Hardbody – Female Sports, Health and Fitness

You’ve seen Dianna on here before and if you’re headed to the Olympia you can meet her at the FLEX booth. Dianna is a new, fresh face on the NPC scene. She’s a full-time model and does it well. It looks like this competitive little hardbody may be adding a new title to her resume tonight. Dianna rocked the hardbody on stage during the NPC Team Universe contest and was one of the few women with abs. Will she leave New York an IFBB Pro? If I were to wager on it, I’d be tempted to go all-in. We’ll find out in a few hours when the awards are announced.

I had a chance to shoot with Dianna yesterday and she proved once again that she is one to watch. Mark my words, you will be seeing more of this woman in the months to come.

Dianna chill’n in NYC before her competition.

Keep your eye on this hardbody, like it’s much of a chore to do.

I  met Tiffany Michelle Upshaw last month at the Europa Super Show and she was memorable. Chat with her for a couple minutes and you’ll know why. Mr. Optimum Nutrition Man, Bob Corbett introduced me to her as she was there working their (ON/ABB) expo booth. Tiffany has a fresh face with a great physique but it is her out-going, sassy personality that made her stand out. Looks will only take you so far in the fitness industry and Tiffany is the perfect example that if you have a personality to compliment the looks, people take notice. Ms. Upshaw calls Florida home and recently made her way onto the NPC stage for the first time. I caught up with her to find out how she did and what’s next.

Occupation:
Student, Soon to Be Realtor… AGAIN! ON/ABB Athlete

Realtor “again” Why again and why now with the economy for real estate in the crapper?
I became licensed when I was 19 so my age was a downfall for me. I had clients that would ask about my age, etc and I always felt like, “What does that matter? I can do what a 47yr old Realtor can!” The economy was also a downfall as well. I am choosing to do real estate again because I am older and the partner I will have is one of THE top realtors in Luxury Real Estate in Naples, FL and I want to soak up any and all knowledge from him, Patrick Dearborn of John R. Wood Realtors.

How did you get into the industry and become an ON/ABB Athlete?
Actually, on MySpace!! Neat, huh? Crazy, I thought it was spam or something and then when I actually got emailed a contract I was like …WOW, this is really really real!

Bob shared a similar story saying he accepted your “friend request” and checked out your profile and photos. He liked your look at thought you had a chance to be something special in the world of fitness, so he took a chance and signed you up. He went on to share, “Everyone at the office liked her potential too.” You’re doing something right because he said, “She’s worked very hard representing our company with class and determination and we’re very proud of her win at the show!”

Tiffany and Jessica at the ON/ABB booth.

Number of NPC shows:
1/1 !!! Did 1 show & WON 1 SHOW!

Congrats. What was the show and what did you win?
2009 Royal Palm Classic: Bodybuilding, Figure & Bikini Championships – 1st Place, Bikini Short Class

What made you decide to compete?
I became endorsed by Optimum Nutrition & American Bodybuilding last October and wanted to live up to my endorsement but then also attain a goal in a different area other than beauty pageants and modeling.

You mentioned beauty pageants and modeling. Have you done either and what do you say to people who think bikini is nothing more than a fit pageant?
I’ve done beauty pageants for the past 17 years; since I was literally before the age of 1 and I won my first one! Bikini is sexy, sassy but yet STILL should remain classy. It is a contest of the fittest, sexiest, most appealing and of course beautiful.

When you put it that way, bikini is right up your alley. Any tips for women considering competing but unsure about it?
GO FOR IT! It is a great way to build self-confidence, get into beach ready shape and you have the ability to turn Pro!

What’s next for ya?
NPC National Bodybuilding and Figure Championships – Fort Lauderdale, Florida – November 20-21, 2009

Tiffany has the look.

What’s the weirdest/funniest thing you’ve seen while working an expo booth?
Hmm…have YET to see something crazy – maybe at the Mr. Olympia this year in Vegas!?

Um Ya. There’s pretty good odds on that happening. Not as good as the Arnold but still up there.

Goals for the future in the fitness industry?
I would love to earn my Pro Card in Bikini and continue my amazing endorsement with ON/ABB!

What’s your favorite Optiumum Supplement?
Chocolate Coconut 100% Whey Protein because it tastes amazing blended with a banana and peanut butter or even just by itself.

Stop by the Optimum booth at this year’s Olympia and meet Tiffany. You can read more about her and see more photos of her on her bodyspace profile. Congratulations Tiffany and best of luck in the years ahead.

Keep your eye on this little lady. She’s one of the fresh faces of the NPC.
Dianna Dahlgren won her class in the Los Angeles NPC Bikini and placed fourth in her class at the NPC USA contest. She’s establishing herself as a model off stage. Dianna tells me she’s been modeling for years and after I photographed her last month, it showed. I can’t post any of the images just yet of her as the pictures were for a magazine but you can check out Dianna’s profile on MAXIM.com.

(Via Maxim.com – Courtesy of Monster Energy Supercross
photos by Frank Hoppen and Simon Cudby)

Name: Dianna Dahlgren
Born: Fallbrook, CA
Current Residence: Wildomar, California
Hobbies: Love the river, the desert to ride my motorcycle and I also love going to the mountains like Mammoth or Utah to go snowboarding!!!!!
Sports: I’m not a court sports girl, I love extreme sports only!!!!
Motto: My favorite saying ‘Never Give Up, Keep striving to do and be your best!’

She’ll be competing again next month at Team Universe in the bikini division and should fair well. Dianna will also be at the Olympia next month.

I caught up with Nicole for a quick photo shoot tonight in Orlando. While we didn’t have much time or light to work with we managed to have some fun and get some good shots. Nicole is becoming one of the top fitness models in the industry and you will be seeing a lot more of her this year. Nicole is able to provide a number of different looks which is an added bonus for any aspiring model. She’s definitely one of the Fresh Faces of Fitness.

Here’s a sneak peak at some of the shots from tonight.

Nicole Wilkins-Lee in Orlando, Florida.

Trio of USA Champs head to the Sacramento Pro.

A trio of NPC USA Figure champs will make their pro debut this weekend. I caught up with Jamie Ford, Mendi Sakamoto and Kristin Nunn to get their thoughts on a few things leading into the show. Check out the preview and their interviews on FLEXonline.com.

111 of you voted in the HARDBODY poll and 45% of you felt Jamie would place the highest. Will our viewers be correct or will Mendi and Kristin prove the majority wrong? Stay tuned for more coverage from Sacramento through out the weekend.

Julie Ann Kulla joined the ranks of the IFBB by winning the 2008 NPC Jr. Nationals overall figure title. She hails out of Minnesooooooota. Yes you have to do your worst FARGO impersonation when you say Minnesota. This little china doll works as a graphic designer and you’ll probably see some of her work at the Olympia. Julie Ann works with one of the biggest trade show booth companies. I had the chance to chat with her after her win at Jr. Nationals and she is a pleasure to be around. We spoke a bit more at the NPC USAs where we did a quick shoot. Despite the stupid hot temperatures, we were able to get a few good shots. Julie Ann is a a natural in front of the camera, takes direction well and isn’t afraid to turn on “the look”. She’ll be making her pro debut at this year’s NY PRO Figure contest, which is held in conjunction with the Team Universe. Don’t be surprised if you see her qualifying for the Olympia her first time out.

Julie Ann Kulla has her sights set on her pro debut.

The beautiful Rachel Cammon will be one to watch. She’s currently prepping for her second NPC figure show, the NPC Colorado State. Rachel has the look that will not only do well on stage but also in the modeling side of things. When we shot after her first show she literally stopped traffic. A poor observer on a motorcycle ran into the back of a car while we were rapping up the shoot. He was so busy looking at Rachel hanging from a tree limb that he failed to see the light had changed red. The guy was okay and more embarrassed than anything. Hey, can’t fault the guy for checking out a face and physique like this.

This is one of the many gym shots we took at Heather and Dylan Armbrust’s gym.

Rachel Cammon strikes a pose at Armbrust Pro Gym in Denver, Colorado.

Hailing out of Illinois, former track star Alicia Harris will be one to watch at the 2008 Figure Championships in Las Vegas. Miss Harris finished fourth in the D Class at last weekend’s NPC Jr. Nationals and looked great. She has an adorable face, contagious smile and a physique to match it. Alicia was a competitor who improved from Friday night’s prejudging into Saturday’s event. She was 6th going into the second day of prejudging but jumped to second in her two piece.

When I spoke with Alicia on Sunday I asked her if she had played sports because she has a very sporty look to her. Great skin, pretty face and athletic body – the kind you would see in a Nike commercial. Turns out my assessment or assumption, which ever you prefer, was correct. She ran the 200 & 400 meters with times faster than many men. Smiley was even the Ohio Valley Athlete of the year for indoor track during her junior year.

Alicia with fellow competitor Gale Elle backstage in Chicago.

Alicia was kind enough to answer a few questions and share a bit more about herself:

Any nicknames?
Smiley, Sister (Brother calls me that), Renee, Penny (some I remind them of Janet Jackson-penny off of Good Times)

How did you get into competing in figure – what’s your background?
Jennifer Cowan, a Collegiate Track and Field teammate of mine is a figure/bodybuilding competitor and I felt that it was something that I could do well in. Also, working in fitness centers, I was surrounded by competitors.

Do you think you could beat me in the 200m?
I am pretty confident in my abilities, so yes, I think I could beat you (Isaac) in the 200 … Bring on the 400m that was my favorite!

What’s one thing people may not know about Alicia Harris but should?
I love football. If I was 100 pounds heavier maybe 7 inches taller and a MAN, I would be in the NFL!

What’s the secret to keeping your skin looking healthy while dieting?
I have always been blessed with good skin. I don’t really do anything special. I just wash make up off if I put it on.

Did your diet change from track and field to what you do as a figure competitor?
Diet from track and field was horrible! If I knew back then what I know now, I would have been in much better shape. During Track and Field it was the complete opposite of what I eat now, pasta and carbs for days!! In the past I wasn’t a big protein eater for some reason. I would shock my body with sugar though before my races, straight honey.

Favorite Supplement and why?
I don’t really take too many supplements to pick and choose favorites, but I do drink Ergo pharm’s Pineapple Mango Whey Protein drink, and I love it!

Thanks Alicia and good luck in Vegas!

Alicia on stage in Chicago.

Celeste Gonzalez may have placed out of the top spot at the IFBB Cal Pro figure competition but this Spanish beauty is one to watch. I caught up with Celeste this evening for a photo shoot and she was a natural in front of the camera. Thanks to FLEX magazine’s Senior Editor, Allan Donnelly for being my semi-translator during the shoot. We ended the evening with dinner at Jerry’s where Celeste enjoyed chicken parmesan and sweet potato fries. Here’s a glimpse at this beautiful woman from the Canary Islands.

Stunning Celeste in Los Angeles after the IFBB Cal Pro.

Lenay won the overall figure title last weekend in Charleston and deservedly so. She is now an IFBB Figure pro and one that could find herself on the Olympia stage before the year is over. She has a great look to her and is full of energy. I’ll be profiling her more here and on other sites but you might recall we profiled her here on hardbody.com months ago. The win in Charleston was only her second show and proof to those who say you “must pay your dues”… you’re out to lunch.

I had the chance to shoot with Lenay on Sunday morning and we had a blast. It was her first photo shoot and I look forward to shooting with her again soon. Here are a couple preview photos from the shoot. I included one where she is busting out laughing as it was a common theme throughout our morning. A big thanks to one of the best makeup artists in the biz, Laurie St. Michael. She hooked up Lenay’s makeup before 8am… talk about a trooper. She did a great job and I highly recommend women use her for shows and shoots.

Lenay, the newest IFBB Figure Pro.

Having some fun during our shoots. Lenay is a joy to work with.
Lenay has a great future ahead of her.

The road to the top has been fun for this Miami darling.

This is a fresh face you’re sure to see more of in the months ahead. Her dream of competing with Paola came true sooner than expected. Congrats!

The prejudging has ended and the top three will be Amy Fry, Nicole Wilkins and Teresa Anthony. It most likely be in that order. They are all three great but I am most impressed with the pro debut of Ms. Anthony. She will most likely qualify for the Olympia her first time out. Very impressive showing. Nicole and Amy are both beautiful. The tall girls ruled this morning. The remaining top five are a toss up but it looks like Shannon Meteraud and Heather Mae French will get the nod. Huong Arcinas looked great despite being the shortest competitor on stage. Heather Green should place in the top ten as well as Catherine Andersen. I’ll report more later when back to the hotel. The ladies all came in softer and definitely listened to the mandate. Check out the photos on flexonline.com later.

Rachel recently competed in the NPC Northern Colorado and won her class. That was her first show and she looked amazing. So much so that I knew I had to shoot with her as she has “the look”. We met up at Colorado Pro Gym, which (as you read here) is run by Dylan and Heather Armbrust. They are cleaning the gym up and making it look incredible. It has some of the best lighting for gym shoots and today was no exception.

Rachel demonstrating a few exercises in the gym.

Today, I asked Rachel what she does for cardio and she said, “I chase tumble weeds in Wyoming. Those lil’ fauckers are fast.” Not only is she a fresh face to watch in the coming months but she also has a witty personality. This 25-year old rising star works full-time in pharmaceutical sales. You’ll be seeing a lot more of her around and don’t be surprised if you see her in a few magazines.

Rachel showing off her killer physique on a warm Denver day.

Lindsey Szvetits will be one to watch this year. Stay tuned…

Lindsey Szvetits will be revealing much more in ‘08.

“Fresh Faces” is a new segment we’re starting on HARDBODY.com in the new year. I’m kicking this one off a little early but she is worthy off mention long before now. Fresh Faces will focus on the women who are not only have tremendous potential in their physiques but also in their attitude and marketability.

Catherine Andersen the day after turning pro in Las Vegas.

My first choice for Fresh Faces is IFBB Figure Pro, Catherine Andersen. Catherine is one of my favorite competitors of the year for a number of reasons. I had the chance to meet Catherine at the 2007 NPC USAs, where she won the Figure Class E as well as the overall figure title. She has an incredible physique but what was really refreshing about Catherine was her personality. She is a very positive, upbeat and funny woman to be around. She is exactly the type of woman that represents the IFBB to its best. A thoughtful, well-spoken, articulate competitor with a personality… wow what a concept! If you are a company owner, Catherine Andersen is the woman you want as your spokesperson.

Catherine getting a few tips from one of the industry’s best,
Lonnie “The Swami” Teper. PS – Catherine, The Swami is
still waiting for that game of HORSE.

Catherine sharing a laugh with NPC photographer JM Manion
and men’s overall winner, Ben White, during a photo shoot.

There is a strong possibility you will see Catherine make her IFBB pro debut at the Arnold Classic. The lists have not been released yet but I’d be shocked not to see her in the mix. Catherine has a new web site that shares more about her and her background. If you’re a female in the Wisconsin area check out her women only boot camps. Stop by catherineandersen.com and tell her HARDBODY.com sent ya. Make sure you spell her last name as “ANDERSEN” not “ANDERSON”.