders who took to the stage. Like the value of your investment, the number of competitors at the Nationals can go down as well as up, and has done so over the past ten years (which is the period FMS has got round to researching). And the trend has been most definitely downwards in the last few years, from 60 in 2009 to 42 last year. But this year's figure, a mere 30, means, as I'm sure you don't need me to tell you, there's been a 50% drop in the last five years. Worrying stuff.

But wait. It may not all be doom and gloom. Of those 30, 17, yes, SEVENTEEN, were heavyweights. A stunning 57% of all the competitors were 'big girls'. This is, in the last decade anyway, completely unprecedented. The proportion of heavyweights to the total number of competitors has varied little over the last ten years. 2010 (24%) and 2007 (25%) were the lowest, and, until this year, 2011 (35%) was the highest, with all other years falling inside this range.



Why the sudden (relative) increase in the number of heavyweights? Well, it is without doubt partly because the numbers in the other weight classes have dwindled, with 2013 a new low. As recently as 2009, there were 22 light-heavyweights, 16 middleweights, and 14 lightweights. Last weekend the numbers were 5, 3, and 5 respectively. So there were more competitors in any of the classes in 2009 than there were in the light-heavies, middleweights and lightweights combined this year.


The light-heavyweights. All of 'em.

Seems to me, and I'm just theorising now, that the ever-growing popularity of the physique division - a quite understandable popularity given that in 2014 there will be five IFBB pro shows for female bodybuilders but twenty pro physique contests - is undoubtedly hurting female bodybuilding. But at the same time, if you're a heavyweight, physique is not really an option. Shannon Courtney, for example, a light-heavyweight, was so frustrated by the loss of size the switch to physique would entail that she decided to stick with bodybuilding, and so, it seems have the heavyweights.



The conclusion? The future of female bodybuilding at both amateur and pro level has been uncertain for some time, and continues to be so. But at least we can say that while it's still around, it's going to be populated by properly BIG competitors.


Top 5 heavyweights, left to right: Jennifer Kennedy (4th); Keli Watkins (2nd); Victoria Dominguez (Winner); Kristine Mele (3rd); Alyssa Stroud (5th)

To celebrate, this week on FMS, we'll be bringing you some of the biggest and best from the (heavyweight class) of 2013 at the NPC Nationals, kicking off tomorrow with look at the overall champion and new IFBB pro, Victoria Dominguez.



Enjoy!

Legs in Leggings: Curve Theory

Just the same as when they pack their beautiful physiques into tight dresses, muscle women in skin-tight leggings emphasise how curvy their bodies are. Exhibit A is Sarah Backman (below), eight-time World Armwrestling Champion and WWE superstar in the making. Note the way the fabric of her Brazil-themed leggings bulge out from below her hips and then, in a seemingly perfect arc, curve back in above her knees, before her calves produce a smaller, but no less perfect, effect below them.



Whether from in front or behind, the curves are there for all to see. And when I, or, I dare say you, dear reader, look at Sarah or at other muscular women, it is those curves that we see. (Interestingly, the guy on the left seems truly dumbfounded that she has lost this particular match, which, given her prowess at the sport, is an understandable reaction. Although she looks truly mouth-watering in them, maybe these leggings simply aren't lucky ones for Sarah.)



Anyway, where was I? Oh yes! The curves. As I was saying, we see the curves. Look at the beautiful (and curvaceous) Olga Belyakova (above). Curves, right? Curves all over, and, due to the tightness of her legwear, the curves of her thighs and calves are especially noticeable.

left: Dayana Cadeau - please show me a part of Dayana's body that isn't curvy?!

right: Kristina Krstic from an extremely interesting angle

Now, guys who don't like muscle women - or say they don't anyway, but that's a debate for another day - often, though not always, also comment that they like their women 'curvy'. So, herein lies the paradox. We see muscular women and say they have curves everywhere, but they see muscular women and accuse them of having none at all. Weird, isn't it?

left: Victoria Dominguez seems to be getting curvier all the time

right: Suzy Kellner - would she really be unappealing to 'most' men?

It's not like most of us can actually have a discussion about this with one of our friends who isn't into muscle women, unfortunately. I've always thought it would be fascinating if I could, but have never managed it, even though a few of them do know about my female muscle preference. So we're hardly likely to gain much understanding of our opposing positions on the curve issue any time soon.

BIG, BEAUTIFUL AND CURVY
left: Big Brigita Brezovac; right: Big Annie Riveccio


My pet theory is that they are in denial and we are enlightened, but then again I would say that, wouldn't I? Maybe it is as simple as the fact that these things are subjective and we all have our own little fetishes. All the same, I'm glad my little fetish is for the most curvaceous women in the world!



Here's an example of what I mean. You and I are looking at the lovely (and curvy) Heidi Vuorela (above) stretching her sponsor's leggings, and maybe, due to the 'mirror' effect, you are imagining Heidi cloning herself, not once, but enough times to make a Heidi for every one of us. Meanwhile, those who don't appreciate muscle women are, well, living in a world where they don't know who Heidi is, probably.

Makes you feel kind of lucky, doesn't it?

And, a little bonus clip (for you lucky people) featuring two of the women illustrating my insane (inane?) ramblings today. Suzy Kellner (in rather fetching leggings) being trained by Dayana Cadeau. Think it sounds like another of my fantasies? Well, yes, it is, but this one turned out to be true! And they even cuddle a little.



Enjoy!