The final IFBB Pro show is just days away and it’s shaping up to be a hotter than the Miami temps. This weekend several IFBB Pro Bikini competitors will share the stage with some of bodybuilding’s biggest legends. Despite the name of the show being “World Masters” don’t be confused – the women are not master’s competitors. The favorite on many people’s predictions (until a weekend ago) was third place Olympia finisher, Dianna Dahlgren. She has since withdrawn from the competition due to illness.
A case could be made for a number of women in this line up to crack the top three. This show is significant because it is the last show where the top three women will be qualified to compete in the 2012 Olympia. Next year a new rule has be adopted where only the first place finisher will be qualified to compete in the Olympia. So who will crack the top three and get a piece of the $20,000 purse? Let’s break it down.
The Hardbody 411:
Theresa Bryne – We haven’t seen Theresa on stage since her pro debut at the 2010 Sacramento Pro. She cleaned house while she was in the NPC ranks with wins at the NPC USA and Emerald Cup. She had a less than stellar finished (9th) in her debut so we’ll have to see what she brings to the stage and if she can improve upon that.
Jennifer Chapman – Props to Jennifer on wasting no time getting into the pro ranks. She’ll be making her pro debut after turning pro just a few weeks ago on the same stage at the NPC Nationals. Jennifer has streamlined her physique and found her groove. She’s coming off the high of turning pro and will look to continue it here. This will be her 7th show of the year and as long as she didn’t fall off the wagon with her diet since turning pro, she’ll be a contender.
Missy Coles – Missy has been up and down in her placings and has gone from second to 16th. She managed to fix the tanning issues she had in the past, which hindered her in some shows. It’s hard to say where she will finish in this line up as she could be in the top callout or in one of the last ones. I’d probably have her in the second call-out in this group.
Juliana Daniell – Juliana found her stride early this year and has risen to one of the more popular bikini pros. She has an athletic physique and when she isn’t over-thinking her posing she’s on the money. I like the package she brings to the stage and if she brings the look she did to Pittsburgh and New York you’ll see her in the top spots.
Kim DeArcangelis – Kim has found success off the stage as a lawyer and will look to bring some of that fierceness to the stage this weekend. She made her pro debut at this year’s Iowa Pro where she finished 8th. It will be tough for her to crack the top five here but never rule anything out. As long as she poses in a relaxed manner she’ll be able to hang in this line up.
Brittany Gaylord – Brittany has continued to improve and refine her physique since making a return to the stage. Brittany competed in the Fitness division (under her maiden name Brittany Thorsch) before taking time off to have a child. She finished 9th at the Sacramento Pro and will look to crack the top 10 again here in hopes of sliding into the top five.
Bernadett Matassa – Bernadett toned down her posing and it helped move up at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. I’m not sure the short hair works for her but she has a nice physique. We’ll see if she can move up into the top 10 for the first time here.
Heather Nappi – Heather had a strong pro debut with a 5th place finish but then slipped to 10th at the Iowa Pro. This will be her third show as a pro and will look to return to the top callout. She can do it but this is a pretty tough line up. I see her right on the bubble and could potentially be in the top five.
Khanh Nguyen – Khanh is back and she’ll look to crack the top five here. She was one of the first masters competitors awarded in the bikini division and she has a great physique. The issue with Khanh is out of her hands. She comes in consistently in shape and presents herself well. It’s simply that the competition has continued to improve and each show she enters featured stiffer competition than the last. This will be her fifth show of the year. She’s coming off a 13th place finish at the Iowa Pro.
Figen Oezdemir – Figen is a competitor I’m not familiar with other than she calls Germany home. It’s always a crap shoot with competitors competing in the USA for the first time. Many times the competitors do what their countries ask of them however it doesn’t always fit the USA model. We’ll see what she brings to the stage in what I believe is her pro debut.
India Paulino – India is coming off a win at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. She was at her all-time best, at least in my opinion, when she placed 6th. She’s the one to beat at this show and I look for her to collect another first place check. The only thing that makes me laugh and cringe is the ending of her individual posing. I swear she is going to break a hip if she snaps the “tick-tock” back and forth any harder. She follows it with a lil giddy up kick. It fits her sassy personality though so she’s able to get away with it where most women couldn’t.
Yeshaira Robles – Yeshaira is my dark horse who could shake things up in this show. She won her class and was my pick for the overall at this year’s Team Universe competition. This will be her pro debut and will have one of the best bikini booties in the show. If she can present with poise and confidence look for her to make a name of herself in the pro ranks.
Tianna Ta – Tianna has improved greatly from a year ago. The challenge she has is being lean on the upper body but not tight enough in her lower body, particularly when she turns to the back. She’s found her groove with her posing and now if she can bring a tight booty to the stage she could be in the hunt for a top spot. This will be her 6th show of the year and her highest finish was 4th. She’s coming off a 6th place finish at the Iowa Pro.
Brittany Tacy – Brittany has an athletic physique and a great look for the bikini division. This will be her third pro show since reaching pro status at the NPC USA this summer. She narrowly missed the top 3 at the Titans Grand Prix where she finished 4th. Look for Brittany in the first call-out and posing it out for a top three finish.
My (Isaac) Predictions:
1. India Paulino
2. Juliana Daniell
3. Brittany Tacy
4. Yeshaira Robles
5. Heather Nappi
Yogi’s Predictions:
1. India Paulino
2. Juliana Daniell
3. Brittany Tacy
4. Tianna Ta
5. Theresa Bryne
Prejudging and the finals take place this Saturday in Miami. Follow along on twitter with the hashtag #flpro. For more information and tickets to the show visit: http://www.jarkasgym.com/ifbb.html
