The 2009 Flex Bikini Model search took place at the Olympia expo hall with close to 100 women entering the event. Maybe I’ve seen too many NPC bikini events this year and I’m jaded but I was a bit disappointed in the overall quality of competition. There were a number of very pretty faces and attractive women. That doesn’t necessarily equate to a fitness model and spokesperson. Where the women fell short was in the booty. Very, very few women had the butt that they’d need to be a winner in this competition, at least in my opinion. I was enlightened to the variety of fake breasts on the market today. It was baffling to see some women have almost circus sized augmentation. If you don’t believe me just check out the gallery from the event. While a good boob job can help with modeling and balancing out a physique going over-the-top mondo circus boobs will hurt you in modeling, well at least fitness modeling… Again just my opinion and from a photographer’s point of view.
Stage presence was also lacking with many of the women. If you’re going to enter a contest like this show confidence, have a flattering swimsuit and be in shape. Especially DA BOOTY. Don’t over do it and leave the judges scratching their heads wondering WTF was that? I think your winner will come from one of the online winners when the dust clears today. I have my favorites but will keep that on the DL until later. The judges for the contest included a number of people from WEIDER publications and NFL great Bill Romanowski. That was pretty cool to see Romo getting in on the judging. We’ll see how it plays out this afternoon on the expo hall. Follow the HARDBODYNEWS twitter for the action.
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I totally agree with you … it was lacking in quality girls, and from what I can tell in pics … the presentation wasn’t up to par either. However, I did see a few that had a great face, body and a tight booty too!
Ditto Stacy. Some very deserving girls in there, but not as many as I was expecting to see. And some…woah.
WOW! I just went through all the pictures, some of these women lack no confidence to be up there where they had no business!!! WOW! I wish I had that confidence!!hehe Also ya the boobs, I have often thought about doing mine but looking at some of these gals really makes me say no thanks! To be nice there were some girls out there that looked really good and showed they did work for what they had!
Are “circus” sized breast implants EVER a good thing??? (With the porn industry being an exception) LOL
I agree also that the caliber of women in this contest wasn’t the best, with exceptions. It’s hard not to be biased when we’ve been exposed to so many pretty faces & hardbodies with the induction of the bikini division in the NPC.
However, keep in mind it is an “amateur” contest, and with that said, I was a little confused why a leading bikini pro (Latona) was participating. She is THE hottest pro bikini model and I felt this competition was a little “below her pay scale.” But of course a most deserving win.
It wasn’t an amateur bikini contest. It was a contest to win a WEIDER contract and get some big time exposure. Amanda’s status had nothing to do with this contest. Michele, the girl who took 5th is also an IFBB Pro. This was a contest put on by FLEX MAGAZINE. If you’re going to compete in a contest to become a spokesmodel (YES KNOW HOW TO SPEAK) and a FITNESS / MUSCLE magazine you gotta look the part.
I was happy with the top 5 and even the top 16 looked good. It’s the nature of the beast when it comes to open competitions when all that is required is an entry fee.
Amanda deserved to win and it was hardly below her pay scale. Look for her to continue to do great things. She has star quality, something few have.
I stand corrected
And I couldn’t agree more she deserved the win and she’s star quality!
I just looked through the pix. Some girls looked good but some were way bad.
Didn’t they get the memo that they should at least “workout”? Too much cellulite going on for my liking! And lots of PALE cellulite…ewww!
Wow… i’m glad i know better than to step on stage in a bikini! Kudos to the guts (figurative, of course) of the girls who got up there even though they had no business doing so. It is too bad that all they have to do is pay a fee to get on stage. Naturally the girls who deserved to be recognized were, but it’s a shame to put such an amateur event next to the biggest event in the industry.
I don’t think it’s a shame at all. It’s an opportunity for those who wouldn’t normally have a chance at getting recognized a chance to do so. Like an open casting call you’re going to get all types.
The final lineup looked great and you’re bound to have some people not so fit and delusional on their level of fitness.
I was last year’s winner and was able to judge this year.
All the comments made were right on the Money…
Smiles
Can you say trainwreck? Wow! There should be some kind of prequalification with legitimate criteria to step on the stage.