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Follow all the action from the 2011 NPC USA Championshipts here on Hardbody.com. If you’re on twitter, you can see the live updates via twitter.com/hardbodynews and twitter.com/BBcomcontests. Joining in the coverage? Use the hashtag #NPCUSA for the event in all your tweets. You can see what everyone is tweet’n about with that tag by checking out hashtags.org/npcusa.
History will be made in Las Vegas, Nevada this weekend. The largest NPC competition EVER will take place on July 29 and 30th at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. As of a few days ago there were 632 registered competitors for this year’s event and look for that number to climb before show time. No, I don’t know how the divisions will break down and how many are in each. 
Promoter Jon Lindsay has always done a terrific job with this event and this year looks to be no different. If you don’t have your show tickets you better get them now because this will be a packed house!
New this year is the men and women’s physique divisions. The divisions continue to grow in numbers and the competition gets stronger with each event. Thanks to J.M. Manion for sharing this update… There will be THREE height classes for each division.
For Men’s & Women’s Physique we will have 3 height classes for each division.
Women:
A. Up to 5’4″
B. Over 5’4″ to 5’6″
C. Over 5’6″.Men:
A. Up to 5’7″
B. Over 5’7″ to 5’10″
C. over 5’10″.Class winners turn IFBB Pro in Men’s & Women’s Physique.
We’ll be there covering the event and as always providing coverage here and on twitter. We’ll be “guest tweeting” on @BBcomContests account throughout the show. If you’re looking for official stage photos from this event you can download the order form and after the show order prints at photos.liftstudios.com.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, Jul 29th at 4:30pm
Men’s Bodybuilding and Bikini Prejudging
Saturday, Jul 30th at 9:00am
Figure, Men/Women’s Physique & Women’s Bodybuilding Prejudging
Saturday, Jul 30th at 6:00pm
Finals – ALL
| Thursday, July 28th: | 6:30-8:00pm | Men and Women’s Physique Mandatory meeting, Early weigh-in for mens bodybuilding, Early height-check for Men’s physique | Embassy Suites |
| Thursday, July 28th: | 8:00-9:30pm | Early weigh-in for womens bodybuilding, Early height-check for Figure, Bikini and Women’s Physique | Embassy Suites |
| Friday, July 29th: | 9:00-10:30am | Final weigh-in/height check (all athletes) | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Friday, July 29th: | 3:00pm | Men’s Bodybuilding mandatory meeting | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Friday, July 29th: | 4:30pm | Men’s prejudging | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Friday, July 29th: | 5:00pm | Bikini mandatory meeting | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Friday, July 29th: | TBA | Bikini prejudging | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Saturday, July 30th: | 8:00am | Women’s Bodybuilding mandatory meeting | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Saturday, July 30th: | 9:00am | Women’s Bodybuilding, Figure and Men & Women’s Physique prejudging | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Saturday, July 30th: | 9:30am | Figure mandatory meeting | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Saturday, July 30th: | TBA | Figure prejudging | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Saturday, July 30th: | 5:00pm |
Top 15 Class Competitors mandatory meeting (Men, Women, Figure, Bikini) | Artemus Ham Hall |
| Saturday, July 30th: | 6:00pm |
Finals | Artemus Ham Hall |
Give a shout out in the comments below if you or someone you know is competing.
Dan Solomon reported on Pro Bodybuilding Weekly that the 2009 NPC USAs was the biggest contest ever held in the history of the NPC. Dan also gave a nice shout out to this site for being the first to deliver the news on Jen Hendershott sitting out the Olympia. Thanks Dan!
If you missed the USAs and are looking for a recap, check out my review of the show here. Bodybuilding.com has all the behind the scenes photos and stage shots posted from this huge event.
Looking for photos of yourself or ones you love as prints? Visit the official photographer’s site to purchase photos from last weekend’s NPC USA contest.
Props to Muscle & Fitness Hers for showing some love to the ladies in the competition world. The popular women’s magazine recently covered the NPC USA contest on their web site. Check out reports and galleries on muscleandfitnesshers.com. Those of you who are tweeters follow the mag on twitter @MandF_Hers.
Click on over to bodybuilding.com and download one or both of the new Wallpapers of The Week. I had the pleasure of shooting Kat Holmes and Amanda Latona over the weekend and both were great models. Kat placed fourth in the NPC Bikini division and Amanda won her class. Amanda now joins the IFBB ranks and look for lots of big things on the horizon from her. Kat shared with me she just signed a lease on a 6,000 sq ft dance studio in Florida.
Check back for more photos from these both of these shoots.
Check out some of the scenes you’ll only get if you are a competitor. Our West Coast man with a plan, Ron Avidan was backstage capturing all the action. Check out all the photos here.
I wrote my thoughts and predictions on the NPC USA Bikini prejudging on Friday night. So how did I fair? Let’s take a look…
My picks:
Bikini A
1) Michele D’Angona
2) Angela Harrell
3) Alicia Meza
Actual Results:
Bikini A
1) Michele D’Angona
2) Angela Harrell
3) Alicia Meza
————-
My picks:
Bikini B
1) Michelle Gullett
2) Jacquelyn Geringer
3) Sheyla Solano
Actual Results:
Bikini B
1) Michelle Gullett
2) Sheyla Solano
3) Jacquelyn Geringer
————-
My picks:
Bikini C
1) Kristal Marshall
2) Toby Tokunaga
3) Andrea Taylor
Actual Results:
Bikini C
1) Kristal Marshall
2) Toby Tokunaga
3) Kelly Willis
** Andrea placed 4th
————-
My picks:
Bikini D
1) Amanda Latona
2) Mary Jarmolowich
3) Kat Holmes
Actual Results:
Bikini D
1) Amanda Latona
2) Mary Jarmolowich
3) Tisha Des Marteau
** Kat Holmes placed 4th
————-
My picks:
Bikini E
1) Jaime Baird
2) Dianna Dahlgren
3) Maysa Quy
Actual Results:
Bikini E
1) Jaime Baird
2) Dianna Dahlgren
3) Maysa Quy
** Dianna placed 4th. She tied with Maysa with 15 points and Natalie edged both out with 14 points. Very close!
————-
Bikini F
My picks:
1) Monique Minton
2) Brendy Scheerer
3) Tricia Montoya
Actual picks:
1) Monique Minton
2) Brendy Scheerer
3) Tricia Montoya
Toot toot goes my horn. Not too shabby in the predictions for this show. Check out the full results from the NPC USA bikini here.
Hold tight Hardbody peeps. It’s been a busy weekend in Las Vegas and the action is about to heat up one more day. We’re headed poolside at the host hotel for the winner’s photo shoot. Check back later today to read my full report of the show, my thoughts on prejudging vs. the finals and more. Congratulations to all the new pros. Many of which you’ve seen here on Hardbody.com the last few months.
The NPC USA kicked off last night with the men’s bodybuilding and ended with the women’s bikini. Many who hadn’t seen the new bikini competition were fairly impressed. Over 80 women took the stage in hopes of leaving a pro. Six fortunate women will do that tonight. I saw more “scrunchy” bottom suits, more white suits and better posing. All in all it was a great show. I’d say there were only a few that looked like they needed to hit the cardio a bit more. Here’s my quick breakdown of how I saw the classes. This is just MY OPINION from the press seat.
Bikini A – Small class and lackluster. Only three competitors total and pretty good odds on turning pro if you’re in this one.
1) Michele D’Angona
2) Angela Harrell
3) Alicia Meza
Bikini B – Good class and Michelle looked to be the clear winner on my scorecard.
1) Michelle Gullett
2) Jacquelyn Geringer
3) Sheyla Solano
Bikini C - Very, very good class. Kristal has a smoken phyisque but so does Toby and Andrea. Whoever wins this one has a solid chance at the overall title.
1) Kristal Marshall
2) Toby Tokunaga
3) Andrea Taylor
Bikini D – Another very competitive class and like the C Class the winner will have a great chance at the overall title. I’d give the nod to Amanda because of her hardbody booty. In fact, I’d say she has the best booty in show. Mary is very good though. Kat looked great but not as good as I’ve seen her in previous outtings. Her presentation was great and I have her in a solid third.
1) Amanda Latona
2) Mary Jarmolowich
3) Kat Holmes
Bikini E – It’s a tough call on this one and will come down to a matter of personal preference. Jaime and Dianna both have killer bods. Jaime sports brown hair and a larger bust. Dianna has a very cute look with blonde hair. Jaime has a bit more fullness to her muscle but if Dianna wins I wouldn’t argue too loudly. Maysa also looks very good in this class.
1) Jaime Baird
2) Dianna Dahlgren
3) Maysa Quy
Bikini F - This class was good but not great. It looked like the class belonged to Monique Minton with Brendy Scheerer and Tricia Montoya giving her a run for her money.
1) Monique Minton
2) Brendy Scheerer
3) Tricia Montoya
Again these are only my opinions. There are a number of women who I didn’t mention but look very good. The bikini division continues to improve. We’ll have to see how it shakes down tonight. The bikini women will take the stage first and awards will be given out right away. You’ll know who the new bikini pros early into the finals.
It’s off to the big prejudging of bodybuilding and figure this morning. Check back for more info later on here or follow at TWITTER @hardbodynews.
There will be one more check-in for competitors and then thing will get started. There are a total of 467 competitors registered for this event. The final breakdown isn’t in but is sounds like 83 women will be in the bikini division with over 200 women in Figure. The bikini prejudging will take place AFTER the men’s prejudging tonight. Tomorrow morning the women’s bodybuilding will go on and then the Figure.
Stay updated on TWITTER @hardbodynews for all the action as it goes down today.
The check-in for the men will take place first and then the ladies will make their way into the host hotel’s designated room for their turn. I’ll be there covering the event and you can stay updated faster by following out Twitter account @hardbodynews or check out the box on the upper right.
It’s cloudy and overcast in Las Vegas which is keeping the temperature down outside but inside things are heating up.
The top three in the 2008 NPC USA Figure F Class. Rachel Cammon went on to win the class and turn pro in her first national show. Alicia Marie nabbed a pro card at the Figure Nationals/Team Universe later in ’08. Monique Minton will try her hand at the bikini class this year in hopes of joining Rachel and Alicia as a pro. Who will come out and shock everyone this year? We’ll find out Saturday night in Las Vegas!
Tori Briggs is has won her class in every bikini competition she’s entered this year. She’s about to try her hand at another win this weekend in Las Vegas. I caught up with Tori on the day before she takes the NPC USA stage. Learn a little bit more about this Oregonian.
From: Portland, OR
Occupation: Student at Portland State University
Number of NPC shows & Results: I have competed in three shows this year…
Vancouver Classic: 1st place tall class
Emerald Cup: 1st place tall class
Oregon Ironman: 1st place tall class and overall
It has been an exciting and busy year!
What made you get into the Bikini Division?
I had competed in a figure show prior to bikini and was training for another competition when my trainer suggested I give bikini a try. After the first show I was hooked. I enjoy being on stage and being able to show some personality. I admire the condition and muscularity of a figure competitor, but I like the athletic look of bikini and it better fits my physique.
How often do you workout?
If I am preparing for a show you can see me there twice a day. Cardio and weights in the morning, then back for more cardio in the evening.
What do you say to the peopl who think bikini are just boobs and butts?
It is a physique competition, not spring break…
HAHA that’s a good one.
Goals for competing in bikini?
To earn my pro card and pick up endorsements in the industry.
How has training with IFBB Pro Kristi Tauti helped you?
I could not have done it without Kristi! She is a tough coach and mentor that always expects 110%. It has been an honor to train with her as well as team i-Physique.
Good luck in Vegas! See some of Tori’s past competition photos on bodybuilding.com.
Tonight the actions gets roll’n in Vegas. The early check-in for the female competitors takes place tonight at Embassy Suites. There is an additional check-in Friday morning from 9 – 10:30am at the same place.
Embassy Suites, Las Vegas
4315 Swenson St., Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
8:00-9:30pm
Early weigh-in women bb
Early height-check for Figure
Early height-check for Bikini
Stay updated via TWITTER @ Hardbodynews
Lonnie “The Swami” Teper told me I had to check out this gorgeous competitor from California. The Swami has been in the fitness biz since I was in diapers, so when Lonnie says look out for someone he’s usually on the money. Sure enough, he spotted an up-and-coming beauty in Megan Phi. Megan was kind enough to share a bit more about herself as she heads into the NPC USA contest. She’s taken top honors in her class two shows in a row. Will she make it three?
Reside:
Campbell, CA
OCCUPATION:
Personal Trainer and Massage Therapist
YEARS COMPETING IN THE NPC:
This is my first year competing in the NPC. My first show was just a few months ago at the 2009 Contra Costa Classic.
CONTEST HISTORY:
2009 Contra Costa Classic: Class B – 1st
2009 San Jose Championships: Class B – 1st and Overall
What made you decide to compete?
I have always found the sport of figure intriguing and I entertained the idea of training for a competition for a long time. The deciding factor came when my friend Paul introduced me to my coach Kevin Myles. The second I met Kevin, I knew that I wanted to work with him, and we started to train for the Contra Costa Classic, just 10 weeks away, that very day.
What type of diet do you follow?
I don’t function well when I’m hungry so I eat every three hours, religiously. I have my oatmeal and protein or eggs in the morning and have my lean meats and fishes, brown rice and yams, and veggies throughout the day. Oh, and cheat meals of course 
Favorite supplements?
I use Kre-Alkalyn and First Order to help me with my workouts. I also take my multivitamins and L-Glutamine every day.
Goals for USAs?
I’m just excited to experience the stage at this level of competition!!
Good Luck Megan!
I did the best I could without having a competitor list for this preview. I’m sure I missed a few names, so if you see someone who should be on the list to look for – post in the comments before. The NPC USA contest is going to be one helluva show. As a reminder you can follow all the action starting tomorrow on our twitter account @hardbodynews. I’ll keep you posted from tomorrow’s check-in, various photo shoots, the prejudging play by play, finals and any hot news that comes down. WHEW! HOLD ON HARDBODY PEEPS! It’s going to be a fun one.
The inaugural NPC Bikini contest caused some controversy in Columbus earlier this year when Kristal Marshall took home second place. Many felt Kristal (myself included) should have won the short class and battled for the overall title. That’s all water under the bridge now. I caught up with the former WWE diva and Price is Right girl to see what she’s been up to and what we can expect to see in Las Vegas. Kristal will be competing at the NPC USA contest this weekend and from my vantage point has all the makings to be a top contender.
What will we see different from the Arnold stage?
Well, when I competed at the Arnold, inn March, it was the first NPC Bikini contest, so nobody really knew what to expect, or what the judges were looking for. I felt like I went into it a bit blind. I sat back and let a few contests go by so that I could see which bodies were awarded and to train accordingly. I am so excited for the USAs! I feel no stress and have no expectations. This time is different in so many ways for me: I have my entire family coming to support, I got an awesome off the rack suit, My body is toned, strong and feminine… I feel so sexy.
Where did you get your suit?
I actually bought my suit at Victoria’s secret for $13! Then I took it to Christine Marsh and had her pucker the booty.
How’s baby Myles Doing?
My son is awesome! He keeps us on our toes. He just turned one and he is non-stop!! He’s my little good luck charm. He was there when I won Bikini America and hopefully he can give mommy some luck at USAs.
You’ve been keeping busy – what are some of the things you’ve been doing besides preparing for this competition?
Wow…busy is an understatement. I have been running our online supplement site Lashleynutrition.com, Training (of course), Starting Cosmetology school, renovating a rental home, being mommy and working on our new baby American Top Team Altitude. ATT is a high level MMA Professional fight gym which has trained some of the best MMA fighters around: Thiago Alves, Thiago Silva, Jeff Monson, Mike Brown, JZ, and of course the undefeated Bobby Lashley who happens to be my favorite . Bobby came up with the idea to open up an ATT in Denver to take advantage of the high altitude…hence ATT Altitude. We are very proud to say that the gym will be up and running early fall of 2009. So come check it out if you are in the Denver Area.
Favorite supplements?
The cool thing about owning our own supplement store is that I can try all the new fun stuff. I really love optimum nutrition’s casein protein, mixed with oats pre-bedtime. I am a big fan of Forever Fit’s whey isolate in cran-razz (yum). Most recently I have feel in love with Recovery X’s Liquid MD. It’s a blue green algae solution, which helps with everything from arthritis to sore muscles.
What advice do you have for mommas out there who are struggling to stay fit much less compete?
With kids it is really tough and you are definitely going to have to make some lifestyle changes. Prioritize: Kids first, your health next. Working out is only 10% of the solution; diet and hydration are the other 90%. As mother we want to put the best foods possible into our kiddos’ tummies right? So put it into yours too! Make little changes to start like: Eat when you first wake up (this spikes your metabolism) and will give you energy. You want to break-the-fast so the speak, Switch to whole grains (pastas, breads, cereals), Switch from traditional salt to ancient volcanic salt (a natural brown organic unbleached salt), Cut out most white colored foods (think about it there are not a lot of natural things that organically are white), sleep when baby sleeps (I had to get that in there). Don’t be so hard on yourself; your baby has to crawl before he walks, so approach your fitness goals the same way. Most importantly stay hydrated.
Thanks Kristal and Good luck in Vegas!
Check out FLEXonline.com for a few women to watch this weekend at the NPC USA contest.
NPC promoter extraordinaire, Jon Lindsay confirmed there are currently 410 competitors in the Bodybuilding.com NPC USA Bodybuilding, Figure & Bikini Championships. He’s expecting to have over 450 competitors when the event kicks off on July 24, 2009 in Las Vegas. We’ll have to wait and see how the numbers break down for each of the divisions but either way those of you attending plan on a BIG show. Jon and the crew do a great job of keeping things moving and not wasting any time. Look for Lonnie “The Swami” Teper at the mic again for the finals.
There are a number of IFBB Pro Cards on the line at this show:
• Men (7 wt groups) 3 men will turn professional.
• Women (4 wt groups) 2 women bodybuilders will turn professional.
• Figure (6 height groups) Class winners will turn professional.
• Bikini (6 height groups) Class winners will turn professional.
Where:
Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the Campus of UNLV
4505 Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89154
When:
July 24-25, 2009
For more information visit: musclecontest.com
There’s no denying the striking looks of hardbody Amanda Latona. I first noticed Amanda when she competed in the FLEX bikini model search contest at the Olympia. She carries herself with confidence and has no problem making you do a double take. Amanda recently competed at the NPC California State, where she took home top honors in the bikini tall class. Amanda’s no stranger to the limelight and while her fitness career is still catching steam, she’s already accomplished a world of things. She was kind enough to share a bit more about herself with us.
Name:
Amanda Latona
Currently Reside in:
Las Vegas
Born/Raise in:
Born in Pittsburgh PA. Lived in Orlando Fl. for 12 years
What made you decide to do a NPC show?
I have been wanting to do an NPC show for awhile now. When I heard they were adding a bikini division I was super excited. I am not quite figure, so bikini was the perfect fit for me.
You were recently featured in Muscle & Fitness – how was that shoot for you?
To be totally honest, A dream come true. I have been reading and subscribing to the magazine for years. I started competing in ’03 and have been wanting to be in Muscle & Fitness ever since. The shoot was at an awesome location in California. The whole experience was amazing start to finish. The hair, the make-up, the wardrobe the crew everything. I have always wanted to shoot with Ian Logan as well. When the feature and article came out, it was so much more than I ever expected. I was ecstatic!! Still am!
You’re no stranger to the stage having competed in many modeling and bikini contests, but you’ve also performed beyond a physique competition. Those may not know, you were/are a singer. How did you get started in that?
I have been singing as long as I can remember. Living in Orlando a lot of the bands were coming from there back during the whole pop explosion of boy/girl bands. I was in a girl group that traveled and toured Europe and The States. After that deal, I was signed solo to J-Records by Clive Davis. After that deal, I was signed to a record label in London. It just went from one thing to the next.
That’s awesome. Being signed by Clive Davis is no joke. Speaking of boy bands. How was it dating a backstreet boy? (Amanda dated Backstreet Boy AJ McLean for a stint years ago)
Pretty normal… except for the paparazzi, huge concerts, red carpets and award shows, lol. But we had a very normal relationship. We ate dinner at home, watched movies, played golf and went bowling. Then you would go to a huge sold out concert and it was surreal. You know this person so well, but the rest of the world sees them as a superstar. Fun.
Do you find that your experience from being on stage in front of thousands of people helps your confidence during a bikini contest?
Absolutely. I am extremely comfortable onstage and I feel that’s so important. I come alive when I am onstage and my personality really comes out. I just love it! Its my favorite time.
What advice do you have for other women out there looking to improve their stage presence?
Practice and experience. You can only be experienced in a field when you get experience in that field.
There’s a stereotype brewing that bikini girls don’t work out. Do you work out and if so how often?
5 to 6 days a week. Sometimes twice a day. I truly enjoy it, so its not a chore.
Do you eat healthy or is it ice cream and french fries for you?
My diet is always pretty clean. I only have a cheat meal if I want one, not a scheduled one. Like I dont do a “Sunday cheat day” or something like that. Usually I will plan a cheat day on a special occasion, like a birthday or holiday. But I like to stay around the same weight to be ready for photoshoots and things. I’ve found things always come up last minute. And its always after you had a cheat day of wings and ice cream and your bloated like a puffer fish, lol.
Mmmm wings. Good advice on being ready for a photoshoot.
What are your goals and aspirations for the fitness industry?
I would love to be in several areas of the fitness industry. Make a dvd, be a sponsored athlete, host a fitness show and own a gym and train from there. Haha, yes, lots of goals… but I think that’s a good thing
If people want to find out more about you where should they visit? myspace.com/a_latona
Will you be signing autographs at the NPC USAs? Sure if someone wants one! Usually its just my mom though, lol.
Thanks for taking the time to share a bit more about yourself. Amanda will be competing at the 2009 NPC USAs held in Las Vegas, NV next month. Might we be looking at one of the next IFBB Bikini Pros? I certainly wouldn’t bet against it.
Click on over to my preview of this weekend’s NPC USA contest. Promoter Jon Lindsay promised me a six pack of Diet Coke here on hardbody and I’ll need it! This is going to be one hot show. Please note if I didn’t mention your name, it’s nothing personal. I know one competitor I totally spaced when writing the preview is Michelle Anderson. She took fourth in her class at Jr. USAs and I look for her to be in the top call-outs at this show. My dark horse in this show is Kristin Nunn, watch out for her as she has a physique that is off the chain. The C Class looks to be the toughest line-up of the whole show. Whoever wins that could go on to win the overall. There are also a number of women who did very well last weekend at the Masters and could shake things up at this show, like Ann Pratt.
The 2008 NPC USA Figure Championships are nearly upon us once again. There’s a number of amazing physiques and the competition will be tough. Some of the classes are loaded more than others and will be even more difficult for some to prevail. Last year Catherine Andersen took top honors in the show and months later found herself on the Arnold Classic stage. Michelle “momma” Flake was the 2005 overall winner who has gone on to grace the Olympia stage. Who will win this year and which class will provide the overall winner? Cast your vote below.
Bodybuilding.com, the Internet’s most- visited bodybuilding and fitness site and largest retailer of nutritional supplements, is airing the first-ever webcast of the NPC (National Physique Committee) USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships, an IFBB Pro Qualifier. The exclusive rights to this highly-demanded webcast are part of a three year (2008-2010) title-sponsorship of the NPC USAs.
Fans not lucky enough to see the NPC USA Championships live in Las Vegas July 25th-26th will be able to watch them for free at Bodybuilding.com starting at 3PM (MST) on Monday July 28th. Viewers will have one full week to watch as much of the action as they want; all emceed by award-winning journalist Lonnie Teper (Iron Man). A DVD will then be available for purchase at www.Repetrope.com.
“We are so proud to be able to bring the USAs to our visitors around the world. For the first time ever, fans that can’t make it to Las Vegas will be able to see this world-class event,” says CEO Ryan DeLuca.
The NPC USA Championships are scheduled to have another record year with over 300 men and women from across the country competing on stage at this premier pro-qualifying event. This highly-anticipated show has had the Bodybuilding.com Forum buzzing with discussion over the heated competition for months now.
For more information visit http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2008_npc_usa.htm
Bodybuilding.com offers more than 7,000 health and fitness supplements & accessories to help people achieve their fitness goals. They offer more than 25,000 pages of FREE bodybuilding and fitness information, including more than 12,000 articles (written by 525+ writers), video & audio segments, and new content added daily.
For more information: http://www.bodybuilding.com
As a reminder to all of you who are competing in the NPC USA contest in a couple of weeks. If you win your class and qualify for pro status you should plan on attending the photo shoot with J.M. Manion on Sunday, the day after the show. I’ve seen many competitors miss out on the opportunity to be on the cover of NPC NEWS and in the magazine. Many times competitors want to complain about prior commitments with other photographers or having flights out too early to make the shoot, or simply just don’t show up. It’s always at the host hotel pool (Embassy Suites) and a lot fun despite the 300 degree temperatures. This is a behind the scenes shot with last year’s figure winners.
The long awaited lists for the NPC USA Figure competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Props to Ron Avidan for being the first to put the lists out and provide them in an organized manner on our brother site, getbig.com. If you’re interested in viewing the men and women’s bodybuilding lists visit GETBIG.COM.
Class ‘A’ Competitor List
Class ‘B’ Competitor List
Class ‘C’ Competitor List
Class ‘D’ Competitor List
Class ‘E’ Competitor List
Class ‘F’ Competitor List
Hardbody.com approved make up artist, Laurie St. Michael will be at USAs and has a few openings left for the show. Laurie recently worked with Lenay Hernandez on her impressive showing at the Houston Pro, where she qualified for the Olympia. When I spoke with Lenay she mentioned how helpful Laurie was in accommodating her schedule and couldn’t have been happier. I met Laurie last year at USAs where she did Desha Rodriquez’s makeup and it was outstanding. I highly recommend Laurie for your hair and make up needs. You work hard on your physique and settle for nothing but the best when it comes to that, why short change yourself and risk having your presentation fall short? You shouldn’t. It makes a world of difference on stage when you work with someone like Laurie.
If you’re interested in Laurie’s services EMAIL HER HERE and tell her HARDBODY sent ya.
Jamie Costa sat out the Jr. Nationals last weekend but will be returning to the stage at the 2008 NPC USA Championships. Jamie will be a top threat to the A Class figure as she’s streamlined her physique immensely from last year. She placed 11th at USAs in 2007 and in 08 she’s presented an entirely different look. Costa won the A Class in Charleston and aims to repeat the victory in a few weeks. As you can see from the photos below Jamie has a completely different look and the new version suits her well.
Jamie at the 2007 USAs. As you can see she’s listened to the judges
and toned down the hardness for 2008.
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