The 2011 New York Pro Figure prejudging has concluded and it looks like IFBB Figure Pro Cheryl Brown will win her third show in a row. Word around the event was that Cheryl was sick and almost didn’t take to the stage. She found her composure and appears to have locked in another victory.

Second place, for the second time in a row and to Cheryl Brown none-the-less, looks to be Heather Dees. Heather was in the brides-maid position in Pittsburgh and will likely end up there again. Third place should go to Alea Saurez. This is only her second show in the figure division as a pro. She had previously competed in bikini. Fourth place looks like it belongs to Larissa Reis. She was also improved from her last show. Rounding out the top five could either be Candice John or Gina Trochiano. I’d give the nod to Candice as she is a little more streamlined. Gina has a good look but doesn’t open up her back when she is posing. If she would open up her back we’d get a better idea for how her symmetry looks.

Jelena Abbou won’t be in the top five based on callouts but I think she’s one of the most strikingly beautiful women in the IFBB. She’s a perfect example of a woman who may not place well but rest assured you’ll see her in more and more magazines because of her looks.

The finals are later tonight. Follow twitter.com/hardbodynews for complete, live coverage.

The 2011 New Pro Bikini prejudging wrapped up and it looks like Florida girl, Ali Rosen will be crowned the queen of bikini. The judges had her front and center in most of the callouts and my guess is she’ll win by a unanimous vote. Ali was in her best conditioning of the year and by far her best presentation as a pro, at least in my opinion.

Second looks to be between last year’s winner, Missy Coles and rookie Pro Abbie Burrows. The two are both improved from their last shows and the judges liked what they presented. I think the judges will go with Coles in second. Personally, I liked Juliana Daniell for second and would have liked to seen her stand next to Ali for a comparison. She could sneak into third but it looks like she could be a lock for 4th. Fifth place appearred to be Brandy Leaver at first but after a few comparisons the judges took a liking to Tianna Ta. It looks like Tianna will end up in fifth. She improve a great deal from her last show and her presentation was her best as a pro today. I thought her abs were a little too lean though and her upper body was harder than her lower body.

The rest of the pack… well some women missed their peak and others just failed to stand out in this tough, competitive field. The finals will take place tonight and we’ll see how things end up. Check back later for more info and follow twitter.com/hardbodynews for live updates.

While twenty plus IFBB Figure women will quarter-turn it out in Cali, 13 will do the same in New York this weekend. Despite there being fewer numbers in the New York Pro Figure, I think the line up is tougher. Mr. Ron “Yogi” Avidan disagrees with me but he would since he’s in California and can drive to the Cal Pro and cover the action. I will be flying to New York on Friday to cover the entire event which includes not only Figure but also Bikini and men’s bodybuilding.

The Hardbody Breakdown:
The favorite heading into this show is Cheryl “Brownie” Brown. She’s already notched two wins to her credit this year and will look to make it three in a row. It won’t come easy for her and we have yet to see if she can hold her peak doing so many shows in a row. I give her credit for improving her physique since teaming up with Kim Oddo but I’ve gotta be honest, I’m still not a big fan of her physique. Luckily for her, I’m not a judge and the judges do favor it.

Heather Dees is hot on Brownie’s tail and could pull up the upset here. She was second at the Pittsburgh Pro in her pro debut and will look to avenge her loss to Cheryl in the Big Apple. Heather streamlined her physique since turning pro and has made an immediate impact on the pro ranks. Jelena Abbou has gone back and forth between the bikini and figure divisions and will try her heels at figure this time. She has an incredibly tiny waist and great shape but hasn’t nailed her conditioning in the glutes and hamstrings. If she can come in sharper there, she could be in the hunt. There’s no question she’ll have the crowd on her side and she’s one stunning woman. Candice John has steadily moved her way up and could be a threat for the top spots here. She’s polished her presentation and appearance and I like it. Charmayne Jackson finished much higher in Louisiana than some may have expected, can she do the same here?

Larissa Reis will look to return to the Olympia stage once again. If she shows up like she did at the Arnold, she’ll be watching the Olympia as a spectator. Personally, I think she fits in line with the new Women’s Physique division but since there are no pro shows for that until next year, we’ll have to wait. She has won a pro figure show before so it’s not out of the picture for her to do so again. Alea Suarez made the switch from Bikini to Figure and it suited her well. She’ll be in the hunt here if she shows up like she did in Pittsburgh.

Gina Trochiano is my dark horse in this show. She has the structure and look for her to be in the top three if she’s on point. I could see her qualifying for the Olympia but it won’t be an easy task. Josie Zamora jumped into the pro scene immediately after her overall win at last year’s Jr. Nationals but has come up short of an Olympia qualifying spot. She could be in the mix but I’d like to see her ditch the Mr. Potato-head looking bright red lipstick and pose with some curves instead of so rigid.

The first round of the NY Pro Fitness division is in the books and it looks to be a between Camala Rodriquez and Bethany Wagner for the win, at least in this round. Camala brought the same look to this stage that she presented at the Arnold. Bethany Wagner came in a bit sharper than she was at the Arnold and is a bit harder than Camala. It’s a matter of personal preference on which one you like for the win in the physique round. I like the look both brought to the stage.

The standout and biggest surprise to me was Special Agent Blank. Michelle straightened her hair and it’s a look that works very well on her. Yes, something as simple as a hair change can make a huge difference. She also brought a tighter physique and wasn’t too muscular like I thought she might be heading into the show. VERY impressive debut and I could see her finishing in the top three if she nails her routine.

Kristina Rojas brought a tighter physique and it landed her in a top spot. It will be between her and Michelle for third and fourth. Kristina really brought her best look this time around. Stacy Wright rounded out the first call-out and looks like she’s in the fifth place spot in her pro debut. I would have liked to see Holly Stuart and Jodi Boam compared to Stacy. I think Jodi is in the sixth place spot heading into the routine round and Holly sits in seventh. Jodi could launch herself into the top five with a solid routine tonight. Holly looked her best ever and added some size and was well conditioned.

PHOTOS:

NY PRO Fitness - 1st Callout

NY PRO Fitness - Second Callout

NY PRO Fitness - Third Callout

Tonight the pro fitness routines kick off the night show. We won’t know the final results until mid-way through the show. I see one and two between Camala and Bethany for the win. Both are capable of the win. I’d have Camala leading on the scorecards but Bethany is capable of winning the routine rounds. Should make things interesting as someone will get that third place spot. Michelle Blank, Kristina or someone else? We’ll find out in just a few hours. Stay tuned for more updates and follow the action live on twitter.com/hardbodynews.

Seventeen women have stepped up to compete in the 2011 New York Pro Fitness. This will be the last chance for women to qualify for the 2011 Fitness Olympia, in the United States. Two more shows remain but are outside of the states. A number of the field will be making their pro debuts and it’s exciting to see what they bring to the pro scene. Jodi Boam is an exciting new-comer out of Canada and one to watch in the routine rounds. Carrie Simmons will bring the New York crowd to feet with her routine if it’s anything like her Team Universe performance. Camala Rodriquez and Bethany Wagner are the two favorites heading into the show based on their previous performances and standings in the big leagues. They were both in the top 6 at the Fitness International, both have pro wins and it could be a showdown between the two of them. Can anyone upset them? Absolutely but we won’t find out until tonight. Here’s my opinion on the field and some things to look for with each competitor.

HARDBODY BREAKDOWN:

Michelle Blank – Special agent Blank is competing in her third fitness show EVER and first as an IFBB pro. She took some time off since turning pro at the 2010 NPC JR Nationals. If she tightened up her back side & refined her physique she’ll have a solid debut. Look for a little more muscle on her from last year.

Jodi Boam - One of the Canadian contingents, Jodi will be making her IFBB Pro debut. Typically, Canadian competitors bring more muscle and conditioning to their first show than others in the US. That’s because more muscle is needed in order to turn pro. She is a skilled gymnast & look for her to bring a rock’n routine. The question will be where she’s positioned in the physique round. She was crowned Canada’s youngest fitness pro & brings a lot of energy to the stage.

Nicole Duncan - Nicole is always in the top with her routines and is one of the best performers in the biz. If she can nail her conditioning and come in with a tighter physique she’ll be in the mix for a top spot. She’ll bring the house down tonight with her routine, let’s hope she brings a physique to match and make things interesting.

Allison Ethier - Allison continues to improve and is right on the bubble of being in the mix. Look for her to be in the top two call-outs today and if she has a clean routine she’ll be in the running for a top five spot.

Melissa Frederick - Melissa recently competed in the Figure division and held her own. If she has a solid routine that will move her up in the mix of things. She’s another that continues to improve.

Ryall Graber-Vasani - Ryall brings a ton of energy to the stage and she’s another that is on the bubble and could move up or down depending on her routine. She works with Fitness Champ, Adela Garcia on her prep so look for her to be at her best here.

Victoria Larvie – Victoria has all the skills to do well in the division. She’s an accomplished gymnast and it shows in her routines. She’s young and her physique just needs some muscle maturity to hang with the top girls in that round. If she comes in her best condition and nails her routine she’ll move up.

Tamee Marie – Tamee is one of the taller women in the division and packs a lot of muscle on her frame. She’s pretty balanced and it’s needed to fill out her tall frame, the key is not being “too hard” in her conditioning. When she performs her routine it’s like running of the bulls in Spain. All out, fast and furious. I’d like to see her be a little less angry and aggressive in her routines. I always cringe when shooting it as she comes out so aggressive it looks like she might over-exert. If she’s refined things she’ll have a strong showing.

Stacy McDowell – Stacy is back again. She was injured. Then she retired and now she’s back competing. Flexibility is her strong point but she is towards the bottom of the pack in the physique rounds. It’s been awhile since Stacy has been able to put a strong routine and conditioned physique together. She’s done it before, so she’s certainly capable of it. Let’s see what she brings today.

Venus Nguyen – She turned pro on this stage last year with a second place finish in the A class. Venus was 11th in her pro debut at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. The little details, like hair, suit choice and presentation can help Venus move up. She is a solid performer and if she comes in a bit tighter and with a better suit than her debut you’ll see her move up.

Camala Rodriguez – Considered the favorite by most and rightfully so. She has pro victories under her belt and finished 4th at the Fitness International last month. She brought in a tighter, smaller physique and it helped move her up as a top pro. The look she brought to the Arnold stage is one she’ll need once again. I look for her to be in the top 2 for physique and with a solid routine she could win. Her routines continue to evolve and she usually spot on with her mandatory moves.

Kristina Rojas – Always smiling ear to ear, Kristina has great stage presence and always brings high energy with her routine. We’ll see what her and Adela Garcia put together this time around. Look for her to be in the mix for a top five spot if she comes in with a tight physique.

Carrie Simmons - Carrie will be making her pro debut and her routine will be one to watch. She loves performing and it shows throughout. She has the ability to draw the audience in and hams it up. Carrie brings a good deal of muscle to the stage and we’ll see how it compares to the others in the physique round. Look for her to bring the crowd to a roar tonight with her routine.

Hollie Stewart - Hollie has sic skills in her routine and always has a smile on her face. She’s been up and down and will forever be known as the girl who fell off the back off the stage at the West Palm Beach show. It’s good to see her back on stage and rock’n The Big Apple

Sylvia Tremblay - Sylvia is bringing her Arnold routine to the stage but with some refinements. She’s a performer and continues to have fun with things. We’ll see where she compares in the physique rounds but look for her to be in the top ten here.

Bethany Wagner – Bethany is the other top contender, at least on paper, at this show. She finished 6th at the Fitness International and has found her groove in the division. Look for the physique round to be between her and Camala and it could come down to who has the better routine for the win. She was the 2010 Europa Dallas champion and has the potential to collect a win here.

Stacy Wright – Stacy is another woman who brings a good deal of muscle to the stage. If she’s refined her routine since last year’s Team Universe win she could have a memorable debut. It will be her first time being compared to some of the best in the world and we’ll find out how she matches up today.

For More info on the show:
Tribecca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY

Phone: (516)933-1111
Email: steve@bevfrancis.com or bev@bevfrancis.com
http://bevfrancis.com/contests/schedule

There’s only one remaining pro fitness event in the United States to qualify for the Olympia. The number of competitor entries to date is disappointingly low and could mean this is the last time we’ll see pro fitness in New York. As of today only 12 women have sent in their contracts to compete. It sparks the conversation, where are all the fitness pros and why aren’t they entering? I’m sure those who haven’t entered have their reasons or excuses however you want to look at it. At the end of the day it won’t matter if more women don’t enter. It’s sad because the pro fitness routines are the most entertaining part of the show, in my opinion.

2011 IFBB Pro Fitness Competitors:
Michelle Blank
Jodi Boam
Allison Ethier
Ryall Graber-Vasani
Victoria Larvie
Tamee Marie
Stacy McDowell
Camala Rodriguez
Kristina Rojas
Carrie Simmons
Sylvia Tremblay
Stacy Wright

Props to the women who have entered. The show will serve as a pro debut for Michelle Blank, Jodi Boam, Carrie Simmons and Stacy Wright. The top three from last year’s event, Tanji Johnson, Trish Warren and Bethany Wagner have not entered the event and no word if they will. We’ll see if more women enter the event as we still have 3 weeks until show time.

For more information on this show and the NPC STEVE STONE NY METROPOLITAN visit BevFrancis.com.

Jelena will be competing in the IFBB Figure event tomorrow night. She’s making the transition back to figure after trying her hand at bikini. Which division do you like to see her in or does it matter?

One thing is for certain… she’s a good model.

Jelena Abbou in New York.

The 2010 New York Pro Figure will be held in conjunction with the Team Universe contest on July 9-10. The event will be held in Hackensack, New Jersey and as of today there are 18 20 competitors on the official list slated to compete.

2010 IFBB NEW YORK PRO FIGIURE
1. Holly Beck
2. Tivisay Briceno
3. Jeni Briscoe
4. Cheryl Brown
5. Cristiana Casoni
6. Nicole Coleman
7. Caroline Herndandez
8. Jennifer Hernandez
9. Michele Mayberry
10. Angela Mraz
11. Vicki Nixon
12. Marcy Porter
13. Katherynne Ramirez
14. Gennifer Strobo
15. Ann Titone
16. Kimmy Trowbridge
17. Terri Turner
18. Stacy Wig
19. Magdalena Wilk
20. Jennifer Woodruff

Cherly Brown, Marcy Porter and Gennifer Strobo are already qualified for the Olympia. Will one of the other ladies be able to join them on the Olympia stage? We’ll find out in a couple weeks.

The lineup for the 2010 New York Pro Figure is stacking up nicely. The event is just under a month away and there are 11 pros slated to compete. The show will coincide with the Team Universe contest on July 10 in Hackensack, New Jersey. The competitor list as of today.

2010 IFBB NEW YORK PRO FIGURE
1. Tivisay Briceno
2. Cheryl Brown
3. Cristiana Casoni
4. Nicole Coleman
5. Jennifer Hernandez
6. Vicki Nixon
7. Marcy Porter
8. Kimmy Trowbridge
9. Terri Turner
10. Stacy Wig
11. Jennifer Woodruff

I’m not sure if it’s a mistake or Vicki Nixon will be trying her hand in Figure. Vicki is an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder and while she can compete in any division she likes I’d be shocked to see her in the Figure competition given the amount of muscle she carries.

**Update** I’ve confirmed with Vicki that she will be competing in the figure division after some time away from the stage.

The 2010 New York Pro added the bikini division to it’s event and resulted in a field of 22 women, the largest showing to date. I’ve received a number of emails asking my thoughts on the show since I was front and center for the event. Here’s my opinion on the competition for what it’s worth. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, let me remind you that this is MY OPINION and you can agree or disagree it doesn’t matter to me.

My breakdown of how I saw it from the press pit in NYC. Shown in the order they appeared on stage.
Note: My comments are based on prejudging – many of the women wore different suits at night to get a different look.

1 ) Jelena Abbou – Jelena made the switch to bikini from figure and it suits her much, much better. Her body is curvy and which lends itself to doing better in bikini than figure. While she may have been outside of the top five this time I don’t see that being a position for her at future shows. If she shows a bit more personality on stage and perhaps just a bit tighter from behind, look for her to be in the mix. The challenge she has it not getting too hard in the abs while bringing in a tighter lower half. I like her look and hope to see her in future bikini shows.

2 ) Missy Coles - The thing that separates Missy from most of the other competitors is her presentation. She engages the judges and audience when she poses and projects positive energy when she’s on stage. I’d like to see her pose her physique a bit differently from the front and show more flattering angles. By that I mean popping her hip to the left and back as it would create more curviness than to the right and straight on. She’s solidified herself as a top five bikini competitor come Olympia time at this point.

3 ) Michell Gullet - Physique needs to be tighter to hang with the top girls especially from behind. The presentation of her physique needs improvement and if she brings those two things together she’ll move up. The suit choice wasn’t the most flattering and would like to see something with color on her.

4 ) Janet Harding - This was the best suit choice and presentation I’ve seen her bring to the stage thus far. She seemed to be having more fun and it showed on stage. I would have her a bit higher in the placings than where she finished. The one knock could be she gets a little too vascular in her upper body.

5 ) Angela Harrell - I’m sure this was a look that was great for her but she lacked a “wow factor” that separates her from the others. When she takes the stage you don’t get a feeling of a confident woman who is stoked to be there. If she works on her presentation she might move up in future contests. Again it’s the presentation that is lacking while on stage.

6 ) Kat Holmes - She continues to improve and brought in a tighter physique at this contest. Kat tends to have a pissed off look on her face when she’s on stage and almost scowling. If she can get in the zone, smile and present her physique better it would help her.

7 ) Melinda Jamiszewski – Appeared a bit too lean in the upper body and it didn’t match the lower body. It was her first time on stage so likely had some debut jitters. If she changes up her suit and gets comfortable posing on stage she could move up. I’d like to see solid colors on her and more relaxed on stage.

8 ) Tabitha Klausen-Leandri – She’s a tall drink of water and has tremendous potential. I’d like to see her present her back poses just a bit better and possibly look at different suit and one with some color. a colored suit. Definitely one of the women who stood out on stage. I can see her moving up in her next competition. Count on her to improve the more she competes, she’s only done a couple shows in her competitive career.

9 ) Jessica Lawrence – Jessica presented a better overall package. She ditched the matching lipstick to the suit she was wearing. Now if she can smile and have a bit more fun on stage it will help her.

10 ) Stefanie Lindsay - An improved presentation from before and needs to bring more booty to the stage.

11 ) Dayna Maleton - She appeared a bit too muscular when she presented. If she can make herself look curvier and bring her legs down a bit she’ll move up. She was more relaxed at the night show and it showed. Look for her to move up with improved stage presence.

12 ) Alicia Marie – Probably didn’t get the results she was hoping for in her bikini debut. It may sound weird but her hair was distracting. Bikini is a better fit for her than figure though.

13 ) Christie Marquez - A bit tighter and improve the presentation. She comes across as nervous and lacking self confidence when presenting.

14 ) Kristal Marshall – Nice physique but it was lost in this show. Needed to have some color to her physique and a different colored suit. Everything blended in from head to toe on stage. There was almost a sense of arrogance in her presentation… it came across like… Hey I’m here give me my trophy. Had she a different suit and darker color/tan she would have likely moved into the top three. Fourth in her pro debut was great but not where she felt she should have placed. She announced on her facebook page that she was leaving the IFBB for another organization. That’s too bad because she had potential to do well in the IFBB bikini ranks.

15 ) Shay Monroe - Shay brought the sassy hair to match her personality which was great. I didn’t care for her pulling her hair up when posing from the back as it was a little much. Needs to be a bit tighter in the lower body to move up. Also would have liked to see a different suit color other than yellow on her.

16 ) Shelsea Montes - I had Shelsea the winner. She had the most fun on stage, smiled non-stop, presented her body in a tasteful, curvy, sexy way and was MUCH improved from previous shows. She took the feedback the judges gave her from previous shows and put it to work. Best she has looked – even better than when on stage at the 2009 NPC JR USA where she won the overall.

17 ) Khanh Nguyen - She has a nice physique but looks down often when presenting. Would like to see her project better energy on stage. She’s one of the shorter competitors and her breasts are distracting and take away the balance of her physique.

18 ) Marzia Prince - She brought a better physique here than she did to Orlando but still lacks the same “wow factor” she has in her photo shoots. Her suit bottoms weren’t flattering from the front and her legs plague her from placing higher. I’d like to see her bring the package (including the same suit) she had at the NPC JR Nationals, where she won the overall. If she can channel what she brings to a photo shoot to the stage she’ll move up.

19 ) Kira Rivera - Kira has a nice physique but gets lost in the comparisons. She needs to find a way to present herself in a curvier, sexier fashion. She has potential but it again comes down to the presentation.

20 ) Sherlyn Roy - Obviously her best showing to date as she placed third. She ditched the flower and the matching suit. I think that helped her immediately. She had more fun on stage and at times maybe a bit too much. I didn’t care for the hands in the hair and on top of the head but that’s just me. Her presentation definitely helped her land in the top three, that and coming out sans-flowered.

21 ) Alea Suarez - She brought a softer physique than in previous competitions and it was a better look for her. She continues to improve and if she lights up the stage a bit more with her presentation – she’ll move up.

22 ) Tianna Ta - Tianna wasn’t the same woman we saw in Pittsburgh. She appeared nervous and uneasy on stage. She told me she changed her posing up a bit but didn’t feel comfortable. It showed on stage and dropped her to the tenth place. If she goes back to what worked in Pittsburgh she’ll place better.

All things being said it goes back to presentation, suit choice and the overall package. You can have a nice physique but if you don’t present it well you get lost. Yes it is a phyisque competition but bikini isn’t like figure or fitness, you have to really bring it to the stage if you hope to shine. If you’re not comfortable with your body and not thinking positive thoughts on stage it shows and usually magnified times ten. I’m not crazy about the legs apart and wider than shoulder length wide, with hands on hips or legs. It’s not a sexy pose and the same thing can be accomplished by bringing the legs in closer and then popping a hit to the side.

The standouts from this competition for me were Shelsea Montes, Jelena Abbou and Tabitha Klausen-Leandri. Shelsea is qualified for the Olympia and I can see Jelena and Tabitha on the Olympia stage as well. The complete scorecard from this event is available at IFBBpro.com.

The next pro bikini competition isn’t until July 16th at the Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships. The 2010 NPC Jr. Nationals will crown a few new bikini pros next month and we’ll see how well the amateurs present then.

The IFBB NY PRO Women’s Bodybuilding competition is this weekend and while the field isn’t as big as it has been in the past it will be competitive. Do you want to see coverage on the female bodybuilding or leave that to the other sites out there? Chime in…

The Big Apple will welcome it’s first IFBB Bikini Pro show on Saturday, May 8th. Let’s hear it for New York! Eighteen women are slated to compete in the 2010 New York Pro Bikini contest. There are a few familiar names on the list but a closer look you’ll see a couple surprises.

Jelena Abbou will be making the switch from Figure to Bikini at this show. A move many, myself included, feel could be a good one. Jelena found some success in figure during the 2008 season but her body type and genetics have always lent themselves to more of a bikini body. She took the entire 2009 season off so we’ll have to see what type of physique she shows up with on Saturday. As an experienced model, she knows how to pose her body and if she’s in shape will be one to watch for a top spot.

Kristal Marshall will be making her pro debut this weekend and without a doubt one to watch. She rocked a hardbody at the 2009 NPC USAs where she took the overall title. I’d be surprised if she’s not in the top call-out at this event.

Alicia Marie tells me she will be making her pro bikini debut at this event but her name is not yet confirmed on the competitor’s list. Alicia turned pro in Figure and will be trying her hand in the bikini division. Another woman who has no problem with stage presence and how to rock the stage. We’ll see if her name appears on the final competitor list.

Missy Coles is already qualified for the Olympia and is no stranger to winning on this stage. She took the overall bikini title at the 2009 Team Universe event.

Tianna Ta was in fourth last weekend and one to watch again this weekend.

Dayna Maleton won her class at the 2009 Team Universe contest and has a rock’n bikini body. If she can present herself with the same spit-fire energy she has off stage… watch out. Dayna may not be a name many recognize but she has a body you won’t forget. Keep your eye on her this weekend.

I’ll post the complete list once confirmed but as of today here’s who is in for New York.

1. Jelena Abbou
2. Missy Coles
3. Michell Gullett
4. Janet Harding
5. Angela Harrell
6. Kat Holmes
7. Melinda Janeszewski
8. Stefanie Lindsey
9. Dayna Maleton
10. Christie Marquez
11. Kristal Marshall
12. Shay Monroe
13. Shelsea Montes
14. Marzia Prince
15. Kira Rivera
16. Sherlyn Roy
17. Alea Suarez
18. Tianna Ta

The 2010 New York Pro Bodybuilding & Bikini Championships will be held on Saturday, May 8th at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center. The competitor lists will continue to grow but as of today here’s a look at the line-ups. For more information on this contest and ticket information visit bevfrancis.com.

Women’s Bodybuilding
1. Debbie Bramwell
2. Dayana Cadeau
3. Andrea Ferreira Carvalho
4. Cathy LeFrancois
5. Colette Nelson
6. Nicole Pfuetzenreuter
7. Rachel Ruch

Women’s Bikini
1. Michell Gullet
2. Melinda Janiszewski
3. Stefanie Lindsey
4. Dayna Maleton
5. Christie Marquez
6. Shelsea Montes
7. Marzia Prince
8. Kira Rivera
9. Alea Suarez
10. Tianna Ta

Branch Warren was in Boulder, Colorado guest posing while his wife Trish competed in the NY PRO Fitness over the weekend. When I spoke with Branch I mentioned that Trish’s physique looked improved from last year. He told me the funny thing was that she’s doing less weight training than ever.

After her second place finish in New York, Trish did an interview with RXmuscle.com‘s Dave Palumbo. During the video interview she tells Dave the same thing. “I just completely quit weight training because the Olympia I was too muscular,” said Trish. Keep in mind that Trish has been weight training for years. She’s genetically gifted (or cursed depending on your point of view) and able to hold muscle easily. She goes on to share that she will be guest posing nearly every weekend from now until the Olympia and watch out for the Warren’s in Las Vegas this fall.

Trish Warren with RXmuscle.com’s Dave Palumbo.

This Saturday, thirteen IFBB fitness pros will take the stage at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center. The event is held in conjunction with the NPC Steve Stone Metropolitan, a national qualify show.

The odds-on favorite going into this show has to be Tanji Johnson. She was runner-up to Adela Garcia at the 2009 Olympia and notched a third place finish last month at the Fitness International. Will she leave the Big Apple with another pro win? Most likely but she’ll need to be spot on with her physique in this line-up. There are a number of women who could give her a run for her money in the two-piece swimsuit round.

Trish Warren displayed an improved physique at the Fitness International and secured her spot in the Olympia line-up by placing 4th, one spot behind Tanji. She actually beat Tanji in the physique round by five points at that show. Trish’s routine still isn’t at the level of Tanji’s but it’s drastically improved. On paper, Trish is a solid second battling it out with Tanji for the win.

The third and final Olympia qualifying spot could go a number of ways. Roll the dice on this one but you might have the best luck with your money on Bethany Wagner or Tina Durkin. Bethany’s physique has great structure and when she comes in conditioned she’s in the top call-out, no question about it. She didn’t have quite enough time to prepare for the Fitness International and finished in 11th place. Look for her to bring an improved physique and if she can avoid any wardrobe malfunctions in the routine round she will be a contender. During her Fitness Olympia routine, Bethany’s top wasn’t secure and after a couple of slips forced her to exit the stage.

Tina Durkin will most likely be one of the top names called out for the physique round and rightfully so. She has improved her physique over the last two years and if she’s conditioned will do well here. Tina’s routines have also improved and will be in the money if she’s mistake free during her performance.

Amy Villa-Nelson will be returning to the stage for the first time since the birth of her daughter. It’s been a couple years since Amy competed but she’s been a performer all her life. She’s a very animated competitor with incredible flexibility. She won’t be the girl with the biggest muscles on stage but she’ll certainly have the biggest smile.

Canadian’s Allison Either and Slyvia Tremblay will look to improve upon their pro debuts at the Fitness International. It will be a challenge for them to crack the top five in this line-up but anything is possible.

Kayde Puckett will return to the same stage that she earned her IFBB Pro Status. The Fitness Nataionals are held at this venue and it proved to be lucky before but can it again? She’ll look to improve her Fitness International showing. Kayde’s routine needs a bit of refinement but it is packed with a ton of strength moves.

Kristina Rojas has been training under the watchful eye of Ms. Fitness Olympia and Fitness International Champ Adela Garcia. Look for her to be a top five contender in this line-up. She placed 4th at the end of the 2009 season, just out of a qualifying spot at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. She brings a high-flying, energetic routine to the stage and will be in the mix if her physique is up to par.

Lauren DeNapoli will be making her pro debut at this event. She won the medium class at the 2009 Fitness Nationals and lost the overall title to Kayde Puckett. The two will square off again this weekend. If Lauren can bring a conditioned physique, especially from the back, she could be in the mix. She’ll have her work cut out for her but she’s found success on this stage before and could do it again.

Stacy McDowell (formerly Simons) finished third at this event in 2007. Last year she competed in this contest and afterward announced her retirement. Retirement was short lived and we’ll see her take the stage once again. Stacy has some of the craziest flexibility you’ll ever see. Her routines are entertaining but her physique has kept her from a top spot the last couple years.

Julie Costa will be making history as the first bikini pro to compete in another division. Julie achieved IFBB Pro status by placing second at the 2009 Team Universe contest. It will be interesting to see how she stacks up against this competition.

Amanda Marinelli secured IFBB Pro status on this stage during the 2008 Team Universe event with a second place finish. Her best placing to date was 11th at the 2009 Europa Supershow and will have a battle cracking the top five here. Amanda’s biggest challenge to date has been her conditioning in her lower body.

My Top Five Predictions:
1. Tanji Johnson
2. Trish Warren
3. Tina Durkin
4. Bethany Wagner
5. Kristina Rojas

Who do you have for your top five? For more information on this contest and how to purchase tickets visit, bevfrancis.com.

Things just got a bit more interesting for the New York Pro Figure contest. Bethany Wagner has decided to try her hand at figure. Why? I’m not sure but I’ll find out from her today. She’s qualified for the Fitness Olympia and always does very well in the physique rounds so she should be able to do well here.  She has incredible shape and a balanced physique.

The Current IFBB Figure Pro Competitor List:
Susanne Bock
Jessica Booth-Palmer
Andrea Carvalho
Lorena Cozza
M.J. Fox
Brandie Gardner
Lisbeth Halikka
Alicia Harris
Candice Keene
Juliana Malacarne
Patricia Mello
Petra Mertl
Karen Mullarkey
Emily Nicholson
Lisa Reed
Larissa Reis
Marie Pierre Ripert
Sheryln Roy
Elissa Schlichter
Angela Terlesky
Siobhan Tewari
Rosalind Venterpool
Christina Vargas
Bethany Wagner
Nicole Wilkins-Lee

The prejudging will take place this evening in New York at the Tribecca Center.

The IFBB Figure Pro ladies will take the stage one last time before the Olympia. The IFBB New York Pro will be held in conjunction with the NPC Team Universe & NPC National Fitness Championships. The action goes down Sept 18-19 at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center in New York, NY.

Competitors slated to compete as of today:
Susanne Bock
Andrea Carvalho
M.J. Fox
Brandie Gardner
Lisbeth Halikka
Candice Keene
Emily Nicholson
Marie Pierre Ripert
Elissa Schlichter
Angela Terlesky
Siobhan Tewari
Rosalind Venterpool
Nicole Wilkins-Lee

Nicole Wilkins-Lee is already qualified for the Olympia with her Orlando Pro win earlier this year. She’s gotta be considered the favorite to win this show as well. Emily Nicholson will be making her pro debut off her win that the NPC USAs and Candice Keene will look to bounce back from her last show.

I’m sure more women will enter this event before show time, so check back for an updated competitor list as the show gets closer.

Tomorrow the IFBB female bodybuilders will take the stage at the NY Pro. The event will be held at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center in New York. Below is the competitor list for tomorrow’s event. I like Cathy LeFrancois to repeat as the champ once again. Who do you like for the win?

COMPETITOR LIST
Irene Anderson
Fabi Antoine
Debbie Bramwell
Myriam Bustamante
Maria Calo
Giusy Caputo
Tazzie Columb
Beverly Direnzo
Maria del Carmen Gomez-Seguro
Rosemary Jennings
Marika Johansson
Cathy LeFrancois
Nancy Lewis
Maryse Manios
Nadia Nardi
Jeannie Paparone
Betty Pariso
Claudia Partenza
Jennifer Sedia
Antoinette Thompson
Diana Tinnelle-Stanback
Dena Westerfield

IFBBpro.com has posted photos from last weekend’s New York Pro Fitness. Check out the one-piece photos here.

Check out the photos on FLEXonline.com from the NY Pro Fitness.

New York Pro Fitness Comparisons.

I’ve been informed that 3-4 of the women missed their mandatory moves or performed the mandatory moves out of order. You will see this reflected in the scores from the routine round. Should be interesting to see who benefits and who gets hurt by this.

Stay tuned for more NY Pro Fitness updates.