The IFBB Figure pros are back in action this weekend at the 2012 IFBB Europa Supershow in Dallas, Texas. Twenty women will take the stage in hopes of earning the right to compete at the 2012 Figure Olympia. None of the women in this competition are currently qualified to compete in the Olympia.

Obviously, all women in the competition are hoping to win and the Olympia qualification however there are a couple women who will look to add to their point total in the IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series should they not win. The top five highest point finishers will qualify to compete in the Olympia and currently Alea Suarez is tied with Natalie Waples for second place. If Alea doesn’t win this show look for her to improve her point total and move into first place. Allison Frahn leads the Qualification Point Series but is not competing in this show. Larissa Reis is sitting in 10th place with 3 points but would position herself in the top five if she finishes in fourth or better. Points are assigned to placings… 2nd – 4 Points, 3rd – 3 Points, 4th – 2 Points, 5th – 1 Point.

THE HARDBODY BREAKDOWN:
Look for this show to be a 3 woman race. Felicia Romero takes the stage for the first time this year. She finished 2011 in less than stellar fashion at the Olympia and Sheru Classic. It was obvious her body needed a break and more than likely mentally as well. She’ll be rested but will she be on point her first time out? Don’t bet against her as she’ll be the one to beat at this show. Alea Suarez may have something to say about that though. She was in the runner-up position at the Omaha Pro and finished in third at the Chicago Wings of Strength. Alea has found her groove since switching from Bikini and will likely stand next to Felicia being compared for the win. If she brings the same look and physique she brought to the Omaha night show, she could leave with the win. Larissa Reis will look to return to the Olympia stage and while she often carries a bit more muscle than other competitors she won’t look out of place in this line up. Look for her to be next to Felicia and Alea being compared for the win. I see her finishing in third but we’ll see how she matches up in prejudging. Two rookies will look to shake things up in the top five and could do so. Tatiana Koshman achieved pro status at the 2011 NPC USA by winning the B Class and has exotic good looks and a physique that could put her the top call-out. She’ll need to come in a bit tighter than when she turned pro if she hopes to land in the top spots. If she’s in shape, Essence Monet could join her in the first call-out in her pro debut. Essence is a beautiful woman with great shape however has yet to showcase her fullest potential. She’ll need to come in much tighter than she was when she turned pro at last year’s North Americans. She has the potential and is one to watch in her debut. Laurie Schnelle debuted in 10th place last week at the Tampa Pro and look for her to move up at this show. Michelle Mayberry is all about presentation if she brings a polished, youthful look she’ll be in the mix. She has gone back and forth between Figure and Fitness over her career. Jodie Minear is a bit of an x-factor here. Since turning pro she has yet to find her groove on the pro stage. Jodie finished in 5th at the 2010 Phoenix Pro in her debut but has yet to match that finish. Over the last year her legs seemed to disappear. If she’s brought the wheels back up she’ll be back in the hunt.

2012 IFBB Europa Super Show Dallas Pro Figure
1. Julia Aragon (El Paso, Texas)
2. Tivisay Briceno (Memphis, Tennessee)
3. Clarissa Castaneda (Cozumel, Mexico)
4. Vicki Counts (Calumet City, Illinois)
5. Debbie Fowler (Fort Worth, Texas)
6. Soleivi Hernandez (Houston, Texas)
7. Tatiana Koshman (Spring, Texas)
8. Georgina Lona (Mexico City, Mexico)
9. Michelle Mayberry (Federal Way, Washington)
10. Jodie Minear (Houston, Texas)
11. Essence Monet (Chicago, IL)
12. Olga Maria Morales Gallardo (Mexico City, Mexico)
13. Nuria Novoa (Auckland, New Zealand)
14. Melanie Oberg (Saskatchewan, Canada)
15. Larissa Reis (Brazil)
16. Felicia Romero (Chandler, Arizona)
17. Miriam Sanchez (Lo Pagan, Spain)
18. Laurie Schnelle (Sarasota, Florida)
19. Alea Suarez (Cedar Park, Texas)
20. Katerina Tarbox (Warick, Rhode Island)

Follow along live on twitter with the hashtag #DallasEuropa. Photos will be available throughout the weekend on Bodybuilding.com, NPCNEWSonline.com FLEXonline.com.

Look back – 2011 IFBB Europa Super Show Dallas Figure Results:
1. Ava Cowan (USA)
2. Deena Walsh (USA)
3. Ella Horton (USA)
4. Heather Dees (USA)
5. Jami DeBernard (USA)
6. Alea Suarez (USA)

The 3rd annual IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Tampa Pro kicks off today and it will be one to remember. Over 100 hardbody men and women will take the stage in hopes of taking home not only bragging rights but also an Olympia qualification. There are a number of competitors making their IFBB Pro debuts and will face off against some seasoned veterans on stage.

The IFBB Pro Prejudging kicks off at high-noon Tampa time and will likely last 2-3 hours. Ticket buying fans will definitely get their money worth at this show. There’s also a NPC event held in conjunction with the pro show and it’s a great opportunity for fans to see both pro and amateur competition on the same stage.

This will mark the first year that the show will be held at the Grand Hyatt Regency Ball Room. The move to hold the event within the hotel will make things much easier for competitors. For more information on the show visit www.pbwproshow.com.

THE HARDBODY BREAKDOWN:

FIGURE
The top five in this line up is anyone’s guess however look for your top three to be Gennifer Strobo, Ann Titone and rookie Mallory Haldeman. Gen and Ann are already qualified for the 2012 Figure Olympia and on paper have to be your leading ladies in the event. Don’t be too shocked if Vegas resident, Mallory Haldeman is in the first call-out and gives both the women a run for their money. She took home top honors at the 2012 NPC JR National Figure Championships and if she can stay relaxed while posing has a chance at taking home another title. Andrea Cantone will look to improve on her Omaha Pro 3rd place finish however it will be a bit more challenging to match or beat it here. Canadian Aleisha Hart will look to collect a few more points in the Olympia Qualification Series. She’s currently tied for 5th with 4 points. Aleisha will need to be at her best ever to take move up in the standings. Tanya Etessam, Kamla Macko and Laurie Schnelle will all be making their pro debuts today. Laurie stands the best chance at joining fellow rookie Haldeman in the top five. Olga Maria Morales Gallardo was 6th at the Cal Pro and has a tremendous upper body, if she can come in full she could be in the top 10 here.

IFBB Figure – Total Purse $6,000
1. Tiffany Archer
2. Stephanie Bambrough
3. Andrea Cantone
4. Clarissa Franshesca Castaneda
5. Tanya Etessam
6. Mallory Haldeman
7. Aleisha Hart
8. Soleivi Hernandez
9. Kamla Macko
10. Olga Maria Morales Gallardo
11. Kiana Phi
12. Tamara Ribeiro-Bailey
13. Laurie Schnelle
14. Gennifer Strobo
15. Ann Titone

BIKINI
The Bikini division will showcase a variety of physiques. You’ll see some women in this line up who pack way too much muscle and others leaving you wondering where the muscle is at. When you look at the lineup as a whole it’s a bit of a cornucopia. Which look will prevail? The one with the most balance. The odds-on favorite has to be Nicole Nagrani. Nicole won this show two years ago, in her pro debut and will look to do so again here. She is the most accomplished competitor in the event. The only other competitor besides Nicole who is qualified for the Olympia is Diana Graham. The two have entirely different physiques however you could see them in the first call-out here. Rookie Adriana Hill has a nice look and could be in the hunt for a top spot in her pro debut. Gemmalyn Crosby will also be making her pro debut. She has a smile that will light up a stage and if her physique is tight on the lower half she could be in the mix. Jemma successfully petitioned for her pro status from her country, the Phillipines. Dayna Maletone has found her groove in the last few shows but has yet to higher than fourth. She could do it here and collect a few more points in the Olympia Series. She currently sits in 5th place with 6 points. The sleeper in this line up is Hungarian competitor Noemi Olah. Noemi is a stunning competitor who will look to return to the Olympia stage. She shocked everyone when she took top honors at the 2010 Detroit Pro, her pro debut. This will be the first time we see her on stage this year and if she can bring a tight lower half look for her to be in the mix. Tamryn Jackson and Agnese Russo are two new names and will be ones to watch what they bring to the stage. The beautiful Marcela Tribin will look to move up from her fifth place finish at the Pittsburgh Pro, where she made her IFBB Pro debut.

IFBB Bikini – Total Purse $3,000
1. Sara Picken Brown
2. Christy Cook
3. Gemmalyn Crosby
4. Diana Graham
5. Adriana Hill
6. Michelle Hutton Trasey
7. Tamryn Jackson
8. Dayna Maleton
9. Bernadett Matassa
10. Nicole Nagrani
11. Noemi Olah
12. Agnese Russo
13. Melissa Sayles
14. Marcela Tribin
15. Kristie Winter Trasey

WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING
This is the deepest line-up we’ve seen in women’s bodybuilding in quite some time. One spot to the Ms. Olympia is up for grabs and none of the 27 competitors are currently qualified. Tazzie Columb wasn’t on the initial competitor list (she was mistakenly mentioned as a women’s physique competitor) however is in the show. She has the highest Olympia Series point total of the group so if she misses out on the top spot, she’ll hope to collect a few points for her efforts. Sheila Bleck will look to return to the Olympia stage. She was 6th at the Olympia last year and has to be one of the favorites in this lineup. Debbie Bramwell announced at the media conference this will be her last competition and she’ll leave looking shredded. She has plans to start a family and will retire on a high note. Nancy Lewis is one of the seasoned veterans to the stage and has her sights set on finishing higher than she did at the Chicago pro, 6th. Kim Perez will also look to return to the the big dance in Vegas. She’s coming off a 9th place finish at the 2012 Arnold Classic. Marina Lopez has been competing all year in the Women’s Physique division and has been outside of the top spots. It will be interesting to see what she brings to the bodybuilding as she makes the switch back. This is one of the highest pay day opportunities for the women, so look for the field of competitors to be at the best in hopes of leaving a little richer.

Women’s Bodybuilding – Total Purse $9,500
1. Alicia Alfaro
2. Irene Anderson
3. Rita Bello
4. Sheila Bleck
5. Debbie Bramwell
6. Michelle Brent
7. Beverly DiRenzo
8. Roxanne Edwards
9. Paula Francis
10. Judy Gaillard
11. Colette Guimond
12. Sarah Hayes
13. Mary Ellen Jerumbo
14. Gillian Kovack
15. Janeen Lankowski
16. Lupe Leito
17. Nancy Lewis
18. Marina Lopez
19. Jena Mackey
20. Maryse Manios
21. Robyn Mentgen
22. Emery Miller
23. Kim Perez
24. Drorit Silverman
25. Melody Spetko
26. Beth Wachter
27. Tazzie Columb

WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE
There is no Olympia for this division in its inaugural year so the women are competing mainly for bragging rights. One lucky lady will leave with the title, a little cash and a giant trophy. The division has begun to work itself out and favors women with that are closer to a Figure competitor than that of a bodybuilder. That said, look for the women with the best shape and a nice balance of muscle to prevail. The competitor who could catch the line up sleeping and not seeing her coming is Tycie Coppett. She will be making her pro debut after turning pro at last year’s NPC Nationals. There are the usual suspects in the show like Nola Trimble, Gina Trochiano, Jennifer Robinson and Mikaila Soto. Dayana Cadeau looks like 1/2 the women she was a year ago as she’s completely down-sized her physique from her bodybuilding days. Jen Louwagie will be making her debut after achieving pro status at the 2012 Team Universe. Teresita Morales was second at the New York Pro but packs a great deal more muscle then many of the other competitors. It will be interesting to see how she fares here.

Women’s Physique – Total Purse $3,000
1. Mercedes Bazemore
2. La’Drissa Bonivel
3. Dayana Cadeau
4. Cheryl Cooke
5. Tycie Coppett
6. Laura Davies
7. Melissa DiBernardo
8. Cassandra Floyd
9. Amanda Harris
10. Marlene Koekemoer
11. Lisa Lopez
12. Jen Louwagie
13. Petra Mertl
14. Teresita Morales
15. Tiani Norman
16. Jennifer Robinson
17. Mikaila Soto
18. Antoinette Thompson
19. Nola Trimble
20. Gina Trochiano

If you’re following the action online and participating on twitter use the hashtag #PBWpro. You can follow live play-by-play on Muscle Phone and NPCNEWSonline.

It’s been nearly 20 years since the IFBB Pro League has held a show in the Windy City.  As of today, 73 men and women will take the stage in Chicago looking to do what Dorian Yates did in 1996… win! The women’s events will consist of Bodybuilding, Physique and Figure. There will also be a National Qualifying NPC event held in conjunction with the Pro show. The IFBB Pros will take the stage at noon on Saturday, July 7, 2012 and the finals will be held at 5pm the same day. This is a rare schedule for the pros but one that the overwhelming majority will favor. It means the women won’t have to pay for hair and make up twice as well as potentially another round of tanning.

THE HARDBODY 411:

Women’s Bodybuilding:
We’ll see 18 women in the pro bodybuilding division and one will leave with an Olympia qualification. There are only 7 women in the 2012 Olympia to date. This certainly makes things more exciting for the competitors and fans knowing that more is on the line than at other shows. This show also has more prize money up for grabs than other shows. The top five women will leave with some coin and a total purse of $9,500 is on the line for these women. There is no clear favorite heading into this show so your guess is as good as ours when it comes to who will leave with the Olympia qualification. Wendy McCready and Monique Jones are both tied for 4th in the new Olympia Point Series with 3 points. If either of them finishes high at this show they could punch their ticket to Vegas via the new qualification system.

2012 IFBB Chicago Pro Women’s Bodybuilding Competitors:
1. Natalia Batova
2. Debbie Bramwell
3. Giusy Caputo
4. Tazzie Colomb
5. Nathalie Foreau
6. Judy Gaillard
7. Alevtina Goroshinskaya
8. Aurelia Grozajova
9. Monique Jones
10. Nancy Lewis
11. Sharon Madderson
12. Wendy McCready
13. Elizabeth Meza
14. Emery Miller
15. Helle Nielsen
16. Amy Sibcy
17. Sherry Smith
18. Melody Spetko

Women’s Physique:
This women’s physique line up should provide a solid group for the judges to compare. Tamee Marie is coming off a win at the Greater Gulf States however this time around she’ll have some stiffer competition. Jennifer Robinson continues to make her presence known and if she can come in a bit sharper with better posing, she should be in the mix for the win. Trina Thompson and Nola Trimble will be making their IFBB Pro debuts. Trina achieve pro status at the Jr.USas and Nola went pro at the 2011 North American Championships. Both women could land in the top five their first time out. The dark horse in this lineup and one who will likely shake things up in the division if she nails her posing is Monica (formerly Mark) Escalante. She’s been marked down for being too muscular in Figure and will make the switch to Physique where she should fair better. Kim Tilden could be the one to beat in this lineup, at least based on the look the judges have favored and what she’s presented on stage. Paul Williams-Gulman will try her hand at the division after a debuting in Fitness. Paula finished at the bottom of the pack at the 2012 Flex Pro and will see if Women’s Physique is a better fit.

2012 IFBB Chicago Pro Women’s Physique Competitors:
1. Carri Baldwin
2. La’Drissa Bonivel
3. Laura Davies
4. Melissa DiBernardo
5. Monica Escalante
6. Tamee Marie
7. Jennifer Robinson
8. Mikaila Soto
9. Trina Thompson
10. Kim Tilden
11. Nola Trimble
12. Paula Williams-Gulman

Pro Figure:
This will be one of the biggest Figure competitions to date and only two of the 22 are qualified for the Olympia. Chelsey Morgenstern is one who quietly finds her way along each year and has been up and down in her placings. She was 16th at the 2011 Phoenix Pro, 12th at the Olympia and then finished in second at last year’s Kentucky Muscle Pro, qualifying her for the Olympia. This was one of the last shows where you didn’t have to win to qualify. On the flip side, Candice Lewis is coming off a win at the 2012 Omaha Pro. She show cased incredible structure and a nice balance in her upper and lower body. Her shape is one of the best in the pro ranks, if she comes in on point and maybe just a tad sharper than Omaha, she’s the one to beat. Cheryl Brown will look for the win but is she doesn’t she could still rack up points in the new Olympia Points system. She’s currently not qualified for the Olympia but sits in second, just one point behind Allison Frahn. Nipping at her heels in the point standings are Aleisha Hart, Kimberly Sheppard and Alea Suarez. Each of the ladies are tied for third an this show could put one of them ahead in the standings. If Alea Suarez brings the the look she presented at the Omaha Pro, night show she will be a contender for the win. Natalie Waples could be an X-factor as she’s either in the hunt or at the bottom of the pack. Chikondi Mseka has one of the better structures in this line up but has yet to get some love in the pro ranks.

A little fun fact; Tiffany Archer, Candice Lewis, Vicki Counts and Gloria Tarpley all turned pro on the Chicago stage last year. The women faced off for the overall at the 2011 NPC Jr. Nationals and Candice prevailed as the overall winner..

2012 IFBB Chicago Pro Figure Competitors:
1. Yolanda Alvarado
2. Tiffany Archer
3. Michelle Bates
4. Cheryl Brown
5. Becky Clawson
6. Vicki Counts
7. Aleisha Hart
8. Catherine Holland
9. Jacqueline Hoppe
10. Charmayne Jackson
11. Candice Lewis
12. Georgina Lona
13. Chelsey Morgenstern
14. Chikondi Mseka
15. Eleni Plakitsi
16. Tiffany Procopio
17. Sherlyn Roy
18. Kimberly Sheppard
19. Alea Suarez
20. Laura Sutter
21. Gloria Tarpley
22. Natalie Waples

If you are following the action on twitter use the hashtag #ChicagoPro. For more info on the show schedule and events visit www.chicagoproshow.com.

This weekend the IFBB and NPC heads to Omaha, Nebraska and the competition will be just as hot as the temperatures outside. Ten Figure pros are slated to compete in this inaugural event. While it may not be the deepest line-up it will be a competitive one. Someone will leave the Big O with their first pro victory.

The HARDBODY 411:

1. Meredith Berthelson - Meredith was 12th a few weeks ago at the Cal Pro but should fair a little better at this show. She looks good from the front however when she turns around is when her weaknesses are exposed. She’ll need to bring a tighter backside than the Cal to crack a top five spot here. Some of it comes from posing a bit better from the rear as well.

2. Rachel Cammon - It’s been awhile since we last saw this Denver Nugget on stage. Rachel turned pro early in her competitive career at the 2008 NPC USAs. The USAs was her third show ever and won in her first national appearance. She quickly found out that the pros were a bit more challenging. She has yet to crack the top five but this could be her best chance to do so. Her challenge is being balanced on the upper body to lower and not looking too stringy and vascular. If she comes in full and her lower body is tight she’ll move into the mix.

3. Andrea Cantone - Andrea could be the darkhorse to shake things up at this show. She has a pair of sixth place finishes as a pro. She achieved IFBB Pro status at last year’s NPC Nationals and will look to move into the top five here. I look for her to be compared for the top spots here.

4. Jessica Farrelly - The Arizona cutie is coming off a 9th place finish at the Toronto Pro,  her IFBB Pro debut. She wasn’t quite tight enough but showed tremendous potential. Jessica has a young, healthy and youthful look with great shape. If she is a bit tighter with her conditioning she’ll be a contender here. Regardless of where she finishes at this show, keep your eye on her in the years ahead.

5. Candice Lewis - Candice is also making the trip from Arizona and gunning for her first win. She took the NPC Jr. Nationals stage by storm just under a year ago, where she won the overall. Candice has incredible shape and a super tiny waist. Her biggest challenge to date has been keeping her legs down in comparison with her upper body. If she brought her legs down just a bit, look for her to be compared for the win. I see her being in the mix for the title and her first win.

6. Mona Muresan - Mona will be competing in her third show in a row and continues to move up in her placings. She was 10th in New York and 6th last weekend at the Toronto Pro. Mona has yet to crack the top five in her pro career and this could be her best shot to do so. She’ll have a tough time cracking the top three here but don’t be shocked if she’s in the top five.

7. Anissa Payne - This will be Anissa’s third pro show since turning entering the pro league. She continues to improve since her 2011 Team Universe win.  Anissa’s biggest challenge is coming in tight enough from the backside. If she can do that she’ll move up in the placings.

8. Eleni Plakitsi - Elani will look to improve upon her New York Pro Figure finish. I like her look and should could fair well here. She carries more muscle than some of the others in this line up which could hurt her but we’ll have to see when they are compared. She’s a bit of a bubble girl in this line up and which side will she finish – top five or bottom of the pack? We’ll find out tomorrow.

9. Kim Sheppard - Kim has a great physique and should fair well at this show. She continues to improve as a pro and look for this flight attendant to land in the top five. Look for her to be in the top call-out and compared for the win. She’s one of the few women who seems to get better with each show, let’s see if it holds true this weekend.

10. Alea Suarez - Alea is the only woman in this lineup to compete at the Olympia and she’s looking to return to the big stage with a win here. Alea’s highest finish was 3rd at the 2011 Phoenix Pro. The physique she brings to the stage now looks nothing like the one we saw when she was in the Bikini division. Look for Alea to be in the top three and compared for the win.

Prejudging starts at 9am and the finals begin at 6pm. Visit NPCmidwest.com for more info on the show and follow the action live on twitter with the hashtag #OMAHAPRO.

This weekend the women of the IFBB will head to Toronto Canada for the Toronto Pro Super Show. This three day even begins on Friday and lasts through Sunday. The Women’s Bodybuilding, Fitness, Bikini and Physique will take place on Friday and the Figure will be held on Saturday. All three days will feature an Expo and various events throughout the day. The Bikini division is one of the deepest line-ups of the year and one of the most competitive we’ve seen. Each division will have a few seasoned veterans to the stage alongside some promising rookies.

The competition will be fierce in each division and the judges will have their work cut out for them. Fitness will be dominated by Canadian competitors and defending Champ Jodi Boam is in the lineup with a target on her back. Look for Fiona Harris & Danielle Ruban to make a run at dethroning the champ. One dark horse in this line up is Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams. This is her IFBB Pro debut and riding high after overall wins at the NPC Emerald Cup and JR USA. Can she hang with the big dawgs? We’ll find out on Friday.

IFBB Pro Fitness:
Jodi Boam
Sherry Boudreau
Allison Ethier
Vanda Hadarean
Fiona Harris
Whitney Jones
Somkina Liudmila
Tiffany Robinson
Danielle Ruban
Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams
Tanis Tzavaras
Nichole Venzara

This isn’t the deepest line up for Figure we’ve seen but it will make for an interesting top five. Gen Strobo wasn’t at her best at the Pittsburgh Pro and will look to return to the winner’s circle once again. Natalie Waples has been up and down in the placings and will hope for a first call-out in this show. Look for Alesisha Hart to be in the mix for the top five and one woman to keep your eye on is rookie Jessica Farrelly. Jessica turned pro at the 2011 NPC USAs and will be making her pro debut here. She has nice shape and if she can come in tight enough look for her to have an impressive debut.

IFBB Pro Figure:
Leah Berti
Natalie Calland
Becky Clawson
Ginette Delhaes
Yolanda Esteso Sauri
Jessica Farrelly
Marie Gibbon
Aleisha Hart
Catherine Holland
Tracey MacDonald
Mona Muresan
Gennifer Strobo
Louise Rogers
Rosalind Vanterpool
Natalie Waples
Janet Lynn West

Bikini will be the toughest event of the weekend. Whoever finishes in the top five here will position themselves as the division’s elite. The odds on favorite has to be Dianna Dahlgren after her placings last year. This is her first time competing this year and if she brings a similar look to this stage that she brought to the Olympia stage, she’ll be the one to beat. Yeshaira Robles has finished in the top three at her last two shows and will look to keep that streak alive for a third time. Jessica Paxson returns to the stage once again and will look to move into that top call out. Michelle Brennan had an impressive debut at the St. Louis Pro and will be a contender once again. Leigh Brandt and Justine Munro will look for a top finish as two of the division’s first pros from Canada. As you can see from the line-up below this is a great bikini line-up.

IFBB Pro Bikini:
Natalie Abrheim
Sandy Avelar
Leigh Brandt
Michelle Brannan
Genevieve Brodeur
Jennifer Chapman
Katie Chung Hua
Dianna Dahlgren
Ashley Harbour
Dayna Maleton
Véronique Morin
Pollianna Moss
Justine Munro
Cecile Palacios
Jessica Paxson
Kristy Robbins
Yeshaira Robles
Casey Lee Trailer
Christina Vargas
Jaclyn Wilson
I expected to see more women in the bodybuilding division as it’s one of the few shows of the year. Look for Cathy LeFrancois to be the one to beat and if she shows up like she did at the Arnold, it could turn into a battle for who finishes in second.

IFBB Pro Women Bodybuilding:
Kim Buck
Laura Carolan
Laura Davies
Lisa Giesbrecht
Alevtina Goroshinskaya
Gillian Kovack
Janeen Lankowski
Cathy LeFrancois
Wendy Mccready
Frida Palmell
The Physique division will once again have a mix of bodybuilding, figure and physique competitors. Nicole Ball will be making the switch from bodybuilding to Physique and it will be interesting to see what she brings to the stage. Michelle Blank will look to redeem herself from the New York Pro finish. Kim Tilden has a look I think the judges could favor in this show. Marina Lopez gets the award for most persistent as she has entered every IFBB Pro Women’s Physique competition this year.

IFBB Pro Women’s Physique:
Nicole Ball
Debbie Barrable-Leung
Michelle Blank
Lyris Cappelle
Gloria Fauls
Amie Francisco
CeaAnna Kerr
Marina Lopez
Tammy Patnode
Rhonda Lee Quarsema
Janessa Roy
Kim Tilden

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY
PREJUDGING:
Women’s Bodybuilding, Fitness, Bikini and Physique
EXPO Stage – Metro Toronto Convention Centre
1:30 p.m.

FINALS:
Women’s Finals for Bodybuilding, Fitness, Bikini and Physique
Prejudging for Men’s Open and 212 Bodybuilding
John Bassett Theatre – Metro Toronto Convention Centre
7:00p.m.

SATURDAY
PREJUDGING:
Women’s Round One for Figure.
EXPO Stage – Metro Toronto Convention Centre
10:00 a.m.

FINALS:
Men’s Finals for Open and 212 Bodybuilding
Women’s Finals for Figure
John Bassett Theatre – Metro Toronto Convention Centre
7:30 p.m.

For more information visit: http://www.torontoprosupershow.com. We’ll be using #TOPRO as the hashtag on twitter for this event.

This weekend over 250 NPC competitors will take the stage at the California Championships. Also competing this weekend will be 16 IFBB Figure Pros. The Figure competition may actually be more enjoyable to follow this weekend than most. There are no “big names” in the line up which makes it a wide open event for who will leave victorious. As always here on Hardbody, we break down the field and give you a little insight on what you might expect to see on Saturday’s event. The action gets started at 10am and our West Coast correspondent, Ron Avidan will be there covering the action.

THE HARDBODY 411

2012 IFBB California Pro Figure:
1. Julia Aragon - Julia will look to move up into the top 10 for the first time. She was 15th at the 2010 Border States but improved her physique from her NPC USA win, earlier that year. Would like to see her take the stage with more confidence and enjoy the moment. She has a balanced physique and will hold her own here. View photos.

2. Meredith Berthelson - Meredith has taken her time to refine her physique and it’s paid off. She place 12th at the 2007 NPC USA and since that showing she collected a few finishes, none lower than 4th. She made her pro debut at the 2011 Toronto Pro and finished 6th. We’ll have to wait and see what she brings to the stage this year but she could be one in the mix for a top 5 spot. View pics.

3. Jami DeBernard - Jami is the only woman in the line-up qualified for the 2012 Olympia. Since turning pro at the 2011 NPC USA Championships, Jami has competed in 8 shows. Outside of last year’s Olympia, she has never finished lower than 5th. The one thing she has yet to achieve in her relatively short pro career is a first place finish. She’s been the brides-maid in two shows and heads into this weekend’s show looking for the win. On paper she may be the favorite however it won’t be an easy victory. View pics.

4. Meriza DeGuzman-Ciccone - Meriza’s placings have been like a roller coaster. She’s finished as high as third but that was in 2009 (the Houston Pro & Europa Supershow). She was 9th at this show last year and was 8th at the 2011 Border States. So which Meriza will show up? We’ll have to wait and see on Saturday. View pics.

5. Monica Mark-Escalante - Monica has tremendous potential but we have yet to see her reach it to its fullest in the Pro ranks. Since turning pro we’ve seen her come in soft and we’ve seen her bring a rock hard physique. She has the structure and muscle to be a top contender here but it will come down to how she dials it in. If she’s too soft it’s not a good look on her frame. If she is too hard the judges mark her down. She was fifth at this show last year but we’ll have to see what this former tennis standout brings to the Cal court this year. View pics.

6. Wendy Fortino - Wendy made her pro debut earlier this year at the IFBB Governor’s Cup where she finished 7th. She has a chance to crack the top five here but will have to bring a tighter booty without coming in too hard. Easy enough, right? It’s often balancing act of bringing in a tight lower body without being too muscular and hard in the shoulders. If she can find the balance she brought to the NPC USAs, where she turned pro, she’ll be in the hunt. View pics.

7. Allison Frahn - Allison was third at this year’s Governor’s Cup but fell to 9th last weekend at the New York Pro. She’ll have to tone down the vascularity and not come in too hard to be in the top spots. Look for her to be compared in the first two call-outs. View pics.

8. Charmayne Jackson - Since turning pro at the 2010 Team Universe, her highest finish has been 8th. Charmayne needs to a bit more size and fill out on her upper body to match her lower body. If she’s done that she’ll move up but if we see a similar physique to the prior shows, she’ll be in the 9-12 range of placings. View pics.

9. Anna Larsson - Anna is a seasoned veteran of the Figure stage. We’ve seen her on and off the pro stage since 2005. She’s been as high as 4th and in the dreaded tied for 16th. Anna will have to find a balance of not coming in to hard like the earlier years of competing as a pro but not too soft like her last showings. She was at the bottom of the pack last year at this show and competed as Anna Johnson. View pics.

10. Julie Mayer-Hyman - Julie was 10th in her IFBB Pro debut earlier this year and will look to move up in the top ten. She has a nice physique and if she can improve her posing she’ll hold her own. This will be her second pro show since making it into the big leagues at the 2011 NPC Nationals. View pics.

11. Tamara Montoya - Tamara is my dark horse to shake things up at this show. She flew under the radar heading into the Pittsburgh Pro (her pro debut) earlier this month but after her 5th place finish, she’s no longer off the map. The look she brought to the PA show was on point and she has great structure. If she brings in a slightly tighter lower half look for her in the mix for the win. View pics.

12. Olga Maria Morales Gallardo - Olga won not only her class but also the overall title at the 2012 Arnold Amateur. She calls Mexico home and this will be her IFBB Pro debut. Olga has big capped delts and I’d like to see a change in her makeup. It’s great to see competitors for other countries compete in the States.  View pics.

13. Katherynne Ramirez - Kat Ramirez has good energy about her and when she takes the stage you want to see her do well. She was in the bottom of the line-up at last week’s New York Pro so she can only move up in the placings. Kat will need to bring in a tighter lower half to crack the top ten here. View pics.

14. Kimberly Sheppard - Kim continues to improve from show to show. While some women fade after one show, Kim gets better. She was 11th at the Pittsburgh pro and finished 4th at the Optimum Classic earlier this month. If she continues down this path look for her to add another top 5 finish to her competitive resume. View pics.

15. Kristi Tauti - This will be Kristi’s second show back since having a baby and look for her to finish higher than her first time back. She was 6th at the Optimum Pro and look for her to be in the top five this time around. Kristi is another woman who is always smiling and you can’t help but be drawn to her positive energy on stage. View pics.

16. Natalie Waples - The lone Canadian in the lineup, Natalie will do her country proud. She brought a smaller, tight and toned physique to the Orlando Pro that earned her a 7th place finish. If she brings a similar look to this stage look for her in the top five. It may have been her best overall look to date in terms of hair, makeup and suit. A bit tighter in the glutes from Orlando and she’ll be a contender. View pics.

Follow call-outs and updates on twitter by using the hashtag #CALPRO.

Event Location: Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA
Prejudging: Saturday, May 26th at 10:00am
Finals: Saturday, May 26th at 6:30pm

More info: www.musclecontest.com

This weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana the IFBB Figure ladies will be taking the stage once again. The line up isn’t the strongest we’ve seen and look for a few more women to enter the show this week. The show will be held in conjunction with a NPC event at the Shreveport Convention Center this Saturday, May 12. 2012.

The HARDBODY 411:
Look for Monica Specking and Kristi Tauti to battle for the win at this show. Monica has made some improvements and her biggest challenge is her presentation. If she can pose her physique, she’ll be in the mix. Kristi Tauti is returning to the competitive stage after having a baby. She stayed in great shape during her pregnancy and will be a top contender here. Kim Sheppard looked good last weekend and could break into the top spots this time around. Ann Titone will look to recapture some of the momentum she built in Orlando and return to the top three once again.

2012 IFBB Optimum Classic Pro Women’s Figure
1. Yolanda Alvarado
2. Thea Erichsen
3. Tara Hollingsworth
4. Anissa Payne
5. Eleni Plakitsi
6. Kim Sheppard
7. Monica Specking
8. Kristi Tauti
9. Ann Titone
10. Rosalind Vanterpool

Visit: www.optimumfitness.com for more information.

2012 NPC Pittsburgh Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini & Physique Championships & IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Bikini, Figure & Fitness will take place this weekend and it’s shaping up to be a record breaking event.

The NPC show is one of the only national qualifiers where you will be judged by head NPC and IFBB judges. It looks to be a record breaking event with over 275 competitors entered. Those in attendance will see champion bodybuilders Phil Heath, Jay Cutler, Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren Kai Greene, Dennis Wolfe, and more guest pose at the night show. A number of vendors will be on hand providing supplement samples at the venue.

Prejudging begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday May 5, 2012.

Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust
4141 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

HARDBODY 411:
This is a great group of women and each division will be highly competitive. The winner of each division will receive an Olympia invite and the top five will collect points towards a trip to the Olympia.

FITNESS:
Despite the low turn out we should see some entertaining routines. I look for Danielle Ruban to be in the top spot for the 2-piece round with Jodi Boam leading the way in the routines. Whitney Jones will be making her pro debut and will be looking for an Olympia birth the first time out of the gate. Another new-comer is Fiona Harris who competed at the 2012 Arnold Amateur earlier this year. Kizzy Vaines and Boam are the only competitors with a pro win in this line-up. The women of Canada stepped up for this show and props to them for competing. If more women don’t enter future shows, promoters will no longer add the division to their shows.

IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Fitness Competitors
1. Jodi Boam (Ontario, Canada)
2. Allison Ethier (Quebec, Canada)
3. Fiona Harris (Ontario, Canada)
4. Michelle Gales (Union City, Georgia)
5. Whitney Jones (Chandler, Arizona)
6. Danielle Ruban (Ontario, Canada)
7. Kizzy Vaines (United Kingdom)
8. Nikki Venzara (Orlando, Florida)
9. Sheri Vucick (Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington)

FIGURE:
The top five here will be competitive. Look for Jamie DeBenard, Candice John, Gennifer Strobo an Ann Titone to be leading the way. I like Chikondi Mseka and Candice Lewis’ physiques and would like to see them compared in that first call-out. If I was a gambling man, I’d put my wager on that being your top six but we’ll have to see if there is a dark horse who can shake things up this weekend.

IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Figure Competitors
1. Natalie Calland (Hilliard, Ohio)
2. Andrea Cantone (Peabody, Massachusetts)
3. Becky Clawson (Columbus, Ohio)
4. Jami DeBernard (Granite Bay, California)
5. Thea Erichsen (Oslo, Norway)
6. Maria Jose Garcia (Spain)
7. Marie Gibbon (Cincinnati, Ohio)
8. Ryan Hays-Althoff (High Point, North Carolina)
9. Tara Hollingsworth (Alabaster, Alabama)
10. Candice John (Trinidad, West Indies)
11. Candice Lewis (Chandler, Arizona)
12. Tamara Montoya (Lake Havasu City, Arizona)
13. Chikondi Mseka (Washington DC)
14. Kiana Phi (Hillsboro, Oregon)
15. Tiffany Procopio (Millersville, Maryland)
16. Tamara Ribeiro-Bailey (Trinidad, West Indies)
17. Kimberly Sheppard (Katy, Texas)
18. Gennifer Strobo (Daytona Beach, Florida)
19. Gloria Tarpley (Gahanna, Ohio)
20. Ann Titone (St. Louis, Missouri)
21. Janet Lynn West (Ellicott City, Maryland)

BIKINI:
This is going to be a very competitive show with leading ladies Jaime Baird and India Paulino as the odds on favorites to take top honors. Look for Tawna Eubanks and Diana Graham to be compared to them in the first call-out. A couple dark horses who could come in and shake things up in their pro debuts… Kristal Martin and Crystal Matthews. Both of these women are taller and have a fresh look. Martin will have one of the best booties in the bikini line-up. Tabitha Klausen and Yeshaira Robles will also be ones to watch at a top five finish. Marcela Tribin has stunning good looks however will have a battle to hang with the top five here. If she crack the top 10 in her pro debut it will be a success. Candy Agundez informed me that she would not be competing in this show.

IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Bikini Competitors
1. Candy Agundez (El Cajon, California)
2. Maria Luisa Baeza-Diaz (Chile)
3. Jaime Baird (Orlando, Florida)
4. Tawna Eubanks (Dallas, Texas)
5. Diana Graham (Duvall, Washington)
6. Brooke Hameier (Spring, Texas)
7. Janet Harding (Yardley, Pennsylvania)
8. Melinda Janiszewski (Atlanta, Georgia)
9. Lexi Kaufman (Dublin, Ohio)
10. Tabitha Klausen Leandri (Madison, Connecticut)
11. Marisa Lee (Atlanta, Georgia)
12. Kristal Martin (Gaithersburg, Maryland)
13. Crystal Matthews (Denver, Colorado)
14. Nicole Moneer (Schaumburg, Illinois)
15. Samantha Morris (Brandon, Florida)
16. Heather Nappi (Novi, Michigan)
17. Khanh Nguyen (Austin, Texas)
18. India Paulino (Pembroke Pines, Florida)
19. Jessica Pendergrast (Auckland, New Zealand)
20. Kristy Robbins (Palm Harbor, Florida)
21. Yeshaira Robles (Bronx, New York)
22. Marcela Tribin (Columbia)

Who do you think will win the divisions?

The IFBB Pros will be heading to Orlando this weekend for the Europa Show of Champions. This year the event will play host to Pro Figure, Women’s Physique, Men’s Physique and Men’s Bodybuilding 212. The ladies are leading the way with the competitor turn out. It appears 20 women will enter the Physique division and 14 are headed to the Figure competition. This could change come show time but regardless it will be a highly competitive line up.

The women’s physique will feature a variety of physiques and if the trend continues look for the Figure and Fitness crossovers to fair better than the female bodybuilders. The figure competition is wide open but don’t be surprised if it’s not a battle between Candice Keene, Cheryl Brown and Ann Titone for the top spots.

2012 Show of Champions Pro Women’s Physique Competitors
1. Ayanna Carroll (Baltimore, Maryland)
2. Beverly DiRenz (Cape Coral, Florida)
3. Roseanne Duvigneaud (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida)
4. Cassandra Floyd (Marietta, Georgia)
5. Aurelia Grozajova (Slovakia)
6. Amanda Harris (Kingston, North Carolia)
7. Cea Anna Kerr (saskatchewan, Canada)
8. Marina Lopez (Aurora, Colorado)
9. Patricia Mello (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
10. Petra Mertl (Czech Republic)
11. Tammy Patnode (Lake Placid, New York)
12. Cindy Phillips-Hodgkinson (Nova Scotia, Canada)
13. Stacy Pillari (Wilmington, North Carolina)
14. Jillian Reville (Ridgefield, Connecticut)
15. Jennifer Robinson (Troy, Alabama)
16. Jordan Seales (Tampa, Florida)
17. Joele Smith (Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
18. Jennifer Smythe (Laurence Harbor, New Jersey)
19. Mikaila Soto (Hanover Park, Illinois)
20. Tessa Wood (North Charleston, South Carolina)

2012 Show of Champions Pro Figure Competitors
1. Ryan Althoff (High Point, North Carolina)
2. Holly Beck (Sarasota, Florida)
3. Cheryl Brown (Sabford, Florida)
4. Melisa Brooke Erickson (Boise, Idaho)
5. Melissa Frederick (North Charleston, South Carolina)
6. Maria Jose Garcia (Spain)
7. Aleisha Hart (Ontario, Canada)
8. Ryan Hays Althoff (High Point, North Carolina)
9. Candice John (Trinidad)
10. Candice Keene (Maitland, Florida)
11. Tamara Ribeiro-Bailey (Trinidad)
12. Kim Tilden (Ontario, Canada)
13. Ann Titone (St. Louis, Missouri)
14. Natalie Waples (Nova Scotia, Canada)

PRIZE MONEY:
Women’s Physique
1. $3,000
2. $1,000
3. $1,000

Figure
1. $3,000
2. $2,000
3. $1,000

EXPO TIMES:
Friday Doors Open at 2pm
Saturday Doors Open at 9am

IFBB PRO MEETINGS
Thursday – 7pm – Peabody Hotel

IFBB PRE-JUDGING
Friday – 3pm – Convention Center

IFBB FINALS
Saturday – 3:30pm – Convention Center

NPC EUROPA PREJUDGING
Friday – 6pm – Convention Center

NPC EUROPA FINALS
Saturday – 11am – Convention Center

For more information visit: www.europaexpo.com

The two newest divisions of the IFBB Pro League will be front and center this weekend in Culver City, California. Ten men and sixteen women have entered the 2012 IFBB Pro Grand Prix and while no Olympia qualifications are up for grabs there’s some cash and bragging rights. This first time pro event, promoted by Jon Lindsay, will be a highly competitive show. There will also be a national qualifying NPC event held in conjunction with the pro event. Our West Coast correspondent, Ron Avidan will be covering the event and tweeting all the call-outs live.

THE HARDBODY 411:
This will be the fourth Women’s Physique Pro show of the year and as you can see by the line up the entrants continue to climb. Karina Nascimento won the first Women’s Physique Pro show and Sara Hurrle took top honors at the second pro show. The two will go head to head at this show but they’ll have a much tougher time than when they took to honors before. This show will have a wide variety of physiques and the judges will have a tough time separating the physiques. We’ll see former bodybuilders like Kris Murrell downsized in her pro debut and a number of fitness competitors making the switch. It’s going to be an interesting show to follow.

IFBB PRO GRAND PRIX WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE:
1. Sara Hurrle (Englewood, Colorado)
2. Donna Jones (Queensland, Australia)
3. Cea Anna Kerr (Saskatchewan, Canada)
4. Marina Lopez (Aurora, Colorado)
5. Tonia Moore (Bellflower, California)
6. Kris Murrell (Glendale, California)
7. Karina Nascimento (Boca Rotan, Florida)
8. Stacy Simons-McDowell (Blackwood, New Jersey)
9. Patricia Mello (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
10. Venus Nguyen (Irvine, California)
11. Carrie Simmons (Marina Del Rey, California)
12. Joele Smith (Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
13. Sabrina Taylor (Oceanside, California)
14. Mascha Tieken (Hillegum, Netherlands)
15. Irina Veselova (Manalapan, New Jersey via Russia)
16. Trish Wood (Roseville, California)

A number of the men who competed in the Men’s Physique division will be back for round two and we’ll see a couple new faces. Matt Christainer took top honors in the first ever show with Alex Carneiro in the runner-up position. Look for the two of them to be in the first call out again here. Ryan Hughes will be stepping on stage for the first time as a pro and don’t be surprised if he’s compared with the two of them for the win.

IFBB PRO GRAND PRIX MEN’S PHYSIQUE:
1. Miguel Aguilar (Temecula, California)
2. Bobby Ashhurst (Scottsdale, Arizona)
3. Alex Carneiro (Arvada, Colorado)
4. Matt Christainer (Schottdale, Arizona)
5. Angel Cordero (Avon, Ohio)
6. Burton Hughes (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida)
7. Ryan Hughes (Rego Park, New York)
8. Collin Humphrey (Highpoint, NC)
9. Tyler Larson (Calvert City, Kentucky)
10. Mark Anthony Wingson (Las Vegas, Nevada)

SHOW INFO:
Saturday, April 14, 2012
VETERAN’S MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
Culver City, CA
Prejudging – 11AM
Finals – 6:30PM

For tickets and more info visit: http://lindsayproductions.com

The first IFBB Pro Fitness event is days away and the line up is one of the most competitive we’ll see all year. It will be interesting to see how the women approach this competition as a number of them will be competing in two weeks at the Fitness International. The most decorated fitness competitor of all-time, Adela Garcia will look to continue her winning ways while others look to begin a reign of their own. Let’s break down the 11 competitors who will take the stage this Saturday in Santa Monica, California.

I sincerely hope we see the judges reward the routines and follow the rule change that was implemented at the end of 2010. It’s my opinion that we didn’t always see the best routine rewarded last year.  All too often the woman with the best physique score ends up placing higher than they should in the routine round. It’s not always the case but if we see the best routines awarded those who win the physique rounds may not win the whole show. It makes it more exciting from a media and fan perspective not knowing who will win until the routines are finished. The fitness routines are the closest thing to showing athleticism the IFBB Pro League has and we’ll see some of the elite perform this Saturday.

2012 IFBB FLEX PRO FITNESS COMPETITORS:
1. Jodi Boam - This Canadian youngster put herself on the map, at least in the pro ranks, last year. She has one of the strongest routines in the competition and continues to refine her physique. She’s without question one of the rising stars in the division. Jodi was 8th at the 2011 Fitness Olympia and will be a contender at the FLEX PRO.. I’d like to see her bring the confidence and strength she did when she competed at the New York Pro. See Jodi’s competition photos here.

2. Myriam Capes - Mimi has changed her physique over the last few years from a little tank to one of balance. It’s common to see Canadian competitors enter the IFBB Pro ranks with more muscle than the judges prefer. This is because they have to pack the muscle on in order to achieve pro status in the Canadian ranks. When I first saw Myriam compete I thought she’d struggle in the pro ranks because of her physique. She proved me wrong and has positioned herself as one of the leading ladies in Fitness. She was third at the Fitness Olympia and will be a contender here. She has one of the best routines and I like when she shows off her strength and gymnastics in her routine. See Myriam’s competition photos here.

3. Bethany Cisternino - Bethany has one of the best physiques in this line up and if she’s in shape she will be in the first call out. She has impressive gymnastic skills and her routines continue to improve. If she brings her best to the stage she’ll be a contender here. I could see her winning the physique round and then it’s all down to how she performs her routine. She was 7th at the 2011 Fitness Olympia. See Bethany’s competition photos here.

4. Allison Either - Allison has been up in down in her placings as a pro. She’s finished in the top five but yet to move up higher than fifth. She continues to streamline her physique and her routines are improving. She’ll have her work cut out for here in this line up and if she finishes in the top five, I’d consider that a successful debut to the 2011 season. She has the moves in her routines to do well, it’s just a matter of them all being choreographed in a successful manner. See Allison’s competition photos here.

5. Adela Garcia - Adela is coming off another Fitness Olympia win and it’s been years since she’s finished out of the top spot. She was sidelined in 2008 with what many thought would be a career ending injury. Adela battled back and has won 8 shows in a row. Can she make it 9? If you ask her she will say of course chico. Adela will be in the top callout for the physique round and then we’ll see what she brings to the routine. It will likely include some Latin flare and her flying around the stage. She’s definitely the one with a target on her back and the one every competitor is looking to take out of the winner’s circle. See Adela’s competition photos here.

6. Oksana Grishina - Oksana has become one of the industry’s favorites amongst fans. She always performs a creative routine and last year we saw her showcase the “Avatar” themed routine. She’s struggled in the physique rounds over the years. She used to come in way too muscular and hard. Oksansa has managed to balance her physique and give the illusion of a tinier waist. She’ll be in shape and we’ll await what routine she has in store for the 2012 season. She performs moves with such ease that people often overlook the difficulty. Some of the naysayers said her routine was too slow for the pro ranks but that’s not the case any more. She’s got a chance to move up from her 5th place Olympia finish. See Oksana’s competition photos here.

7. Paula Gulman-Williams - Paula turned pro at the 2011 NPC JR USA. She’s wanted a chance to compete against the best in the world of fitness and now she has her chance. She definitely brings energy to the stage when she performs. This will be her IFBB Pro debut and nothing like jumping into the deep end of the pool to kick off your pro career. I don’t see Paula cracking the top five here but we’ll have to wait and see what she brings to the stage. See Paula’s competition photos.

8. Tanji Johnson - Tanji has been the bridesmaid more times than she likely cares to count. It used to be a question of if Tanji would be in shape for the show but she’s been consistent over the last few years there. She brings an entertaining routine to the stage most of the time. Many people weren’t big fans of her “save fitness” routine with the telephone booth but they did enjoy the STOMP routine. If she brings a solid routine and a conditioned physique to the stage she could take over the number one spot headed into the Arnold. It would certainly make for an interesting Fitness International if she does. Look for Tanji to have the eye of the tiger and she looks move out of Adela’s shadow. See Tanji’s competition photos here.

9. Michelle Mayberry - Michelle has been up and down and all over the map in her placings. She has had trouble with her tanning in the past but looked to have figure that out in her recent outings. She’s also showed that how you wear your hair can make a difference in how you stand out from the competition. She has a balance physique and if she can crack the top five here it will be a successful show for her. It won’t be easy given the competition but it will be good to see her back on the fitness stage. See Michelle’s competition photos here.

10. Camala Rodriquez - Camala is a bit of an “X-Factor” in this show. She’s been in the winner’s circle before and then other times she’s out of the top spots. Which Camala will show up in California? She’s been working under the eye of Mike Davies and we’ll have to see if that makes a difference in her physique. When she comes in conditioned she has the physique to hang in the top spots. If she has too much muscle or not in shape she’ll be on the sidelines of the top call-out. I’d like to see her incorporate more of her dance background into her routines. She’s been a dancer for David Guetta but you’d never know it from her routines. We’ll have to wait and see what she brings to the stage as she could be in the top spots or the bottom of the pack. See Camala’s competition photos.

11. Sheri Vucick - This will be Sheri’s pro debut and she has the potential to make an immediate impact on the pro ranks. She was a champion in another organization dating all the way back to 2003. This mom of two will make the trip to Cali in hopes of continuing the success she found at the 2011 Team Universe, where she achieved IFBB pro status. She was the overall champ at the ’11 NPC Emerald Cup and the Team Universe. I liked the routine she brought to the stage last year and she’s a welcome addition to the pro ranks. See Sheri’s competition photos here.

We’ll be there covering the action and you can follow the call-outs live and commentary on twitter. The hashtag will be #FLEXPRO for the show, so use that when referring to the show and following the coverage. Prejudging and Finals are on February 18, 2012. For more information on the show visit flexprochampionships.com.

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

There’s one chance left for the women of the IFBB Pro Bikini division to qualify for the the 2012 Olympia (this year) and it takes place on December 10, 2011. Promoter, Jarka has put up huge prize money for this event ($20,000) for Bikini alone. There are currently 12 women signed up to compete in this event but look for a few more to be added this week. Top 3 Olympian, Dianna Dahlgren has pulled out of the show due to an illness which leave the door wide open on who will be crowned the champ. This is a significant show to note as its the last competition where the top three will qualify for the Olympia. Beginning in 2012, only the winner of each show will qualify.

2011 IFBB Florida Pro Bikini Competitors:
Theresa Bryne
Missy Coles
Juliana Daniell
Kim DeArcangelis
Brittany Gaylord
Bernadett Matassa
Heather Nappi
Khanh Nguyen
Figen Oezdemir
India Paulino
Tianna Ta
Brittany Tacy

Schedule of Events:
Friday, December 9, 2011 – (Eden Roc Hotel)
4pm Bikini Meeting
4:30pm Master Meeting
5pm Press Conference Meeting-Masters

Saturday, December 10, 2011 – The Fillmore
10am – Sports & Fitness Expo
11am – Prejudging Bikini & Bodybuilding
Meet the Pros – immediately following prejudging
7pm – Finals

Event:
The Fillmore Miami Beach At the Jackie Gleason Theater
1700 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Get tickets: http://www.fillmoremb.com/index

Host Hotel:
Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach
4525 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33140 USA

More Info: http://www.jarkasgym.com/ifbb.html

This weekend 17 IFBB Figure pros will head to San Diego, California for the Border States competition. Promoter Jon Lindsay always does a great job with his pro shows that are held in conjunction with a National Qualifying NPC event. Our West Coast correspondent Ron “Yogi” Avidan will be in attendance and keeping us updated on the action. Things get started at the Scottish Rite Event Center at 11am with the prejudging and the finals will begin at 6:30pm.

The Hardbody Breakdown:
This is one of the last IFBB Figure competitions where the top three women will qualify for the 2012 Olympia. Teresa Anthony and Jami DeBenard are already qualified so we could potentially see one additional woman qualify in this line up.

Leading Contenders:
Teresa Anthony has found her groove and don’t look for her to slow down here. She’s coming off a win at the Houston Pro where she narrowly defeated Jelena Abbou. Look for her to be in the top call-out and compared for her third pro victory and second win in a row. She’s also the defending champion and looking to retain her title.

Krissy Chin came close to qualifying at the Houston Pro and many felt she was at her all-time best, or close to it. She should be in the hunt once again but cracking the top three won’t be a walk in the park. Look for her to be in the top five but where is the question.

Jami DeBenard has been on a roll since turning pro at the 2011 NPC USA. She’s already qualified for the 2012 Figure Olympia with her third place finish at the Houston Pro so the pressure is off her to land in the top three. She’ll of course be gunning for her first pro win. The judges like what she’s bringing to the stage and look for her to be in the top call-out once again.

Candice Lewis made her pro debut at the 2011 Ft. Lauderdale Cup and showed tons of potential. She was the overall winner at this year’s Jr. Nationals and has the genetics to be a contender in the pro division. Her lower body needed to be a little tighter, specifically her quads to match her upper body at her debut. If she comes in tiny bit tighter in the lower body, don’t be surprised if you see her in the top three.

Potential Contenders:
Jaime Cash may not be a name that you are familiar with however Jaime Meade might be. We interviewed her back in 2008 before she turned pro, if you missed it check it out here. She’s since left her goats behind, been remarried and ready to hit the pro stage again. She was 14th at the 2010 Phoenix Pro, her IFBB debut. She has the genetics to do well but we’ll have to see how the time away from the stage has served her.

Crystal Chiles was 6th at this show last year and if she comes in a bit tighter from behind she could be in the hunt here. I look for her to be in the first or second call-out and the potential to be in the hunt for a qualification if she’s on the money.

Meriza DeGuzman-Ciccone is shown on the poster as a co-emcee so she might be joining her husband Pete at the microphone after she ditches her posing suit at the finals. Meriza has been up and down in the Figure division and has yet to crack the top five in her last few shows. She’s one of the shorter competitors will could work against her in this line up. At times she comes in too hard and it hurts her. That’s the tricky part of being a shorty. If you come in too soft it can often make you look out of condition to the taller women, come in too lean and you look jacked. We’ll see what she brings this time around.

Allison Frahn continues to get favorable call-outs however I gotta say I don’t see it. It’s nothing personal however when you see striations in a figure competitor’s glutes I don’t think that should be rewarded. She was fifth at the Houston Pro but you’ll see a different set of judges at this show. We’ll see where she fares but don’t be shocked if she is in the first call-out or two.

Natalie Waples was left out of the call-outs in Houston when she should have been in the top ten. Unfortunately for her she has a 16th place finish on her resume at no fault of her own. She should finish in the top 10 here and could potentially be in the hunt for the top five. She’ll have her work cut out for her to get into that top three and return to the Olympia but never say never.

Competitor of Note:
Rosalind Vanterpool has a sic physique however it’s often “too muscular” for Figure. She’ll likely be told the same thing here unless she’s stripped some muscle off. She’s someone who I think could come in how she has at previous shows and do well in the upcoming IFBB Women’s Physique division.

We’ll see how things turn out on Saturday October 29, 2011. For more information and tickets visit MuscleContest.com.