Melissa Merritt

This sleek and muscled 25 year old from Austin, Texas is Melissa Merritt.
Melissa won the Figure Overall title in Las Vegas at the Fitness America World Championships on November 21, 2008.
Melissa just ran a Fitness Bootcamp with fellow fitness stars Abby Marie and Brenda Mikalajunas.
Abby Marie is also being trained by Melissa.

Amber Elizabeth Fournier

Oxygen covergirl and rising fitness model Amber Elizabeth.
To stay in this condition, she does Pilates, kickboxing, weight training and CrossFit.
I would say it appears to be working for her.
Besides Oxygen, she has appeared in Muscle & Fitness, HERS and Mens Fitness among others.

Catherine Holland, IFBB Pro Figure Competitor

IFBB Pro figure competitor, fitness model and certified personal trainer, Catherine Holland was born on March 21, 1980 in Portland, Oregon.
This lovely young lady holds BS and MS degrees in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University.
In addition to Figure Competitions, she is a business owner and instructor of Celebration Boot Camps.
She has competed in the:

2004 NPC Northwest Natural Figure Championships: Overall
2005 Oregon Ironman Figure: 1st place over 5’6”
2005 Emerald Cup Figure: 7th place 5’6-5’8”
2006 Emerald Cup Figure: 13th place 5’6-5-8”
2006 NPC Jr. National Figure Championship: 9th Place Class D
2007 NPC Jr. National Figure Championship: 12th Place Class F
2007 NPC Figure Team Universe: 16th place Class F
2007 NPC Figure USA’s: 16th place Class E
2008 Emerald Cup Figure: 2nd place Class F
2008 NPC JR USA Figure Championship: 1st place class E
2008 NPC JR NATIONALS Figure Championships: 1st place, Class E, and new IFBB FIGURE PRO

You can see and learn more about Catherine at her website:
http://www.catherinefitness.com/

Fitness Model: Kathleen Tesori

The lovely Kathleen Tesori is Americas Fittest Model Magazine's "Fittest Model Champion"
This 5' 4", 114 lbs beauty from Salt Lake City, Utah has done a lot of fitness modeling.
She's appeared on the Hawaiian Tropic website and poster, and she's appeared in Max Muscle, FLEX and Muscle and Fitness Hers.
Contest History:
2005 Hawaiian Tropic Utah State final-1st place
2005 Hawaiian Tropic US Finals – top 12
2007 Hawaiian Tropic Nevada State final – 1st place
2007 Hawaiian Tropic US Finals – top 12
2007 Northern States NGA Finals – 1st place
2008 Flex Bikini Model Search-1st place

IFBB Figure Pro - Akane Nigro Ismeal

Akane Nigro Ismeal is an IFBB Figure Pro.
This 5'1, 110 pound beauty is of Japanese and Italian decent.
Akane is a former softball and soccer player.
She is married to bodybuilder Malik Ismael, who she met at a gym in 2005 and the two became workout partners.
The couple does training and nutritional advice and they offer posing routine and instructional sessions.
You can find out more at their MySpace page here:
http://www.myspace.com/the_ismeals

Contest History:
2007 NPC California Championships - Figure A, 3rd place
2007 NPC Contra Costa (CA) Championships - Figure A, 2nd place
2007 NPC San Francisco Championships - Figure A, 1st place
2007 NPC Steel Rose - Figure A, 2nd place
2007 NPC Tournament of Champions - Figure A, 3rd place
2007 NPC USA Championships - Figure A

2008 NPC Junior National Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships
2008 NPC USA Bodybuilding & Figure Championships - 2nd place

2009 NPC USA Bodybuilding & Figure Championships - 1st place
Thanks to her win at the 2009 NPC USA's, Akane is a IFBB Figure Pro.




posted to http://femalefitnessfigurebodybuilders.blogspot.com/ , Sept 4, 2009

More Denise Paglia

Former ESPN beauty, Denise Paglia seems to be very popular, so how about a couple more pictures of this Japanese and Italian beauty.
This Certified AFAA Fitness Trainer appeared on Fitness Beach, she appeared on Cyberfit and Bodyshaping.
The only thing left now is... where is she today?
She was a writer for Muscle & Fitness Hers at one time and she appeared on cover of the very first issue of that magazine.




posted to http://asian-fitness-women.blogspot.com/ on August 27th, 2009

Dale Tomita

This fitness competitor from Hawaii was very popular in the 90s.
She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1964 and is of Japanese-American descent.
This 5 foot 2 inch, 116 pound beauty graced the cover and insides of the major fitness mags.
And like several other fitness competitors, Dale started out in gymnastics until an injury forced to give that up.

Contest History:
1995 IFBB Olympia, 4th place
1996 IFBB Olympia, 4th place
1997 IFBB Arnold Classic And Internationals, 4th place
1997 IFBB Czech Pro Fitness, 1st place
1997 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 5th place

Denise Paglia

Another former ESPN beauty, Denise Paglia.
Denise was very popular in the fitness magazines in the 90s, and her fame has carried over to today.
As popular though as this beautiful lady is, I really cant find much info on her.
I read that she was of Japanese and Italian descent.
She is sometimes listed as Denise-Paglia-Cole.
Denise is a Certified AFAA Fitness Trainer.
Besides Fitness Beach, she appeared on Cyberfit and Bodyshaping.
As female fitness competitor, Denise placed in the 1992 and 1993 Fitness America National Pageants, and she came in 5th at the 1995 Fitness Olympia.
She was on the cover of the very first issue of the fitness magazine Muscle & Fitness Hers.
Sadly, I can't find a MySpace page for her.

Jung Dayeon

The woman who kick-started the "momjjang" (hot body) fad in Korea, Jung Da-yeon.
This young lady transformed herself through exercise, and is known as an expert on physical training and exercise now.
She has released a popular fitness book, a DVD called "Momjjang Diet" and even been in a K-drama (in Korea) called "Aquarius".
Jung played a fitness instructor.
She has her own website, http://jungdayeon.com/ that is in Korean and Japanese.

And here are some clips from her TV show FIGUREROBICS from YouTube:

Maria Kang

Maria Kang was born Maria Mei-Sien Kang on November 26, 1980.
She is of Filipina, and Malaysian Chinese descent.
In her fitness career, this lovely lady has been a fitness model,group director, fitness manager, personal trainer, communications specialist and spokesperson.
But if you read much about her, you'll see her most cherished role is that of a mother.
I try not to get sappy (at all!) on my blogs, but just read what she has written about her child and you will see a mother's love.
Okay, back to business.....
Her contest history:
1997 Miss Asia Pacific Islander
1998 Miss Petite Philippines
1998 Miss Petite Teen International
2003 Miss San Francisco Chinatown USA
2003 Miss Philippines USA
2003 Miss Bikini California
2003 Bikini America Nationals
2003 Top Five National Finalist Miss Model America
2003 Top Five National Finalist Miss Bikini America



You can visit her MySpace at
http://www.myspace.com/mariakang
And her website here:
http://www.fitnesscure.com/

Tanji Johnson, Another Look

Here's another couple of pictures of fitness competitor Tanji Johnson.
These are both in her American Gladiators gear.
Even though American Gladiators will no longer be seen on NBC-TV, there is a rumor the show may be picked up by another company.
And even if Tanji is no longer associated with the show, the certified personal trainer, NPC promoter and writer will have lots of avenues to keep busy.
Despite her name, I doubt you'll have a hard time seeing more of "Stealth".

Lyen Wong, Another Look

Since arms seem to be the rule of the day, here is a shot of fitness trainer and fitness competitor Lyen Wong's well defined arm.
I guess being a fitness trainer, Lyen is her own walking advertisement.
You can't buy publicity that good!
And speaking of Lyen's personal training, here is a link to her website where you can learn all about that.
http://www.lyenwong.com/pt/eng/yourtrainer/index.html

Barbara Engelsmann

Barbara Engelsmann is a IFBB Pro Figure, certified personal trainer and fitness model.
Born on June 25th, 1995, in Stuttgart, Germany, this young lady is of European/Asian descent.
She competed in several amateur competitions in Europe from 2001-2003.
And she competed in several IFBB PRO Figure Competitions in the US.
The 2004 IFBB Europa Super Show (16th place), the 2004 Bulk Nutrition/Charlotte Pro (16th place), the 2005 Tournament of Champions (14th place) and the 2005 Sacramento Pro Fitness and Pro Figure (16th place).

Barbara also does nutrition seminars, championship preparations, posing, and personal training.

You can visit her website here:
http://www.barbara-engelsmann.de/

MC Barao

This 5'4" 109 pound beauty was born in the Philippines and raised in Houston Texas.
She appears to be just starting out, with a website coming soon, http://www.mcbarao.com/
Maybe when the website is up I can get some more info.
I have no idea if she has been in any figure competitions, if she's a personal trainer (although I did read where she said she wanted to help people with their fitness goals) or anything like that.
MAYBE she'll stop by and enlighten us.

Kavvy Sonhos

This lovely young lady is Kavvy Sonhos.
Kavvy is a Professional Fitness Model and NPC National Figure Competitor.
She is also a a certified fitness trainer, licensed massage therapist and nutritionist.
AND she held a World Record in Deadlift Powerlifting.
Kavvy is of Brazilian and Latino descent.
She has competed in:
2008 Sunshine Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 1st place.
2008 NPC National Bodybuilding & Figure Championships, 6th place.

Brenda Kelly

Brenda Michiko Kelly was born on January 15th, 1959 (that's right,1959!) in Honolulu Hawaii.
Her mother is Japanese, and her father is Dutch/English.
Brenda has held titles in:
The 2000 International Fitness Pro
The 2000 ESPN2 Series (swimsuit round 1st)
The 1998 NPC Northwest Women's Fitness
National Aerobic Championships (solo and mixed pairs)

Besides all that she is a Fitness Director, Polynesian Dancer/teacher, International Fitness Magazine Cover Model, Actress and a Published Writer.
You can visit her website here:
http://www.brendakelly.com/

Chinese-American bodybuilder "Lili" Xin Li Cao

Chinese-American bodybuilder "Lili" Xin Li Cao (or Cao Xin Li) was born in Mongolia in 1981.
She started practicing Judo at the age of 12, switched to weightlifting at 15, then started bodybuilding training in 1998.

Lili has competed in the 2000 General Assembly Session of the National Sports Competition, the Chinese national Bodybuilding championship, the Asian Bodybuilding Championship, the Chinese national, and Asian bodybuilding championships among others, and has won many of them.
Right now she is training for the Eighth World Games to be held in Taiwan in 2009.

Despite her obvious power, when you watch videos of this lady, she seems..I really hate to say this..but cute.
I know cute isn't a word usually associated with massive bodybuilders, but she seems to have a very open and sweet disposition.

You can check out her website here:
http://www.xinlicao.com/

Natalie Minh

The beautiful Natalie Minh is a Vietnamese-American fitness competitor.
She was born in Houston, Texas USA in 1980.
Natalie currently lives in Brussels, Belgium.
She has competed in the 2008 FAME World Championships, the 2008 FAME European Fitness Model champion, the 2008 FAME European Championships and the 2008 Muscle Mania/Fitness Universe Italian Championships, where is won first place in Ms. Bikini.
You can visit her website here:
http://www.natalieminh.com/