2006 Boise Fitness Expo - April 7th and 8th

FAME and Bodybuilding.com present the 2006 Boise Fitness Expo!

* NW Fitness Model Search Championships - 7pm

* Hosted by Bodybuilding.com. Free for spectators!

* MC - FAME Figure Pro, Nancy DiNino, www.nancydinino.com

* The show is a WNSO-FAME Fitness Model Pro-Qualifier

* Venue: Big Easy Concert House - 416 S 9th - Boise, ID - 83702
http://www.bigeasyconcerts.com/index...home&VenueID=1

* Host Hotel: The Grove Hotel - 1 block from venue - 245 S Capital Blvd - Boise, ID - 83702 - 208 333 8000. Code: bodybuilding.com
www.grovehotelboise.com

* Party held after event

* PRIZES DESIGNATED SPECIFICALLY FOR FAME Bodybuilding.com!

1. The overall winner (the male or female with highest point score) wins FREE flight & hotel for FAME World Championships taking place at FAME: Fitness And Model Expo (FAME 2006) in Toronto, Canada June 16-18.

2. Layout in the latest issue of Fitness And Model Expo (FAME) Fitness and Lifestyles Magazine. (Possibly one more magazine TBA)

* For more details or inquiries, contact leah@bodybuilding.com; info@FAMEmediagroup.com

Celeste Gonzalez, the newest IFBB Figure Pro

Celeste Gonzalez, the newest IFBB Figure Pro - Press Release Document

Updated 13/02/2006 8:00 (PST)

Culturismo Digital/Rosa Lopez. Tenerife (Spain).

The athlete Celeste Gonzalez is the newest IFBB Figure Pro and also the first spanish competitor who reach this status.

Starting from classic ballet, she came to fitness as one of the big promises in the spanish scene. After years of hard workout and diets, and after she had a serious injury in her knee which even need a complicated surgery, she achieve to qualify to compete in the 2003 IFBB Spanish National Championships in which she got the victory. Just a few days after Celeste was invited by IFBB Spain to the 2003 IFBB Women's World Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Amateur Championships, but she didn't qualify for finals. At this moment she understood that she needed to make some changes in her career and then she started to prepare her return but this time as a figure competitor.

On September 2004 the spanish athlete had been training with only one target in her mind: the 2004 IFBB Women's World Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Amateur Championships in which she got a fantastic second place in her first contest appareance as a figure athlete just behind the slovakian Lenka Chalupkova. Celeste really impressed us all with this place but just a few weeks later, she was the 2004 IFBB Spanish Nationals Figure absolute winner.

The following contest appareance had to wait until September 2005 at the 2005 IFBB Women's World Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Amateur Championships. Celeste Gonzalez had rebuild completely her physique to increase her chances to win but this time she slipped into third behind Lenka Chalupkova and Gabriela Kubesova, a former fitness athlete.

It was not a bad classification for Celeste but she had to wait a few weeks more to make a triumphant return from Catania (Italy) at the 2005 IFBB Mediterranean Championships where she achieved the definitive opportunity to get her IFBB Pro card which she got yesterday afternoon, after a few months doing paperwork, with the official notification from IFBB Spanish Headquarter confirming her pro card.

Now the spanish athlete is preparing for 2005 IFBB New York Pro Figure. She assume it'll be her first pro contest and nobody knows a word about her but she don't want to be a shooting star in the pro scene, she just wants to start a serious path to a solid career.

[spanish]

Celeste González, nueva profesional IFBB

Actualizada 13/02/2006 17:00 (GMT)
Culturismo Digital/Rosa López. Tenerife (España).

La tinerfeña Celeste González, la competidora española más internacional del momento, hace historia en el culturismo español consiguiendo el primer título profesional en la categoría de Figuras (Body Fitness) en IFBB, la más importante federación de este deporte y quinta federación deportiva del mundo con más de 180 países afiliados.

Ha pasado algún tiempo desde los inicios de Celeste en el mundo de la danza clásica que le derivaron al culturismo, deporte en el que, desde un primer momento, comenzó su preparación en la categoría de Fitness Atlético.

Tras duros años de preparación en la que no ha estado exenta de lesiones, habiendo sufrido incluso una intervención en su rodilla, luchó por el título a nivel nacional que conseguiría en el Campeonato de España IFBB 2003 en la mencionada categoría.

Su éxito en el nacional conllevó que fuera invitada a competir en el Campeonato del Mundo IFBB 2003 de Culturismo y Body Fitness Femenino, y Fitness Masculino y Femenino que se celebraría en el municipio costero de Santa Susana, Barcelona (España), donde, aunque no consiguiera un puesto de relevancia, dio sus primeros pasos hacia su carrera internacional.

Debido a sus lesiones Celeste sabía que no podría dar mucho más de sí en la categoría de Fitness Atlético por lo que en ese mismo momento se produjo su paso a la modalidad de Body Fitness y el comienzo de una nueva preparación, mucho más dura que las que había llevado hasta entonces.

Éste fue un proyecto a medio plazo que fue finalmente desvelado el día 17 de Septiembre de 2004 cuando apareció directamente en el Campeonato del Mundo IFBB



de Culturismo y Body Fitness Femenino, y Fitness Masculino y Femenino, con un físico muy mejorado pero sin mayores pretensiones que hacer el mejor puesto que mereciera. Contra todo pronóstico y para sorpresa de propios y extraños, Celeste quedó primero entre las finalistas, para acabar, en una reñida final con la eslovaca Lenka Chalupkova, subcampeona de la categoría (Body Fitness Femenino Talla Alta).

Fue esta medalla de plata, nada más y nada menos que en un mundial, la que verdaderamente le proporcionó el impulso para acometer la tarea que se le venía encima. No obstante, la temporada de 2004 no había concluido y, en los últimos meses del año, aún tuvo tiempo para enfrentarse a las mejores de España y, como no podía ser de otra forma, conquistar el título en su categoría (Body Fitness Femenino Talla Alta) y el absoluto de Body Fitness. Llegados a este punto quedaba claro que la canaria debía de olvidarse de la competición en la arena nacional para centrarse en su preparación de cara a eventos internacionales.

Y así lo hizo reinventándose de nuevo a sí misma, presentando en el Campeonato del Mundo IFBB de Culturismo y Body Fitness Femenino, y Fitness Masculino y Femenino del siguiente año, Santa Susana 23 de Septiembre de 2005, con una forma física radicalmente diferente a la que presentaba en el 2003. Incluso respecto al año anterior se presentaba más dura, con una mayor calidad muscular, con una línea muy alejada de rasgos viriles, y una puesta en escena y tablas de auténtica profesional.

Sin embargo todas estas mejoras no fueron suficientes para conquistar el título mundial que cedió de nuevo ante la incontestable competidora eslovaca Lenka Chalupkova y a una recién llegada a la categoría, Gabriela Kubesova, la checa con varios títulos mundiales y europeos en Fitness Atlético, que aún presentando una definición no acorde con la categoría de Body Fitness, relegaron a la española a la medalla de bronce.

Infatigable, Celeste no se vino abajo y contratacó en el Campeonato del Mediterráneo IFBB 2005 en Catania (Italia), 21-23 de Septiembre de 2005, del que salió victoriosa con su primer oro internacional por delante de la local Agnesse Russo.

De vuelta a España, su equipo se planteó la posibilidad de competir al más alto nivel existente hoy por hoy, en las filas profesionales de IFBB y con los títulos internacionales en el bolsillo se pusieron manos a la obra para iniciar los trámites para conseguir esta licencia.

No había duda de que teniendo en su haber la victoria absoluta en el 2004, único requisito exigido por ejemplo a los culturistas masculinos, una medalla de plata y otra



de bronce en sendos mundiales, y un oro en el último campeonato internacional hasta la fecha conseguiría el carnet profesional por lo que el trámite iniciado en la delegación canaria, fue trasladado a la nacional española, y de allí a la EBFF que finalmente ha concedido este carnet - que se confirma oficialmente en el día de hoy - después de una larga e interminable espera.

Culturismo Digital ha seguido de cerca todo este proceso y, tras la publicación oficial esta misma tarde, ahora que se puede dar por concluido preguntamos a Celeste sobre sus planes de futuro. El momento clave de su carrera actual es su debut como profesional el próximo 13 de Julio en el New York Pro Figure, que se celebrará con toda probabilidad en la barriada neoyorquina de Tribeca, New York (USA), donde se verá las caras con lo más selecto del Body Fitness mundial, entre otras la actual campeona Davana Medina.

"Es una nueva etapa en mi vida y soy consciente de que debo empezar poquito a poco." - declaraba ayer mismo la atleta canaria - "Voy con la firme intención de llegar a lo más alto que pueda e intentarlo por varios años, no será un año para probar, sino que, si todo sale bien, quiero continuar en el circuito profesional."

Cuando le preguntamos sobre su actual preparación Celeste nos contesta:

"Básicamente la preparación no cambia en cuanto a la dureza de los entrenamientos, lógicamente cada año voy a más y no porque este año tenga el carnet profesional, sino porque en cada ocasión intento y he intentado superarme." - tras una pausa continúa - "Sé y soy consciente del nivel que hay, de mis posibilidades actuales, de que la competencia será muy dura y también de que allí voy a ser una completa desconocida. Simplemente me centro en seguir la misma línea de los anteriores años, poniendo especial hincapié en mis puntos más débiles para tratar de mejorarlos." - Celeste añade - "Realmente los progresos se van notando año tras año, competición tras competición y en esta ocasión soy consciente más que nunca del duro trabajo que tengo por delante. Siempre he entrenado para ser la mejor o, al menos, intentarlo, pero este año todo ha cambiado pues, aún siendo mi sueño, nunca imaginé que podría llegar a profesional."

Antes de despedirnos, Celeste quiere agradecer el apoyo que ha recibido: "a toda la gente que me ha apoyado desde el principio, que nunca dudó de mis posiblidades y se vuelcan y se esfuerzan en ayudarme y animarme cada día."

Vaya desde estas líneas nuestra más sincera felicitación tanto a Celeste como su incansable entrenador Jose Ángel Quintero, que ha estado siempre a la sombra de los éxitos de esta sensacional competidora que defenderá a España por primera vez en la historia en esta complicada categoría.


Contact Information/Datos de contacto:

Celeste González / José Ángel Quintero
Gimnasio Olympia
c/ Elias Bacallado, s/n
38010 Ofra - Santa Cruz de Tenerife (España)
Teléfono: +34 922 644 104

Jody May reveals her bodybuilding schedule for 2006

Fresh off her remarkable performance at the Atlanta Nationals, Jody May is ready for a great 2006 campaign.
"I am doing a few guest posings and will be at the arnold and the JR. USA's this year!" she says.
"Very exciting! April 1 st I will be beginning my prep for the USA's in July, I can't wait!!!"
....We can't either.

Jody May - Interview with Texas' Best Female Bodybuilder

30-year-old Odessa, Texas resident Jody May (website is www.jody-may.com ) has been a bodybuilder for about half her life. She's one of a group of up-and-coming female bodybuilders at a time of growth, and controversy in the sport. In fact, even the use of the term "sport" to describe female bodybuilding has been debated.

Female bodybuilding has been hammered with allegations of steroid use by some contestants, "limits" placed on the "size" of muscle development a woman can have in a contest, forays into the sex industry on the part of some of the sport's participants, and the very termination of some female bodybuilding events because they were viewed as just not popular with the public.

In all of this, the growth of female bodybuilding in number of participants, websites, and local and regional shows, can't be ignored. Indeed, the very "Merchants of Cool" have started to feature cut and well-muscled women in advertising as a nod to an ever increasingly body-aware American society. Top-ranked television shows like Alias feature strong women, even if they're not as well developed as Jody May.

Indeed, if television follows the Internet and features more female bodybuilders like Ms. May, we will see an explosion of participation in and fans of, the sport leading to the emergence of a new vehicle to promote products and services from IPods to tanning salons. But will television and marketing decision makers pay attention and do this?

So, we've reached a cross roads in female bodybuilding. We talked with Ms. May about this, and about her.

Q: Where did you go to college?

Jody May: Odessa College

Q: What was your major?

Jody May: Associate of Applied Science-Physical Therapist Assistant

Q: Did you play a sport?

Jody May: I was a Cheerleader in college. (Editors' note: for those readers who may not be aware of the growth of cheerleading, it's now recognized as a multi-million-dollar industry in America. )

Q: What women's bodybuilding contests have you entered, and how did you do?

Jody May: Well, I started with a fourth place finish in the Lackland Classic in 1999; I was a Venus Model Search finalist in 2001; I placed first in the Southwest USA Fitness Model Search in 2001, in 2002, I took eighth in the John Sherman Fitness and Figure Classic; in 2003, I was a national qualifier for the Ronnie Coleman Classic and first place novice heavyweight; I took first and overall in the Southwest USA-Open in 2004 and I was 11th at the NPC Nationals the same year.
I'm getting ready for the Nationals in November.

Q: Can you remember exactly why you got into bodybuilding and what year? For some, it was because a boyfriend or husband was in it. For others, it was because they were in athletics already, and liked the results from weight lifting. There are other reasons. What was it for you?

Jody May: I became interested in bodybuilding when I was 15. I was a severe asthmatic and was not physically able to play sports. I finally was allowed to try different sports because my doctor thought it would increase my lung capacity/endurance. I participated in multiple activities then one day I saw a Muscle and Fitness magazine. Cory Everson was on the front. My parents allowed me to join the local gym and I took the mag in to the trainer and told him this is what I wanted to doÉ.basically he laughed. The athletes in the magazine looked so strong and that I how I wanted to feel.

Q: For our readers, what is a "pro card?" Do you have a pro card, or want to get one? What does a woman bodybuilder have to do to get a pro card?

Jody May: A pro card just means you are a professional athlete. I am not a pro but of course that is what all the amateurs are striving for. To turn pro you have to win Nationals or USA's

Q: How much money per month do you spend on bodybuilding-related materials, services, and supplies. For example, gym memberships, supplements, food, travel, etc. In other words, what does your budget look like?

Jody May: Honestly I don't know for sure, I don't even want to know. I can give you a basic run down on the expenses. First you have to have a NPC card-$70, entry to show, about $60. I spend about $100 per week on food, Suits depend on what you want last year I spent $400 on 2 suits I wore twice for a total of about 10 minutes. Tanning products-tanning bed monthly $20 then color for the show..oh about $100. Travel expenses can be crazy, air fare, hotel in about $100 per night and you usually have to be there 3 days maybe 4. All in all I have a real job to support my hobby that is more work than my real job that I actually went to school for!!

Q: Some women bodybuilders raise money via donations through their website, or a members section. Is this true for you?
Jody May: I have recently began doing this and doing WebCam shows. There is little financial support for female bodybuilding so you have to really love it to do it. It really does help with the competition expenses.

Q: If you have a member's section, how's it going? What are the good parts and bad parts of having this kind of Internet club? Are all of your members male?

Jody May: My site is really going well. My webmaster Andy of Andysmusclegoddesses.de takes very good care of me. There are bad parts to everything and the worst thing about this is the fact that is someone is paying for things they expect you to do anything they request. My members know that I have limits and they respect my boundaries, I appreciate that.

Q: You obviously have fans. When did it first hit you that you were gaining a fan base? I mean, was it a sudden rise in emails? Was it a phone call from someone you didn't know? Share with us when you first realized that you were gaining fans. Have you ever been asked for your autograph?

Jody May: I went to a show in Dallas about a year and a half ago. Of course I can't go to Dallas without going to the mall. I was just walking along with some friends when this girl comes running up to me from behind literally yelling my name. I turn and have no idea who she is. She starts asking me all these questions and takes my arm drags me back to the store she is working in and has me sign an autograph AND she calls her brother and has me say HI!! It was very funny, and I was very shocked, still am!

Q: Do you have women bodybuilders as friends? If so, who are they? If not, why not?

Jody May: Bonny Priest, Gina Davis, Melissa Dettwiller, Amanda Dunbar, Jennifer Sevia

Q: Is there a tight "sisterhood" among female bodybuilders? In other words, is there a kind of "unofficial club" that you know of. If not, why not?

Jody May: I don't know about official clubs but everyone is very friendly and supportive. Sometimes it is nice to have someone to talk to that has been in the same boat.

Q: Male bodybuilders seem to have no problem gaining corporate sponsors. Why is this not the case for women bodybuilders? Or am I wrong? Do you have a corporate sponsor?

Jody May: I do not have a sponsor, but of course would love to have one. In part I believe the problem has to do with the fact that the girls sometimes take it to the edge with their size and hardness. The public can't relate and they don't want to see that. The media give bodybuilding a bad wrap by showing the bad side when there is a bad side to every sport, but the public can relate to football or baseball much better.

Q: Are your parents and/or family supportive of your bodybuilding work?

Jody May: I am very blessed to have a very supportive family, they don't understand why I do it but they respect my choice.

Q: Does being a female bodybuilder change how men respond to you? What about people in general? What have you learned?

Jody May: In general I have a positive reaction. I have also learned that you have to have the drive inside you to do this, it is in your blood, you can't really learn it or teach it, it is too demanding. I also know that people are very curious about it and ask lots of questions and as soon as you say "all I eat are chickens and egg whites" they decide instantly it is not for them!

Q: Some have said and written that women's bodybuilding is dying. In your opinion is this really true? If not, why? If it is dying, what can or should be done to save it?

Jody May: Honestly I don't feel it is dying. Bodybuilding will never be a mainstream sport, but they are many supporters and competitors. I also believe the new rules for not coming in so hard and big will help. People want to see someone they can relate to on a personal level.

Q: Should women bodybuilders have their own organization that stages events, pays prize money, and "connects" women bodybuilders? Is the IFBB hostile to the idea of women with muscle, given that
it recently posted a "restriction" on how muscular a woman can be?

Jody May: I don't think they are really hostile but as I said before the public wants to be able to relate to someone and no one can relate to some of the physiques that have been on stage in the past few years. I believe they are just setting limits.

Q: What's the future for you in women's bodybuilding? Do you want to use it to get into entertainment, as some like Rachel McGlish did? Do you want to just build an Internet following? Do you want to be a spokesperson for companies? Share with us.

Jody May: Actually I do it for my self. There are very few sports that you are able to compete in, as you age and you just get better with age in bodybuilding. I also appreciate the fact that I get many emails from people saying how much I have inspired them to live a healthier lifestyle or that they too have asthma and realize they can be active.

Kelly Ryan, Craig Titus, and Women's Physique International

It was reported here and in other forums and websites, that Kelly Ryan and Craig Titus started Women's Physique International but a September 15, 2005 press release revealed that they were backing out of the venture and for reasons not known. The website is still in the ownership of their company, however.

Melissa James' mother tried to implicate Kelly Ryan in the murder case

This comes from a document posted at www.freecraigtitus.com

"Maura James said her daughter never mentioned being romantically involved with Titus, who married Ryan in Clark County in June 2000. Melissa James, who was a model and former dance instructor, had lived with the bodybuilders in Southern California several years ago.

Titus asked Melissa James to move to Las Vegas about two months ago, and she accepted, her mother said.

In the days before her death, James told her mother that she and Ryan were not getting along. She said she was staying at a hotel.

"I said, 'Why?' She said, 'Well, Kelly is flipping out and acting crazy,'" Maura James said.

Titus booked the hotel room for two nights, from Dec. 12 to Dec. 14, and paid for it with a credit card belonging to Emperor Enterprises, a company he and Ryan own, according to police.

"He said he had spent most of one night with James at her room," investigators said in the report, quoting Titus.

Titus also paid for James' plane ticket home, her mother said."

Women's Physique International - A New Women's Bodybuilding Organization

FBB Anita Ramsey reports on the new WPI. I for one will take a wait-and-see view, as I don't think the founders have a sound business plan for the company -- complete with high-powered corporate sponsors like Pepsi or Coca Cola -- and it's not ran by women.

The New Women's Physique International (WPI) was created and designed by athletes for the athletes. It is the main objective and goal of this new organization to become the leader in the women's bodybuilding and fitness industry by making necessary changes improving and enhancing amateur and professional Fitness, Figure, Female Bodybuilding, and Fitness Model Search competitions.

Ok, though I feel there is enough out there right now for figure, fitness anda model search s@#t, it seems that maybe they say that WPI will not allow any management firms and or sponsors being associated in any way with the judging process on panel.

WPI welcomes any and all athletes with the desire and passion to take their competitive careers to the next level. Professional status may be obtained within WPI by placing top two in each class of a professional qualifying show, for all three divisions. Any female that has already earned their Pro card in any current competitive organizations (IFBB For Example) or similar federations will be automatically granted their Professional status in WPI.

It seems they have already got there first show ready (WPI Presents the Musclemag International and Bodybuilding.com's Women's Physique International's Extravaganza) to be held in Las Vegas October of 2006.

Female Bodybuilder Brenda Smith a candidate to be the "face" of Jones Soda - vote for her!

Jones Soda's hosting an online contest for the best photo to go on their soda product. Famous photog Gene X Hwang submitted a picture of female bodybuilder Brenda Smith, and it's gotten rave reviews. Her current rating is 8.34 out of a possible 10.

You can see her contest page and cast a vote yourself, with a click on this sentence.

To learn more about Brenda, visit her website at www.brenda-smith.com