Winners of 2014: Part Two

WBPF International Austrian Championships (Bodybuilding)
OANA HREAPCA

Her absness cropped up this year at the World Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Federation’s Austrian Championships and (I think) found herself in a field of one. However, she didn’t seem to mind and looked as thick and gorgeous as ever.

Watch a man who can’t help himself

NPC North Carolina State (Class B & Overall Physique)
IFBB North American Championships (Class B Open & Over 35 Masters Physique)
GILLIAN WARD

Former gymnast, dancer and martial artist Gillian Ward has had quite a first year as a Physique competitor. I am intensely driven and truly believe that I am capable of anything that I put my mind to, she says. Well, believe! She won her first ever contest in April, and by the end of August had won open and over 35 classes at the North Americans and was promptly awarded her pro card. I know nothing other than being strong, says Gillian, in reference to her athletic achievements both past and present. I very much enjoy it. Being strong makes me feel capable and empowered.

Watch Gillian’s gymnastic fantastic routine

IFBB Brazilian Championships (Bodybuilding)
IFBB South American Championships (Bodybuilding)
SELMA LABAT

The next Brazilian female muscle sensation off the rank, Selma Labat also graduated to the pros in 2014. We haven’t been able to find too many images of Selma’s triumphs, but we have managed to find her routine from the Brazilian Championships.

Follow this glorious woman on Facebook

NAC Universe (Physique)
MONIA GIOIOSA

Isn’t it good to know that somewhere there’s a federation where hardcore female muscle is still appreciated? The NAC judges its “Physique” women on muscular development, muscular proportions, symmetry of development, and muscular definition, allowing the biggest hardest woman to win every time. Monia Gioiosa was that big hard woman in 2011 and 2012, and won for the third time this year.

Watch Monia’s surprisingly (?) graceful winning routine

IFBB North American Championships (Class D Over 35 Physique)
TWANA BARNETT-FERGUSON

She’s a loving wife, a Krav Maga expert, a rare beauty and now an IFBB Physique pro. Twana caught our attention earlier in the year and has held it tight ever since. Has there been a woman in 2014 who has enjoyed her stage experience more than TBF?

Marvel at her muscular beauty on Instagram

IFBB Tampa Pro (Bodybuilding)
SHEILA BLECK

She’d been MIA since 2012, so it was great to see the legendary Sheila Bleck return to competition in 2014, bringing her trademarks – incredible conditioning and the captivating artistry of her posing – back with her. She won the Tampa Pro and consequently qualified for her fourth Ms Olympia, where she finished 7th.

Watch Sheila’s post-win interview

Enjoy!

Swell Digs: Twana Barnett-Ferguson

From Temeluca in California, Twana Barnett-Ferguson has been married to Mike Ferguson for over 15 years, and together they have three lovely daughters.

But, though her family are clearly the part of her life she cherishes the most, there is, it seems, a little bit more to Twana than that. Just a little.

Dug up this old picture of me tattooing, she posted with the above on her Instagram. Her and hubby Mike run their own tattoo place, 1st Amendment Tattoo (good name!) in Temeluca. She’s listed as the company’s Owner/President, so I guess we should add BUSINESS OWNER or ENTREPRENEUR to her list of skills as well.

Twana is a Krav Maga black belt and instructor. What’s Krav Maga? Click on the link. Or maybe just settle back and watch this demo from Twana’s You Tube channel. Perhaps, “settle” is not quite the right word to use here, but anyway, enjoy.

I would have guessed that when you are a woman who looks as good as Twana undoubtedly does (mother of THREE, remember), walking past a mirror without checking your fine self out must be a tad difficult. So it’s not especially surprising that Twana is a bit of a one for the “Ain’t I lookin’ fine?” selfie, more than ever when she’s in contest countdown mode, as she was when she posted the above and below.

So I’m out running errands & the bathroom is empty. My 1st thought… was to take a selfie!!! she writes. Really though, can you blame her? I mean, WOW!

And this self-confessed selfie addict has got some serious muscle. And for the last couple of years, she has been taking that muscle on stage in the physique division, most recently at the NPC USAs (pics), where she finished 5th in her class.

This was her second time at the USAs – she finished 6th last year.

It’s so funny when people try to “alert” me to my size, she says, like the “All Around Badass” she describes herself as. I look at myself everyday especially at the gym where I work very hard to look the way I do. So THANK YOU for your concern, now please GO AWAY I have a set to finish.

I’m swooning, really.

And I don’t want to get disrespectful here. Seriously. Her husband seems like a really cool guy, and their home life appears to be genuinely loving and full of fun as well. Check out this little home-made gem from the Fergusons.

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A bit weird, a lot goofy, and (ultimately) very very sexy all in just 14 seconds!

No disrespect, then, just admiration. Really. What a woman! The “New Mavi Gioia” as some are calling her, and it’s not so hard to understand why, is it? Both have a kind of natural sexuality that comes across when their in front of the camera (whether it is theirs or someone else’s). Both are just drop dead gorgeous, and both, interestingly, are mothers who keep their families at the centre of everything they do.

Ah, whatever! I think I could overdo it (probably have overdone it already) on the comparison between the two. Twana is, quite clearly, her own woman, and a very unique individual at that. And maybe that’s the reason why I can’t help swooning all over her (sorry, Mr Ferguson!). It’s not the looks at all, it’s the total “badass” strength and confidence she projects that’s really doing it for me.

[though the looks probably don’t hurt though, do they? – ed.]

Enjoy!