Save the Date (Part 1)

In just over three weeks from now, the greatest female muscle show on Earth will be getting under way in Scottsdale, Arizona. This will be the fourth running of the contest the ladies themselves call "our Olympia", and - of Wings of Strength's own pre-show blurb is to be believed - the first to which no "special invites" will be handed out.

The reason for no invites, as far as I can tell, is that the line-up is already "stacked". Although not 100% confirmed as a line-up, with twenty-four women already qualified from placing high at last year's RP, winning a pro show in 2018, or earning four or more qualifying points, the show promises to be the biggest, best RP to date.

So I'm getting the preview in early...

HELLE TREVINO



The reigning Queen of Female Bodybuilding has done her bit at WoS booths during the course of 2018, but otherwise she's been fairly low profile - and that's just the way she likes it. Helle is not the biggest fan of the likes of us - who can blame her?! - so rather than Instagram, her YouTube channel is the place to go if you want to see the kind of shape. Watch her destroy (male and female) training partners in clips with names such as Funny Chest Workout, Building Massive Legs and Monster Calves & Shoulders.



Though the champ, she probably isn't the favourite, but discount her at your peril - she's never turned up for the Rising Phoenix in less than immaculate condition, has only been out of the top two once, and deserved better than her 4th two years ago.

LE DUE ITALIANE



For the first time since the days of Claudias Profanter and Montemaggi, two Italians will strut their stuff at the world's premier female muscle show. Barbara Carita and Cristina Franzoso were the sole FBBs on show at the new-look San Marino Pro in June. Barbara earned her pro card the day before then outmuscled her veteran compatriot. Cristina, however, picked up four qualifying points for 2nd as a result, and added to the four she'd already got at the Galaxy Pro a couple of weeks earlier, she flew to the top of the points table, and has been there ever since.

MUSCLEDOLL



Also getting her RP qualification in early was Maryse Manios, winner of that Galaxy Pro in Bari, Italy. She regally dominates... A true MASSIVE MATURE MUSCLE QUEEN! proclaimed one of her many devotees on the forums after her victory, but 5th in Toronto (out of 7) was probably a better reflection of where Maryse truly is in the grand scheme of IFBB Pro Female Bodybuilding these days. Highly unlikely that she, or either of our two Italians will make the placings, but they all deserve their place.

JACQUELINE "JAY" FUCHS



Another Euro muscle legend, however, is - particularly if current form (see above) is maintained - going to be in the mix for a automatic qualification for next year. Jay's 3rd in Chicago was met with consternation by her band of merry men, but they (and she) didn't have to wait long before she was handed a big (first place) sword.



To me she never looks quite as breathtaking on stage as she does off it (not the only woman I could say that of), but a week after the Chicago show, Jay was crowned at the Lenda Murray Pro in Norfolk, and most recently placed 5th in Tampa in the best line-up of 2018 so far. She was 12th in her one and only RP appearance (last year), she could well break into the top 10 this time. Loyal fans will be hoping for even more.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE



Over 55 as long ago as 2014, Patricia "Patty" Corbett just made it to the show on points, as did the equally long-serving (but a good ten years younger) Angela Rayburn - who of course has been to the RP before. Expect wardrobe malfunctions and a big bulge from Patty, that signature pose and a big bulge from Angela...



Tara Silzer, meanwhile, with not quite as many years behind her as Patty and Angela, spent the first couple of years of her pro career slumming it in Physique, but a decision this year to "go big" has paid off handsomely. She was immediately into the prize money as runner-up to Jay in Norfolk, and now she's prepping for Arizona.

FBBUK



With no Lisa Cross this year - her 4th in Tampa wasn't enough (and wasn't right as far as I'm concerned either!) - British fans will be hoping that 2017's surprise RP package Wendy McCready can repeat the trick. Like Queen Helle, Wendy tends to keep a pretty low social media profile, but one thing we can say is that she's rather excited about going back again this year. Just under 7 weeks until the greatest female bodybuilder competition in the world! she wrote just over a month ago. My MONDAY, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday MOTIVATION!!!

NICKI CHARTRAND



Whacky hair days notwithstanding, Nicki Chartrand is, I think, one of the shrewder operators in the WoS schedule game. Consequently, she's one of the bigger success stories of the last couple of years, apparently coming from nowhere to last year's Rising Phoenix (invite) and then her first pro win (Hawaii) at the start of this season.



"Nicki! What's your secret?" is, she says, a question she gets asked a lot. Maybe I DO have a few tricks up my sleeve, she says - not that she wears sleeves much, and who can blame her? But despite promising a new website where all will be told, so far those tricks are staying put. 12th on her RP debut, she'll probably do better than expected.

YER MS. INTERNATIONAL



Crashing back into the collective consciousness in Chicago this year, the woman formerly known as Susanna (Bet You Can't Keep Your) Hand(s Above the Table) won the Ms International Classic in Chicago under her married name of Susanna Jacobs. Who is this woman? I, and I imagine many like me wondered as we clicked on her name at the Maximum Muscle Report gallery. Oh! It's her... we sighed, swooning, before reliving what we always used to do when Susanna was in her pomp.



Susanna had nailed the conditioning like never before - good enough to place 4th the next day at the pro show - and although, yes, there's clearly been a bit of facial work, her eyes still have that same smouldering intensity when she wants to turn it on.

SADLY NOT JOINING US



Jennie Roosa, qualified on points thanks to her runner's-up finish behind Nicki Chartrand in Hawaii, won't, unfortunately, be making her RP debut this year. Jennie and her fella are expecting their first child, and we wish them well. I do hope this Alina-trained phenom will be back one day, but fear that day won't be anytime soon.

Our RP preview will conclude later this week.

New from Hevumisa

It's always an event in my house when Hevumisa puts something new up, and nearly three months after his previous edit from this year's FIBO Power, a new clip containing his footage from that show appeared on his YouTube channel just over a week ago.

The star of this particular clip is Spain's Mirea Henriquez, tight and (apparently) tiny as she dishes out freebies to the crowd while showing off her sexy abs and glutes. Outside of that middle minute thirty, treats include Jay Fuchs (with Sarah-Aude Salbot) at the Wings of Strength booth (hopefully there's a fourth clip coming with just the WoS ladies!), Paloma Parra, Maria Garcia, plus, all the way from Canada, Azaria Glaim and (briefly), all the way from here, Louise Rogers. And there's even (on top of the ten minutes of her that we've already seen) more Gülüzar Tüfenk.

Not, by any means, his longest or best, but like a said, an event all the same.



Enjoy!

And subscribe to Hevumisa on YouTube.

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!

Big Is Back @FIBO 2018

For years and years Female Bodybuilders were practically banned from FIBO, this seems like a total comeback of women's muscle, like it used to be in the early years. (Post - on the forum whose first rule is... - by "achilleus", 15th April).

There were enough Bodybuilding girls [at FIBO] in the last few years. But not concentrated on one booth like this! (Reply by "Liesbeth", also 15th April).

Either way, and not being lucky/motivated enough to attend (ever) I'm in no position to judge the validity of either opinion, what's clear to both posters and to anyone who's seen even a fraction of the images that have gone up on social media and the forum boards in the past four or five days, there was some massive female muscle on show at this year's FIBO, and (as usual) we have Wings of Strength to thank for it.



Just before we indulge, what's interesting about the advertised line-up is the mix of the "usual suspects" (Alina, Helle etc.) with those who have, until now, not been so closely associated with WoS events - especially the Russian duo of Natalya Kovalyova and, even more noteworthy, Nataliya Kuznetsova, the Beast from the East herself.



Her appearance at the WoS booth has certainly got my imagination running wild. Is this the preliminary to Nataliya competing at a WoS show this year? Perhaps the Ms Wings International in Chicago, perhaps at one of the slated shows later in Europe in the autumn... As if we needed reminding, the sheer jaw-dropping scale of this woman is all too apparent in these pics from FIBO, whether she's standing next to a pro FBB muscle goddess or one of her many female fans. Now I can't help but imagine her on stage, glammed and tanned to a level we've not seen her at before. It's mind-boggling!



I also can't help but imagine her being taken on by Alina, trained as Alina has trained up Lisa Cross and Elena Oana Hreapca so successfully. Nataliya, glammed and tanned and trained to a level we've never seen her at before, those mighty muscles conditioned to a level where only one-handed typing is possible for all but the most stoic, most disciplined female muscle lovers for weeks after her (potential) show...



And it wasn't just the (bug-eyed) female muscle heads at FIBO who were drawn to her (there are plenty of pics with her dwarfing dudes, but that's not what you're here to see, is it?). Marina Lemenovskaya and last week's FMS Woman of the Week Slava Galagan dropped by and together they made a sort Russian dream triptych with Nataliya as the massive centrepiece. There's a lot of meat right there, with all three (hopefully) potential role models to Female Bodybuilders present and future.



Young and old(er) turned up and flexed for the camera with the WoS team. Jana Linke Sippl (still beefy, and I'd recognise those pokies anywhere!) and Jéssica Sestrem were just two caught flexing off with Lisa. So happy to have met you all - the strongest women on the planet, gushed Jéssica afterwards. Inspirational!



Along with everything else they do, WoS deserve a lot of credit for arranging for the stars of the sport to be at an event where they really get to feel like the stars they are.



And no doubt such get-togethers only enhance their sense of "iron sisterhood" as well.



Two of the newer women to come under WoS's er... wing here were Noelle Rockwell and Kristina Nicole Mendoza, who (if the pictures don't lie) appear to have bonded closer than most, apparently together from the start of the day through all the action at the WoS booth (and quite possibly) beyond, into the Köln night. Imagine running into these two at a restaurant/bar/club, squirming to hide your tentpole and gradually becoming aware every guy in the place is squirming just the same as you are...



What an incredible day today in Köln, said Noelle of her experience on day 1 of the Expo alone. Got to hang out with some seriously impressive Female Bodybuilders, and met thousands of people who came by the booth throughout the day. "Thousands"! See?! Celebrities I tell you! STARS! Everyone was was so nice and supportive! she added. Great to see the love and appreciation from our fans!



This is probably not the kind of feeling Noelle, or any of the other WoS crew, gets off people all the time. Times may have changed in terms of body ideals and the number of women weight training, but Female Bodybuilders capital F capital B are still freaks when they are out in the real world, with all the sniggers, tuts and outright nasty comments that entails. But here at FIBO, they were all able to feel the collective (and mutual) love. A great day with the greatest ladies in the world, as Jay put it.



And there are more great European female muscle days to come in 2018 than there have been in (almost) living memory. In May and at the start of June there is not one but two pro FBB events scheduled in Italy, and during the FIBO weekend, Alina was meeting up with those responsible for the Romania Muscle Fest in November.



Great days ahead, and by the looks of Lisa, great nights too.



I can't decide whether it's hotter if she's about to go out like this or she's about to welcome her first "special fan" for an encounter he (or she) will never ever forget...




Although having said that, encountering any FBB dressed anyhow, anytime, and anywhere is probably a pretty unforgettable experience. Finding nine or ten of the biggest and the best of them all at once must be... well, something like heaven.



So now am I motivated (and feeling lucky), ready to commit to FIBO 2019 and seek out the Wings of Strength booth - to get my little bit of heaven? YES!!! I'm raring to go. Can you book twelve months in advance? I think I'll book a table for four at Reef and Beef too (Nataliya is going to need at least two seats, by then maybe three... Better make it a table for six). But on the other hand, I wonder whether it might all be too much, too heavenly. Such a massive, mouth-watering, groin-activating overload of beef (female, not the beef at Reef and Beef). Could I take it? Could I be the meet in the meet-and-greet and survive with my dignity (and pounding heart) still intact?



Could you?