Stacey has competed in just about every division; fitness, figure, powerlifting and now competes in bodybuilding in the lightweight division. Like many others, Stacey crossed over to bodybuilding after being told by judges she was too hard for figure. She started training almost 30 years ago at age 15.

The 5ft 1″ grandmother (yes, she’s a grandmother!) competes at around 105lbs.

Images via MD, click to enlarge

The 5 foot bodybuilder competes at around 112 lbs and is a hairdresser by trade, owning her own salon since 1995. Her latest blog post somewhat sums up her joy at her recent accomplishment:

I AM A IFBB PRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! do you have any idea how wonderful it is to say that and have it be true!? i am so blessed to have such a great support system and i have thought so much about that these last few days.

Melina, ever the philosopher, has an interesting outlook on female bodybuilding. She has been quoted as saying:

I was beginning to understand how even female bodybuilders are expected to behave in a feminine way in order to draw the sting away from the threat that they pose—to disempower them, even as they are doing something that is very empowering.

I sometimes discuss my bodybuilding experiences with the students, but mostly we discuss women’s experience in sports such as soccer, field hockey and basketball. We look at the feminine apologetic — the idea that because you are encroaching on a masculine domain, you have to make yourself even more feminine in order to apologize for being there.

Female athletes are expected not only to be great performers like male athletes, but they are also expected to be pretty and feminine. Those who conform to this stereotype definitely have an easier time getting sponsorships. This attitude prevails in all different kinds of sports.

Photo by Norbert Torriente via INBF.net

Pictured above is Shemuscle’s version of bodybuilder Christina Taylor….and below are a couple of stage shots via MD of Christina – who won the lightweight class.

Bio matters aside, here’s a very cute video of Johanna washing a truck and flexing by it. Is a thong, crop top and high heels the most suitable outfit for washing your vehicle? Probably not, but Johanna carries it off with finesse…

Waverley mother of two and bodybuilder Esther Marson captured first-place honours in the Lightweight Division at a bodybuilding competition, held recently at York University. She also captured a third-place trophy in the Masters Division. She has been invited to compete at another elite competition, scheduled for November in Hamilton.
“Well, it was a very long, hard winter and I spent most of it preparing for my first competition for 2008,” Marson told Simcoe.com
The sport of bodybuilding continues to grow across Canada and the number of events being held continues to grow.