Women's Bodybuilding Blog - Women's Fitness, Female Muscle
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Athena Siganakis' Return To Female Bodybuilding On Schedule
After a bit of a layoff, Athena Siganakis has returned to bodybuilding. She's now training for her first show (in a long time), which will be held June 2nd in Ft.St. John, B.C. She says "It's only a Level 1, but ya gotta start somewhere."
Athena very graciously took time to answer a few questions.
How did you get into bodybuilding?
"A few years after I retired from rythmic gymnastics I decided I was getting a little too heavy and needed to do something about it. So I joined a small gym. The trainer there thought I was competing already! Always had big legs and big arms. 2yrs later I did my first show. I was 21. I think I placed 2nd...I think..lol"
What fbbs are friends of yours?
"I don't have a lot of fbbs as friends. Not that I don't want them it's just the way it has turned out. I do count Shawn Tan as a friend and I recently befriended Michelle Russell. She's a newbie here in BC. Will be doing her first show in Nov. You've never heard of her but you will :)"
Is there a great sisterhood?
"I think there is a great sisterhood. Most of the fbbs I have met and talked to are more than willing to help each other. We have to be. It's not always easy being us."
Why does women's bodybuilding endure considering all the crits and controversy?
"Why do more and more women do it? It lives because we do it for the love of it. 'They' have said fbbing was dead so many times over the years and yet here we are. We're not going away. I think more and more women are realizing that muscle on the female body is damn sexy. And being fit and strong is very empowering."
Is the webcam a necessary good ($) or a necessary evil? Why?
"For me it's a necessary good. Without it I could not afford to compete. So far I haven't had a bad experience. Made some great friends. But it can be an evil. I think it depends on how the fbber uses it."
Athena's developed a good fan base from her webcam, and is now ready to go out and build an even larger base from competiting. So look out for this reborn face on the female bodybuilding scene.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Monica Mollica - Super Legs Woman On Webcam
As if photo's aren't enough, the incredibly beautiful and accomplished (book on fitness for sale -- Swedish) Swedish female bodybuilder Monica ("Super Legs") Mollica is taking the webcam world by storm.
While webcams were once considered a controversial development, now they're mainstream as many of the top webcam sites have over 100 female bodybuilder with webcam pages, and considered essential for the generation of revenue that's applied to training for contests.
The webcams are also growing in number, with a new site called Euromusclecam making its entrance.
Monica's natural sexiness and a very cut and ripped and shapely body has made her a star at sites like FTWebcam and HerBicepscam. Her legs rival those of IFBB pro Heather Policky, who Monica considers her "model" female bodybuilder
Check out Monica's page there with a click here.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Monica Mollica - New Page At Andy's Muscle Goddesses
Rising star Monica Mollica has a new page at Andy's Muscle Goddesses, where it's reported...
Where and when were you born?
I was born in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, on April 14th 1980.
What is your profession?
I currently work as a writer, dietary consultant and (part time) web designer.
Were you involved in sports or fitness prior to bodybuilding and how did you get started with weight training?
I have been active all my life; as a child and teenager I was a dancer. Then I discovered the gym and weights on my way to the aerobic classes, and after that it didn’t take long before I turned into a gym rat. By the age of 14 I already had the desire to compete. Since I was tiny back then I aimed at fitness, even though it was bodybuilding that I had a passion for.
Was it a goal for you to compete in bodybuilding competitions right from the beginning or was it something that grew in your mind as time went on and you saw the progress in your body?
Pretty much, yes. But because I didn’t have the necessary muscle mass, I started out with fitness to get experience.
Can you give me your competition history?
I did three fitness shows in Sweden 1999. However I was too vascular and lean, and therefore didn’t place very good (the judging is Sweden is a bit different than in the USA!).
Please tell me something about your training routine (ie: how many days per week / training split /cardio, etc.)
I train most everyday. I know it’s easy to get over trained by training every day, but thanks to good nutrition and a lot of sleep, I can make progress on this training volume. I’ve cut down on my cardio over the years in order to maximize muscle growth, but I think I’m still doing more cardio (30-45 min after every weight lifting workout) than most other bodybuilders. I like to keep my cardiovascular system in as good condition as my muscles.
What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much?
Squats! Then chins, dips, dumbbell shoulder presses and then incline dumbbell chest presses…and then…
There isn’t really any exercise I don’t like. They all hit the muscles from different angels and are necessary to fully develop all muscles.
Which body part is your best in your opinion?
Legs and glutes have always been my trademark!
If you don’t mind would you give me some stats (best lifts and some body measurements)?
I’m 5’4” and my current off-season weight (keeping my abs visible all year round) is 159-160 lb. My best squat is 330 lb and I do incline chest presses with 75 lb dumbbells. My max in chins is 14 reps.
There's more. Just click on the title of this post!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Melissa Dettwiller and Gene Hwang At Arnold Classic Afterparty
The woman on the left -- well, the only woman in the photo -- is not Babarella, but famous female bodybuilder Melissa Dettwiller at the after-party for the Arnold Classic. All I can say is wow.
Oh, the guy's GeneX Hwang, the equally famous photographer of women bodybuilders, but we're not focused on him!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Monica Mollica - Super Legs Woman
Yep. Sweden's Monica Mollica's a Super Woman and getting stronger every day.
She says her idol / objective is IFBB Pro Heather Policky "Why do you think I'm busting my ass?" she asks.
Well, she's certainly doing that and with the desire to have the sheer thigh mass that Ms. Policky is known for.
I'd say she's on her way.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Jennifer Benda At The Arnold Classic
Hans Klien takes this photo of Jennifer Benda, the 2006 Orange County (CA) Classic - NPC, Heavyweight, second place winner, at the Arnold Classic.
Jody May At The 2007 Arnold Classic
Hans Klein captures Jody May at the pre-judging at the Arnold Classic. Jody's showing a new hair-style compared to her appearance at the NPC Nationals in Atlanta in 2005. But the smile's still the same.
Jaime Buffalari - Classic Pict From Photo Shoot With GeneX
This is simply one of GeneX's best photos in my opinion. He captures Jaime Buffalari in a classic black and white conception and an angle that in one view manages to take her beauty and muscularity to a new level.
More on Jaime Buffalari here.
Annie Rivieccio At The 2007 Arnold Classic
Annie Rivieccio shows an hourglass body, ripped thighs, and great symetry in this photo. She placed seventh in the contest.
Arnold Classic Posedown - Lisa Aukland, Heather Policky, and Heather Foster
This photo features Lisa Aukland, the fourth place winner of the Arnold Classic on the left with Heather Policky in the middle and Heather Foster on the right. Check out Lisa hamstring development.
Yaxeni Oriquen, Iris Kyle, and Heather Policky At The Arnold Classic
This is a great photo of the eventual Arnold Classic winner, Iris Kyle in the middle of a posedown featuring Yaxeni Oriquen on the left and Heather Policky on the right.
Iris Kyle Wins 2007 Arnold Classic
Ms. International Bodybuilding
Overall: Iris Kyle
1) Iris Kyle
2) Yaxeni Oriquen
3) Heather Policky
4) Lisa Aukland
5) Betty Pariso
6) Dayana Cadeau
7) Annie Rivieccio
8) Bonny Priest
9)Toni Norman
10) Cathy Lefrancois
11) Lora Ottenad
12) Denise Masino
13) Kim Perez
14) Colette Nelson
15) Rose Jennings
16) Susanne Niederhauser
Figure International
1) Mary Elizabeth Lado
2) Amanda Savell
3) Sonia Adcock
4) Latisha Wilder
5) Valerie Waugaman
6) Gina Aliotti
7) Chastity Slone
8) Julie Wallis
9) Christine Wan
10) Inga Neverauskaite
11) Jane Awad
12) Debbie Leung
13) Briana Tindall
14) Corry Matthews
15) Zena Collins
Fitness International
1) Kim Klein
2) Jen Hendershott
3) Adela Garcia
4) Tanji Johnson
5) Julie Palmer
6) Tracey Greenwood
7) Julie Shipley-Childs
8) Debra Czempinski
9) Hollie Stewart
10) Angela Monteleone-Semsch
11) Amy Villa-Nelson
12) Mindi O'Brien
13) Bethany Gainey
14) Amy Haddad
15) Heidi Fletcher
* qualifies for 2007 Olympia