IFBB Figure Pro Nicole Wilkins-Lee continues to ride the wave of success. The new issue of Muscle & Fitness Hers (July/August) features the Michigan cutie. Check out parts of the feature on the HERS web site and for the full feature pick up the current issue of the magazine. While you’re at it flip to the “Twist & Turns” section of the magazine to see more industry news, results and announcements by yours truly.
Nicole shows off her rock’n bod on the beach.
The newest issue of IRONMAN magazine features Ms. Figure Olympia Jenn Gates and IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Moe El Moussawi. This is Jenn’s second cover, her first being Muscle & Fitness Hers. Congrats!
Newest cover of IRONMAN magazine.
WOW! What can you say about the June 2009 issue of FLEX magazine? HOT? Ya, smoke’n hot. Here’s a sneak peak of the two cover choices. One of these two will be the cover that hits newstands.
On cover one you have IFBB Pros Felicia Romero and Nicole Wilkins-Lee with NPC competitor Monique Minton. The second cover you have Monique heating it up solo. Tough call as I like both covers. I have my favorite, what about you? If you’ve signed up for the FLEX magazine newsletter you’re one of the first people to see the new cover choices and can cast your vote. It’s free and simple to do, click here to be on the list to help choose the next cover of FLEX magazine.
Cover One with three hardbody hotties.
Cover Two - Monique Minton steams things up.
What do you think Hardbody readers? Which cover do you want to see on newstands in the coming weeks?
I’m a little late on this one since there is a new issue out but thanks to IRONMAN Magazine’s Ruth Silverman for the Hardbody.com plug.
Ruth writes, “Is that a camera in your hand or?… Isaac Hinds has made Hardbody.com a go-to site for news of the ladies’ sports. Better take your vitamins, Isaac. Bikini’s comin’.”
Ruth knows I’m always happy to see her and looking forward to some friendly banter this weekend in Columbus.
Note to self…
Get eyes in back of head. Watch out for Ruth’s stealth photos.Ruth makes a few predictions on her blog. Will she be right? We’ll see soon. She’s usually spot on with the women’s bodybuilding. PS - Ruth your Canadian friend to the North should read Hardbody more so she knows the one-piece still exists in the Pros and it’s only gone in the NPC. 
Congrats to NPC competitor and rising fitness model star, Monique Minton on her first cover. Monique is featured on the new Muscle & Fitness Hers cover which hit stands today. Those of you attending the Arnold Classic this week can stop by the BSN booth and meet the cover model. Congrats Monique!
Monique Minton features on the March/April 2009 issue.
Check out the April 2009 issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine on shelves now. Bruce Lee is featured on the cover and on the inside is a great piece with IFBB Pro Julie Ann Kulla. One year ago she wasn’t even a pro and now she’s gracing the pages of Muscle & Fitness. We’ll be seeing Julie Ann back on stage at some point this year.
April 2009 Muscle & FitnessOh and the lead-in photo to the article was snapped by yours truly. It was a hot ass day in Vegas when we shot but Julie Ann was great to work with and fun to photograph. Congrats Julie Ann!
Here’s a first look at a few photos you won’t see in the newest issue of FLEX magazine. FLEX once again features one of the leading ladies in the IFBB. Check out these behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot with Meriza DeGuzman and photographer, Pavell Ythjall. You can see the full feature and all the hot shots in the March 2009 issue of FLEX magazine. Props to everyone involved, nice work.
Trish Stratus got her start as a Fitness Model and parlayed her modeling success into bigger ventures, most notably the WWE. Still in top shape Trish is featured on the current cover of INSIDE FITNESS magazine. INSIDE FITNESS is a Canadian fitness magazine published by Terry Frendo. Terry is doing a great job of putting out solid content with clean design.
If you’re in the Toronto area Tuesday, January 27, 2009 you’ll have the unique opportunity to meet Trish Stratus. Check it out and if you go send us your photo from the event. We’ll post it up here on hardbody.
Trish’s newest venture is Stratusphere Yoga, a yoga studio that offers multiple classes on a daily basis. A big shout out to all our Canadian visitors. Facebookers you can find the Inside Fitness Magazine group here.
Keep your eye on Momo in ‘09.The first time I met Monique “Momo” Minton was at the 2008 NPC Jr Nationals and swore it was IFBB Figure Pro Mary Lado. I
wrote in June to keep an eye on this Lado look-alike, as if that is a difficult thing to do. Monique competed three times on the National NPC Figure stage and held her own in the top five. This year Monique has her sights set on the National NPC stage again but in the new bikini division. She placed well in figure so in theory she shouldn’t in bikini, right? Wrong. Monique has changed up her training to not lift as heavy and won’t have the muscular delts you saw on her last year. She has the physique that, in my opinion, is what a npc bikini competitor is all about. Not too much muscle but clearly works out and looks great. We’ll see if the judges agree when she takes the stage at the
NPC JR USA’s in May, at the first ever NPC bikini pro qualifier.
Pick up the newest
Muscle & Fitness magazine and you will see Monique on about 14 pages. That’s just the beginning of the magazine exposure for her this year. Look for Momo to be on an upcoming cover of
Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine as well as featured in future issues of other publications. Monique will also be launching a new web site this year at
momofitness.com. UFC fans can often see her working the BSN booth at fights and she will also be working their booth at the upcoming Arnold Classic. Monique tells me she has been taking a few MMA classes but don’t look for her to get into the ring and fight any time soon.
Lots happening in the world of Momo in 2009, don’t look for her to tap out any time soon.
IFBB Figure Pro Desha Rodriquez has a nice little profile in the newest FLEX magazine. Pick up your copy of the February 2009 issue to read more about this Florida momma.
Desha heats things up during a Las Vegas photo shoot.
(not the shot in the mag but from the same shoot)
Current issue of FLEX magazine.
Congrats to Jessica Paxson-Putnam on another magazine cover, this time a publication from South Africa.
Jessica on another cover.
If you haven’t seen the January 2009 issue of FLEX magazine, you’re missing out on some kick ass shots of the current Ms. Figure Olympia Champ, Jennifer Gates. Here’s a look behind the scenes on the shoot with photographer Pavel Ythjall. Great work.
Props to FLEXonline.com and photographer Pavell Ythjall for this behind the scenes look at “The Girls Are Back” photo shoot. This shoot was done shortly after Jennifer Gates won the Figure Olympia title this year. The photos are featured in the newest FLEX magazine, in stores this Monday.
Here’s a sneak peak at a couple of the shots you won’t see in the magazine. This is a look at a Figure Olympia champ like you’ve never seen before. Great work on all who were involved and props to FLEX magazine for featuring the best in the Figure world. Check back Monday as we’ll be posting more Behind The Scenes images as well as a look at the new issue of FLEX magazine.
Jenn Gates during the FLEX photo shoot.
A look Behind The Scenes on a Flex magazine shoot.
Alicia Marie continues to find success on and off the stage. She reached IFBB Pro status earlier this year, signed with BSN, appeared on MTV’s MADE and now she is the feature of The South magazine.
Laura Clark of The South magazine writes,
On paper, Alicia Marie amazes, but in person, she astounds. Bright and incredibly energetic, it instantly comes as no surprise that fans and colleagues alike view her as a kind of super woman. She is proof that brawn, beauty and brains can come together flawlessly. She is the embodiment of the whole package—a strong, muscular body, with an intellect to match.
This isn’t the last we’ll see of Alicia. She’s part of the reality show featuring fitness and figure women that is set to begin filming soon. Props to Alicia for her continued success.
Alicia Marie on the cover of The South magazine.
Another version of The South magazine featuring Alicia Marie.
This is a very special post for me. Why? I am pleased to say it is my first cover. No, it’s not me on the cover, which I’m sure we’re all thankful for, but rather a photo I took. I’ve had many other photos published over the years but to have your photo make the cover is a huge honor. Like many other things, you always remember your first.
It was also an honor to be part of this cover because it showcases UFC heavyweights, Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. Their November 15th fight is being billed as the “Biggest fight in mixed martial arts history“. Pavell Ythjall photographed Randy and I photographed Brock for the cover as well as their training. It is with that, I’m ecstatic to provide a first look at the December 2008 issue of FLEX Magazine.
Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar square off in Vegas next week!
Those of you wondering what any of this has to do with fitness or figure, don’t fret. This isn’t a post just to toot my horn. FLEX magazine continues to feature the women and in this issue the featured profile is Mary Elizabeth Lado. Pavell Ythjall and FLEX were kind enough to provide “behind the scenes” photos from the shoot.
A look behind the scenes from the shoot.
Make up artist Rachel Hoke lends a hand on the shoot.
Mary Lado takes a break on the shoot.
Props to FLEX magazine for their continued support of the women in the industry. FLEX subscribers may have already received their copy of the magazine. Those looking for it on the newsstand should be able to find it next week.
Props to Lonnie Teper at IRONMAN magazine for promoting the women in his Rising Stars section of the magazine. The December issue features two people you’ve seen here. Mendi Sakamoto and Alicia Harris are both featured with full page photos.
Mendi Sakamoto.
Alicia aka Smiley Harris.
The November/December 2008 issue of Muscle & Fitness Hers hits news stands this week. I happy to announce the latest issue has a new column by yours truly. The two page spread highlights a variety of photos and news with NPC/IFBB women. Props to Chris Hoebrecker and the people at Weider Publications for the opportunity to feature these women. It’s an honor and privilege to contribute something in print.
Thank you ladies for your continual hardwork and we’ll do the best we can to showcase your accomplishments.
November/December 2008 Muscle & Fitness Hers.
Felicia Romero and Lenay Hernandez both found success this season. Lenay went from competing in her first NPC National show to the Olympia stage, in less than 12 months. Felicia found herself on the cover of industry magazines, landing a supplement contract and competing in the Olympia. The two women are featured in the “West Coast Muscle” column of MuscleMag. The December issue should be hitting the stands in the coming weeks but here’s a sneak peak.
Jamie Eason lands another cover with Felicia and Lenay featured inside.
Props to FLEX magazine for getting the women back in print. The feature is called, “The Girls Are Back” and back they are. The new magazine has Silvio Samuel on the cover and should be hitting the shelves now. The photos is the new issue are bad ass and Pauline looks awesome. I’m digging these photos and this direction in the mag.
What do you think?
Pauline Nordin in the newest FLEX magazine.
Awesome shots of Pauline Nordin.
Look for the August 2008 issue of IRONMAN magazine which should be hitting shelves soon. Arnold is on the cover, which usually leads to higher sales and bodes well for this issue’s HARDBODY. IFBB Figure Pro and spokes model for BodyWell Nutrition, Kristal Richardson has six full page photos in this August issue and she looks great.
I had the chance to shoot with Kristal a few years ago and we shot again at the West Palm Beach show last year. It’s been fun to see Kristal improve as a model and she really can turn it on for the camera. I look back on the photos we took the first time and man some were terrible but some were good. The first time we shot it was only her second shoot and admittedly I was still shooting like I was blind. Kidding. She’s become a great model by shooting with top photographers over the last couple of years and worked at her modeling skills which has made her a better model. I have to remind myself of the same thing, the more I shoot the better I get or at least in theory. Kristal is a beautiful woman and a total sweetheart. Anyone who has met her knows she’s a pleasure to be around and her husband Tom is a stand up guy. A husband and wife team that are good people.
Below is a photo from the magazine, the photos were taken be Michael Neveux of IRONMAN magazine.
One of six photos feature in the August Ironman.Congratulations Kristal. You may see Kristal working the BodyWell Nutrition booth at various shows and when I spoke with her last month she had her sights set on the Jacksonville Pro show.
