His
torically speaking, the 2012 IFBB Desert Muscle Classic may just be the most significant professional contest of the 2012 calendar year. You may shout back, "But there's no mens open pro division; there are no marquee competitors in the lineup; it's a small show!" And you'd be right on all accounts. However, what makes this Saturday February 25th significant is that it marks the very first IFBB Pro Womens Physique competition—a new women's bodybuilding division that hopes to bring back the classic charm and enduring love that the inaugural foray into womens physique development inspired back in the 1980s. Showcasing classic muscular lines, open-hand poses, and feminine good looks, the Womens Physique division has tremendous appeal for attracting women who like muscle, who love to train with heavy weights, and who are sick of merely spinning around onstage rather than showcasing their hard-earned muscle with aesthetic, artistic, poses. Venturing into unknown territory this weekend will be a brave group of women who have no idea what to expect. This very first lineup will not only come from the newly anointed Womens Physique Pro division. IFBB Pro Women Bodybuilders and Pro Figure competitors will also be testing their physique mettle in Mesa, Arizona this Saturday.
Invariably, I'm asked the question as how I think things will turn out. Who will emerge as the very first Womens Physique Pro Champion? These questions are not easily answered; however, if we take a closer look at the lineup it is possible to speculate.
DANA LINN BAILEY has the auspicious honor of being crowned the very first IFBB Womens Physique Pro when she won her class and the overall at the NPC Jr USA back in May of 2011. Touted as having great structure and symmetry for this new division with her super capped delts, washboard abs, and intuitive stage presence, Bailey might indeed be the favorite in this lineup.
JILLIAN REVILLE snagged her IFBB Pro Card one month after Bailey when she won her class at the 2011 NPC Jr Nationals in Chicago, IL. While Reville was told by judges that she'd never win a Figure show, Womens Physique seems to suit her just right. A small waist, flaring quads, and fantastic conditioning are all highlighted when she works the stage in her always-entertaining posing routine. While Reville's biceps are a little flat and lack that "pop" onstage, she really has very few other weaknesses. Expect to see her in that top group when all is said and done.
MARILENA ECHOHAWK is another member of the 1st graduating class in Physique. She won Class B at the 2011 NPC Team Universe solely because of her good structure and future Physique potential. Her conditioning could definitely have been better and if she shows up in Mesa with peeled skin and better presentation, she'll certainly be dangerous. She's a true "muscle girl"; not a pumped up figure competitor.
LADRISSA BONIVEL earned her IFBB Pro Card at the 2011 NPC USA where she wowed the crowd with her incredible symmetry—tiny waist, beautiful lines, and round muscle bellies. If she so chose, LADRISSA can probably be a very successful Pro Bodybuilder; her genetics are that good. However, focusing on the Womens Physique division was a smart move on her part. Her superior genetics will always make her a top placer, and if she can make a few tiny improvements—bigger legs-- she'll be taking home a lot of first place trophies in the pro ranks.
TRACEY BODNER started in bodybuilding and had success at the NPC national level. Realizing that she's a small girl with a petite structure, she seized the opportunity to jump into Womens Physique. After a less-than-spectacular finish at the NPC Jr USA, Bodner listened to the judge's feedback and softened up a bit leading into the IFBB North America where she snagged her IFBB Pro Card, rather convincingly, in Physique Class A. It'll be interesting to see how the judges handle her on a pro level since she has a ton of very mature, dense, muscle. Expect the unexpected with Bodner!
RITA RAE, BENI LOPEZ and MARINA LOPEZ (no relation) all were NPC Nationals Lightweight Bodybuilding Champions who dominated their classes and legitimately earned their IFBB Pro Cards. The problem arose when they had to enter the IFBB Pro ranks and deal with the likes of mass and conditioning prodigies such as Iris Kyle and Yaxeni Oriquen. Standing no chance against girls of this size, Rita, Marina, and Beni all saw a perfect opportunity to recreate themselves in Womens Physique. Will the transition be easy? Absolutely not! All of these women sport some serious dense, mature, muscle; however, all three also possess some of the best symmetry in the business. While Marina Lopez probably packs the most muscle, her physique is probably the most complete of the three. Beni Lopez and Rita Rae might find that they "blend in" better with the new crop of Womens Physique Pros. The excitement is in seeing how the judges interpret and process the large gamut of physiques they'll see this Saturday morning.
PAM FRANKLIN is a bodybuilding veteran of sorts. She's won just about every regional show there is and she finally earned her IFBB Pro Card at last year's NPC Team Universe Masters competition. Sporting a lot more muscle than most of these ladies, Franklin may not see as much love from the judges as she'd like. It'll be interesting to see what she's done with her physique over these last few months.
KARINA NASCIMENTO may be the wild card competitor in the lineup. Karina earned her IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Pro Card from Brazil after she decisively won several top regional NPC competitions. While no one expected much from the Brazilian Bombshell on the IFBB level, Nascimento silenced the naysayers by placing a very unexpected and respectable 3rd place at the 2003 IFBB Ms International. Now, almost 10 years and 3 kids later, Nascimento has the competition bug again and plans on showing the judges a whole new look. I know Karina, personally, and all I can say is that she's a fierce competitor. Don't count her out because of her bodybuilding roots. I can easily see her shocking the Arizona crowd this Saturday night with lines, charisma, and classic bodybuilding mojo.
SUSAN SALAZAR really impressed the heck out of me at the 2009 NPC USA where she placed 3rd in a very competitor Figure division. After that finish, she was told to "tone it down" and "soften up" and, in my mind, her physique looked worse. But, 2 months later, the judges rewarded her with an IFBB Pro Card at the NPC Team Universe (after placing 2nd in Class A). Since that time, Salazar has found the Pro ranks of Figure to be a tough world to survive in. She finished out of the top 15 in her last 2 shows, so moving to Physique just might give her new life. With capped delts, a small waist, and great quads, it'll be exciting to see how this little dynamo will fare against the rest of the field.
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