Valerie “The Charging Rhino” Waugaman is making a name for herself off the competitive stage. Val who plays “Siren” continues to get some love from various newspapers across the country. Ya gotta give the woman props, she is accomplishing her goals.
FROM THE BALTIMORE SUN:
When you look at Siren on American Gladiators, besides the costume and the intimidating look, you’re sure to notice the sculpted muscles.
Valerie Waugaman sees fat.
“The camera really does add 10 pounds,” says Waugaman, the 29-year-old Cleveland resident who plays Siren on the NBC series. But she is not going to turn into some timid little birdie; she is very fitness-conscious.
>> Read Full Story Here.
Check out the second cover of Iron Sirens. Featured on the cover is Ms. Fitness Olympia, Adela Garcia. Her villain, Sonia Adcock, will make her comic debut in this issue as well. The ladies will both be working the GNC booth during the Arnold Classic. Stop by the GNC or NPC booth to get your autographed copy.
I spoke with one of Texas’ finest, Ms. Natalie Benson today to catch up on what’s happening in her world. She tells me she is feeling great and counting down the days to rock the Arnold stage. When I asked her what fans might expect to see on stage this year she said, “I’ll be a bit smaller than the Olympia.” Natalie will be sporting new competition suits made by Sylvia Tremblay.
Check out the newest Muscle Mag International where Natalie gets a little love from columnist, Larry Pepe. Natalie also has a number of shoots planned around the Arnold Classic time, which we can expect to see in various magazines in the coming months. I’ll be featuring Natalie in an upcoming bodybuilding.com interview in a few weeks. Any competitor who is interested in having their makeup done by one of today’s top IFBB Pros - Natalie is available. Her website (nataliebenson.com) is nearing completion and will have full details on her contest services.
Natalie at the Europa Supershow 2007.
The Arnold Classic Website has been updated with photos of all of the competitors that will be on stage at the 2008 Arnold Classic Invitational.
Check out the Fitnesss Athletes Here
Photo JM Manion
Check out the Figure Athletes Here
Photo JM Manion
American Gladiator hopefuls will get another chance to try out for the NBC show at the Fit Expo on Los Angles. The tryouts will be held on February 16 & 17th from 10am-4pm both days. For more information visit: www.thefitexpo.com
JM Manion has been working hard with his team on the second issue of Iron Sirens. You saw the cover of the debut issue here first. Now we’re giving you a sneak peek at the first five pages of the second issue. The issue will premiere at the 2008 Arnold Classic and will feature the introduction of a new villian. This new character is out to kick Adela Garcia’s booty. Will it happen? Who is the new character? I’ll give ya a hint. She’s another attractive IFBB pro. Adela and her villian will both be at the Arnold Classic. They will follow it up with a comic convention in April if all things go as planned. Iron Sirens writer, Ian Ascher will also be in attendance at the Pittsburgh Comic-Con.
You heard it here first comic book fans!
Meriza had a breakout year in 2007, battling her way through the NPC Figure A class, turning pro and gracing the Olympia stage all in the same year. It will be tough to top a year like that but it looks like she’s well on her way. As I reported earlier, Meriza has a new DVD out which has been getting a good deal of interest. She tells me there’s much more happening with her than that. Meriza is a personal trainer and that has been going very well for her. Last months she received a sponsorship with MANSPORTS.
Earlier this month she signed with Fitness Management Group. Meriza said her new manager (JM Manion) helped her plan her 2008 competitive season and is excited to have his guidance. She will begin the year at the California Pro followed by the Houston Pro, Europa and Tournament of Champions. As with most figure competitors, she hopes to be on the Olympia stage in September.
I asked her how her off-season went and she said, “My off-season has been really great…no injuries, gained good quality weight, trained my brains out too…So hopefully I will have a better chance to stand next to our BIGGER Pro girls!lol!”
Meriza is a consistent competitor with great potential and she’s fairly amusing when eating out with her and her boyfriend Pete.
Hardbody’s Cali man, Ron Avidan was on the scene this past weekend for the American Gladiator’s tryouts. Ron reports that IFBB Pro competitors Julie Childs, Mary Jo Cooke and Zhanna Rotar all tried out and did well. I spoke with FLEX magazine Senior Writer, Allan Donnelly who said the scene was total madness. Thousands of people lined up for their chance to become the next contestant or American Gladiator. Tryouts will be held in various cities this weekend. There are a few NPC competitors in the Denver area who have expressed an interest and I know a hot little fitness diva in Texas who is planning on rocking the tryouts in Austin. Stay tuned for photos, videos and more on the American Gladiator tryouts. It’s a strong possibility we’ll see more NPC/IFBB females in the show for season two.
Julie Childs shows off one of her gunz.
Zhanna Rotar and Allan Donnelly at the tryouts in Venice, California.
A big birthday shout out to Amanda Jo Savell. Amanda hit the big 30 today and is spending the day in Texas taking it easy with family. AJ tells me she celebrated her birthday last weekend with close family and friends. Happy Birthday Amanda Jo!
I received this update today from one of the industry’s best suit designers, Christine Marsh. Christine has designed many of the top fitness and figure competitor suits. She is definitely HARDBODY APPROVED.
We want to let you know that we are no longer at the 2160 S. Holly St. location. We have moved to 7500 S. University Blvd., Centennial CO unit #109 in the Dry Creek Center. Our phone number (303.584.0832), email (cmdesigns10587@qwest.net), and website (christinemarshdesigns.com) are all the same.We are now on the southeast corner of Dry Creek Road and University Blvd. The Southglenn Public Library is on the west end of the complex and we are between Dry Creek Discount Liquor and Blackjack Pizza. Arapahoe High School is on the Northwest corner of Dry Creek Road and University Blvd.
Our mailing address is now:
Christine Marsh Designs
P.O. Box 3652
Littleton, CO 80161
Give Christine Marsh a call at 303.584.0832. Tell her HARDBODY sent ya.
Yesterday, I had a chance to chat with one of the shortest competitors in the IFBB ranks. Huong Arcinas is only 4′11″ but don’t let her height fool ya. She has tremendous potential and could fair well in her 2008 IFBB figure season. Huong told me she’ll be competing in the Pittsburgh Pro Figure and then look to do a couple shows closer to home (Northern California). The Pittsburgh show is scheduled for early May and will be here before we know it. When I asked her what she’d been up to she told me “eating and sleeping”. Well, that and caring for her two young children. Yes ladies, you can still have an amazing physique after giving birth. She’s also been busy working as a personal trainer and helping women achieve their fitness goals.
Keep an eye on Huong Arincas this year. If she reaches her potential, we’ll see this her giving the tall ladies a run for their money in every show she enters.
Those of you wondering who will be competing in the amateur portions of the Arnold Classic weekend can now check them out on the Arnold web site. Visit: http://arnoldclassicamateurbodybuilding.com/competitors.html
There will be updates to this list. We were just informed that one of the individuals on the list to compete is now expecting another child. Who might that be? Hmmmmm… We’ll keep ya posted
Another IFBB pro celebrates her birthday today, figure competitor Krissy Chin. Krissy has been busy with a number of things in her life but recently told me she is on track and ready to make some noise in the figure ranks this year. Krissy is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet and she’s one helluva model too. You can stop by the ALRi booth at the Arnold and say hello. She’ll be there working away for a company that has great products.
Look for Krissy’s new web site early next month at www.krissychin.com. Happy Birthday Krissy!
I had a chance to rap with Joe Bayer of HDPhysiques.com about IFBB Figure Pro and American Gladiator Valerie Waugaman. Joe is friends with Val and kind enough to pass along the following information from her. Yes, Waugamaniacs, this is straight from V-Dub…
The reason I am not doing the Arnold is because I really needed the recovery time between Gladiator seasons one and two. There are no particular “acute” injuries, nothing torn, broken, etc… Just wear and tear, especially on the upper body joints, from doing a lot of physical stuff in a short period of time. I kind of relate it to how a football player might feel at the end of a season. This was a very difficult decision and I waited until the very last possible moment to make the decision. I’m really going to miss competing in the Figure International this year - it’s such a wonderful show and it’s in my backyard. I’m definitely not done with competing. I’m hungry for a title and plan on competing more in the future. After consulting with my physical therapist and realizing that I wouldn’t be able to train the way I’d need to train to bring the best Valerie Waugaman to the Arnold stage, I decided that it would be best to continue to recover and get back to 100%. I’m really excited about seeing everyone in Columbus, as I’ll be there working various booths, watching the competition and supporting the other athletes. I’m very proud of my background with the IFBB and continue to talk about that in each interview I do for the Gladiators. Positive mojo! See you in Columbus!
Thanks Joe and Thank you Val for sharing your reasons behind the decision. We look forward to seeing ya at the Arnold Expo!
A big shout out to Heidi Fletcher who celebrates her birthday today. I touched based with Fletch to hear how she was celebrating the big day. She tells me, “I’m watching everyone else eat chicken parmesan and birthday cake but still have my birthday wish”. What that wish is, only she knows but we all wish her the best this year on and off stage. Heidi will be making the 2008 New York Pro Fitness her first show of the year. Eleven weeks and counting till we’ll see her back on stage.
The last time I saw Heidi she at the Cheesecake Factory grabbing some grub. This followed a great showing at the West Palm Beach Pro.
Weeks ago we reported that all of the competitors and models were released from Kemistry/Pinnacle. One of those who felt the cut was HARDBODY friend and top model, Christina Lindley. Christina is a marketable woman and now part of the BSN team.
Christina will be making her debut with them at the Arnold Classic. She’ll be writing articles for their quarterly catalog as well as a weekly blog on the BSN website. The blog will keep fans updated with all the happenings in her life. Christina’s next television apperance will be the Visual Effects Society Awards show in Hollywood, where they wil present Steven Spielberg a lifetime acheivement award. Christina will be there giving out the trophies to some of the winners.
Congrats Christina!
Join IFBB Pro, Carla Sanchez and special guests, to learn top tips to compete at your very best in 2008! PR Competitor Camps cover training and nutritional strategies, nutrient timing and supplementation, judging criteria, stage presentation, competition make-up application, suit selection, body color application, and NEW this year, fitness modeling with Terry and Elaine Goodlad!
WHEN: February 15-17, 2008
WHERE: Denver, CO
Special Guests:
• Jim Rockell, NPC National and IFBB Pro Judge
• Christine Marsh, Christine Marsh Designs
• Jose Antonio, Ph.D., CSCS, FASCM- Leading research advocate in the field of performance nutrition.
• Terry Goodlad, www.bodysport.com Fitness writer and photographer for FLEX, OXYGEN, AMERICAN CURVES and other fitness magazines.
• Elaine Goodlad, www.elainefit.com IFBB Pro, fitness model and professional make-up artist
• David Sandler, MS, CSCS consultant and member of the advisory board for MUSCLE AND FITNESS magazine
For more information and to register, visit: http://www.performanceready.com/pages/seminars.html
One of the industry’s mot popular female competitors has confirmed, she is out of the 2008 Figure International. Monica Brant confirmed with me today that she is in fact out of the line up. Mo has agreed to do an interview at a later date where she will share more details.
Check back for more breaking news that only hardbody.com provides.
Clearly this woman is a competitor, but who is it? Let me know if you know who this is. Part of a series with Ray-Ban sunglasses using the tagline “Never Hide.” The commercial gets more amusing the more you watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbu1_1TGhd8
Beth Horn, well known competitor, model, author and now American Gladiator, opened up her new website. Beth also appears every Monday on American Gladiators as VENOM.
Her new site features a ton of photos spanning all facets of her career as well as an in depth “About Me” section.
Look to learn more about Beth as we interview her later this month.
Make a trip on over to BethHorn.com and tell her HardBody.com sent ya.
