2023 IFBB Optimum Classic!!

[Beti ona]

[Beti ona]

1 ERIC WILDBERGER



2 TOMAS ADAME-HERNANDEZ



3 BARRY HULBERT IRVING

[Beti ona]

1 ELENA AVILES ROMERO



2 MARIE-SOLANGE ESSOH



3 ANA HARIAS



4 EMILOJA MARTIC



5 YARELIS RAMOS PEREZ



6 DONNA WILLIAMS



7 MARIKA JONES



8 ALYSSA COPPOLINO



9 JESSICA MARTIN



10 TONI MCMURTRE



11 KENINA BONNER



12 QIANA MCCLENTY

[lifepulse]

Interesting that the one girl is wearing glasses. I saw one of the female BBers at NY Pro was wearing glasses as well. I always thought glasses were not allowed on stage, at least at NPC shows. I wonder if that tide is changing?

[Beti ona]

Shanique wore glasses, I don't see because shouldn't be allowed

[lifepulse]

Shanique wore glasses, I don't see because shouldn't be allowed

Did she actually wear them on stage? I don't remember that. (I was at Nationals in 2014 when she turned pro, no glasses there; and I don't remember her wearing them at the Olympia, but I know you're more of a historian with some of this stuff than I am.)


I'm not saying "they shouldn't be allowed". I'm saying at all the NPC shows I've been to, they're "technically" not allowed -- along with body jewelry (like nipple rings, etc.) -- posing suits with a pattern during prejudging (has to be a solid color during prejudging) -- any kind of body lotion that has glittery stuff, etc. I've been at multiple shows where the head judge stopped prejudging and made a competitor leave the stage to take out nipple rings or wipe off glittery body lotion. Every show I've been to, if somebody is wearing glasses, they hand their glasses to the expeditor before they walk out onto the stage, they go through their mandatories, and then they get their glasses back when they walk off stage.

[Giles]

Did she actually wear them on stage? I don't remember that. (I was at Nationals in 2014 when she turned pro, no glasses there; and I don't remember her wearing them at the Olympia, but I know you're more of a historian with some of this stuff than I am.)


I'm not saying "they shouldn't be allowed". I'm saying at all the NPC shows I've been to, they're "technically" not allowed -- along with body jewelry (like nipple rings, etc.) -- posing suits with a pattern during prejudging (has to be a solid color during prejudging) -- any kind of body lotion that has glittery stuff, etc. I've been at multiple shows where the head judge stopped prejudging and made a competitor leave the stage to take out nipple rings or wipe off glittery body lotion. Every show I've been to, if somebody is wearing glasses, they hand their glasses to the expeditor before they walk out onto the stage, they go through their mandatories, and then they get their glasses back when they walk off stage.

I wonder why they don’t want competitors wearing glasses?

Sunglasses fine, but prescription glasses? Why not?

It’s not an unfair advantage is it? Can’t think of a single logical reason why.

[Beti ona]

Did she actually wear them on stage? I don't remember that. (I was at Nationals in 2014 when she turned pro, no glasses there; and I don't remember her wearing them at the Olympia, but I know you're more of a historian with some of this stuff than I am.)

I don't remember if she had them on stage, but she definitely had them backstage in many photos. Maybe she had contact lenses for stage time?

But I have seen some girls with glasses at pro shows.

Every show I've been to, if somebody is wearing glasses, they hand their glasses to the expeditor before they walk out onto the stage, they go through their mandatories, and then they get their glasses back when they walk off stage.

They probably do it because they feel ugly wearing glasses, I can't find any other reason

[SISTEROFJESUS]

i think some of the folks who compete have to wear glasses, cause they can't see, it makes sense to me. i rather have them wear the glasses to see where they r walkin' then not see and fall down on stage. now, on another note, great pics and thx for sharin'

[Beti ona]

[lifepulse]

I wonder why they don’t want competitors wearing glasses?

Sunglasses fine, but prescription glasses? Why not?

It’s not an unfair advantage is it? Can’t think of a single logical reason why.

I really don't know. NPC has always had some "official rules" about stage look that seem slightly "odd".


I did a show in 2012 and won the superheavies. I wore solid red trunks for prejudging, then had a pair of trunks with a pattern for the night show. I showed both pairs to the judges before the show started, and the judges said both pairs were fine.


I did my posing routine at night wearing the patterned trunks. I was the last person to pose, then had to line up immediately to go back out for the overall. As I stepped backstage, the expeditor asked me, "Do you have a plain pair of trunks you can switch into?" I said, "The judges said I could wear the patterned trunks for the night show, I already cleared it with them". The expeditor told me, "Yes, you can wear patterned trunks for your posing routine -- but now that you're going back out to be compared for the overall, they will be judging you again, so you need plain trunks".


I ran out through the backstage, into the hallway where all the bikini girls were laying, literally pulling my trunks down and off my ass -- running naked through the hallway -- ran into the men's bathroom, threw on my plain trunks -- sprinted back to backstage, they already had the other competitors walking out for the overall comparison. I was last in line (superheavy), so I walked out with them -- did my comparisons and overall posedown -- and it ended up being the only overall I ever won. Damn good thing I sprinted like I did!


Another guy in the area (who knew me from the GEAR'D Up podcast) emailed me about 4 years later, told me he had found the other patterned pair (I had thrown them to the side), and had kept them. Asked me if I wanted them back. I politely declined -- bro, you've owned my trunks for 4 years and I have no idea what you've been doing with them, you can keep them!

[Bestia]

I really don't know. NPC has always had some "official rules" about stage look that seem slightly "odd".


I did a show in 2012 and won the superheavies. I wore solid red trunks for prejudging, then had a pair of trunks with a pattern for the night show. I showed both pairs to the judges before the show started, and the judges said both pairs were fine.


I did my posing routine at night wearing the patterned trunks. I was the last person to pose, then had to line up immediately to go back out for the overall. As I stepped backstage, the expeditor asked me, "Do you have a plain pair of trunks you can switch into?" I said, "The judges said I could wear the patterned trunks for the night show, I already cleared it with them". The expeditor told me, "Yes, you can wear patterned trunks for your posing routine -- but now that you're going back out to be compared for the overall, they will be judging you again, so you need plain trunks".


I ran out through the backstage, into the hallway where all the bikini girls were laying, literally pulling my trunks down and off my ass -- running naked through the hallway -- ran into the men's bathroom, threw on my plain trunks -- sprinted back to backstage, they already had the other competitors walking out for the overall comparison. I was last in line (superheavy), so I walked out with them -- did my comparisons and overall posedown -- and it ended up being the only overall I ever won. Damn good thing I sprinted like I did!


Another guy in the area (who knew me from the GEAR'D Up podcast) emailed me about 4 years later, told me he had found the other patterned pair (I had thrown them to the side), and had kept them. Asked me if I wanted them back. I politely declined -- bro, you've owned my trunks for 4 years and I have no idea what you've been doing with them, you can keep them!

More power to him for picking up your slingshot. Im not sure I would have been that thoughtful. But good call on not retaking possession of the garment after so long in someone else's possession. Yikes

[lifepulse]

More power to him for picking up your slingshot. Im not sure I would have been that thoughtful. But good call on not retaking possession of the garment after so long in someone else's possession. Yikes

I was big on getting a new suit for every show I did, different one for prejudging and finals each time -- so yeah, better he keep it than I get it back, lol.

[Bestia]

I once prepped a guy for the Illinois State (he won the middles but lost the overall to Sergio Oliva Jr). Even if Sergio wasn't the best that day (he was) he was getting that national qualification. Regardless of that however was when my friend was getting ready for the show he asked what trunks he should get. I told him where I got mine and what cut, color, material, etc. Everything was fine.

But then he asked if I still had them. Yep. Would I mind if he used them. I was like huh? You want to wear my trunks? It felt weird but sure. But then he told me he would get them back to me. No thanks man. I'm good.

[bigmikecox]

I was big on getting a new suit for every show I did, different one for prejudging and finals each time -- so yeah, better he keep it than I get it back, lol.

LOL Same here