Six IFBB Bikini Pros and 11 Women’s Physique Pros took the stage in Mesa, Arizona yesterday. Stacey Alexander took home top honors and an Olympia qualification in her IFBB Pro debut. The women’s physique division saw Karina Nascimento crowned the winner in it’s inaugural event. Why such the low turn out? It makes you wonder why more than six bikini pros wouldn’t enter this show given the sheer number of pro cards that have been awarded over the last two years. Pointing fingers never solves anything and at the end of the day only the winner is qualified for the Olympia.
BIKINI:
Looking at the scorecards, the judges had Stacey Alexander winning in unanimous fashion. She had a final score of three while just one point separated second and third place. Narmin Assria edged out Jennifer Chapman for the brides maid spot. Christina Vargas who is already qualified for the Olympia was relegated to fourth. We’ll see if she can improve for next week at the Bikini International. Ashley Harbour finished in fifth and Bernadett Matassa took home sixth. The rules changed this year and only the winner qualifies for the Bikini Olympia.
PLACE – NAME – SCORE
1. Stacey Alexander – 3
2. Narmin Assria – 7
3. Jennifer Chapman – 8
4. Christina Vargas – 12
5. Ashley Harbour – 15
6. Bernadett Matssa – 18
WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE:
The first IFBB Women’s Physique competition is in the books and Karina Nascimento was crowned the winner. Karina has been away from the stage for a number of years and has competed as a female bodybuilder. She’s the proud mother of three children and fit the criteria set forth in the new division. Karina returned to the stage at the encouragement of her daughter and she has to be proud. She’s a great example of bringing women back into the fold of competing. The media in attendance agreed with the judges decision and felt she fit the standard for what is being set in this new division. It wasn’t without controversy, but what show doesn’t? The judges are pointing towards a more muscular Figure type of physique and are not rewarding an overly muscular and shredded physique. She was the unanimous winner on the judges score cards. I wasn’t at the show but from the video I’ve seen online, I think the judges made the right call.
Marlina Echohawk edged out Jillian Reville for second place. These two women also had great structure (as did the winner) and were in line with the division’s criteria. Fan favorite Dana Linn Baily placed fourth and was just one point away from third. Some of her “fans” are taking their comments to an obnoxious level of Dana Linn-Sanity. The feedback on Dana Linn was that she was too hard and showed too much conditioning for the look they are after. I think her structure will be an issue for her going forward in the division as we saw in this competition. Rounding out the top five was Beni Lopez who used to compete as a female bodybuilder and was able to shed some muscle and bring a new look. This show had a variety of physiques and we’ll see what it becomes into over time. Congrats to all the ladies who competed and achieved their goals.
PLACE – NAME – SCORE
1. Karina Nascimento – 3
2. Marilena Echohawk – 7
3. Jillian Reville – 9
4. Dana Linn Bailey – 10
5. Beni Lopez – 16
6. Susan Salazar – 18
7. Marina Lopez – 21
8. Rita Rae – 26
9. Tracy Bodner – 27
10. Pamela Franklin – 31
11. LaDarissa Bonivel – 32
The next Women’s Physique competition will be at the St. Louis Pro where we’ll be covering the action. Next up for the bikini competitors is the Bikini International next week in Columbus, Ohio.
