Amber Jacobs Shines at Vancouver Natural, Emerald Cup

Northwest Glow: Figure girl Amber Jacobs joyously grasps her trophy at the Vancouver Natural. Photo credit: Twixpix.

Coverage of new photoshoots from this year’s Emerald Cup continues with a look at Amber Jacobs, a figure girl from Seattle who was on a roll before a severe knee injury recently forced her out of action. The 25-year-old had planned to compete at the Washington State in July, but instead is on the mend after requiring surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus.
Amber placed third in class C at the Cup and also took fourth at this year’s Vancouver Natural. She was hoping to qualify for the USAs but will have to wait until her body heals and won’t be able to train legs again for at least three months. Before the injury, Amber shared some details about her athletic background and future plans in the sport.
Looking back, deciding to join a fast-pitch little league baseball team at age 14 led to Amber’s initial experience lifting weights. She also did karate for three years and played football, hockey and varsity baseball in junior high and high school as well as cross country. “I was always a rough and tumble girl,” she said, “I loved being physically fit, healthy and active.”

Amber poses for her shoot during Emerald Cup weekend.

Team sports continued during her college years at Western Washington University. “I was a coxswain [the leader in charge of steering and navigating] for the men’s rowing crew team and was on the club tournament waterski team,” she said. “I also personal trained and taught beginning boxing and speed-bagging.”
Asked how she got started in figure, “I have always loved weight training,” Amber explained. “In January 2010, some guy friends suggested I do a figure competition and showed me a picture in a magazine. I was like ‘I could do that.’ And away I went. Last year I did seventh in Emerald Cup my first show and first at the Empire Classic. I was the pretty happy with my physique last year but this year was pretty great too.”
Amber’s figure pursuit comes as no surprise to family and close friends. “But it has definitely changed my social life,” she admits coyly. Asked whether she ever surprised anyone with her strength, Amber recalls, “I will never forget when I asked some guys at the gym if they would help me get 50lbs dumbbells up for shoulder presses. They were pretty impressed. They’d never seen a girl (5’3″, 120lbs at the time) put up that kind of weight.”

In closing, Amber tips her hat to family and friends who have been behind her the whole way. “I’d love to give a shout out to my folks, Jim and Leah Jacobs! Some of my best friends Karen Ng, Gazalle Zontolyon, Jenny Leak, April LeBarbeque and Gretchen White. All my gym rat friends (there are so many of you), Construction Zone and Save Fitness teams.”
More of Amber coming soon on the studio. Meanwhile, here’s hoping her recovery is an extra speedy one. You can bet she has the tenacity and passion to be back in the spotlight soon but until then, the figure stage will be a little darker without her sunny and adorable smile lighting the way.

The 2011 IFBB Arnold Classic

The 2011 IFBB Arnold Classic, Ms. International, Fitness International and Figure International ran from March 3rd to the 6th and we had the first major winners in IFBB Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure and Bikini this year.
Of course the event is named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, and it rivals the Mr. Olympia contest in popularity.
So the winners here are the big names (or will be the big names) this coming year.

Ms. International

 

The Ms. International is the female bodybuilding segment of the Arnold Classic and has been around since 1986.
This year's winner is Iris Kyle.
This is the sixth time Iris has won.
1. Iris Kyle
2. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
3. Alina Popa
4. Debi Laszewski
5. Betty Adkins
6. Cathy LeFrancois
7. Jeannie Paparone
8. Tina Chandler
9. Dayana Cadeau
10. Maria Rita Bello
11. Mari Carmen Gomez Segura
12. Antoinette Thompson
13. Sarah Hayes

Photo Credit Bodybuilding.com

The Figure International

 

The Figure International is the women's figure competition and has been around since 2003.
For the second year in a row, the winner was five foot seven, 144 pound Nicole Wilkins-Lee.
1. Nicole Wilkins-Lee
2. Erin Stern
3. Ava Cowan
4. Felicia Romero
5. Cheryl Brown
6. Courtney West
7. Teresa Anthony
8. Candice Keene
9. Latisha Wilder
10. Jennifer Gates
11. Larissa Reis
12. Rosa-Maria Romero
13. Chelsey Morgenstern
14. Alicia Harris
15. Monica Specking
16. Natália Revajova Lenartova

Photo Credit Bodybuilding.com

The Fitness International

 

The Fitness International is the women's fitness competition and has been around since 1997.
This year, the winner is Adela Garcia.
This is the sixth Arnold Classic appearance for Adela, and the fourth year she has won.
1. Adela Garcia
2. Tanji Johnson
3. Trish Warren
4. Camala Rodriguez
5. Myriam Capes
6. Bethany Wagner
7. Regiane Da Silva
8. Oksana Grishina
9. Tina Durkin
10. Nicole Duncan
11. Erin Riley
12. Daniela OMara
13. Allison Ethier

Photo Credit Bodybuilding.com

IFBB Bikini Pro

 

This is the second year for the IFBB Bikini Pro.
And this years winner is 20 year old Nicole Nagrani from Daytona Beach, Florida.
1. Nicole Nagrani
2. Sonia Gonzales
3. Nathalia Melo Moreira
4. Jessica Putnam
5. Jaime Baird
6. Amanda Latona
7. Alison Rosen
8. Dina Al-Sabah
9. Jelena Abbou
10. Jennifer Andrews
11. Jessica Clay
12. Justine Munro
13. Missy Coles
14. Noemi Olah
15. Shelsea Montes
16. Willeke Davis

Maegan Swain Switching From Figure to Physique

Maegan Swain

The recent Tournament of Champions show is primarily a setting for pro competitors making a final push for the Olympia; meanwhile, the NPC classes are a showcase for tomorrow’s stars. One such competitor who graced the California stage is 27-year-old figure newbie Maegan Swain out of Sacramento, who placed second in her figure class and then took time out to pose her striking contest shape frame for our cameras outside by the pool. Photos and videos are up now.
Maegan’s looks and physique are somewhat reminiscent of Danielle Rouleau and feature a similarly outstanding lower body with tremendous quad size and sweep. Maegan’s abs, arms and capped shoulders are quite impressive as well. No surprise hearing she’s poised to crossover into the physique ranks soon and is worth keeping an eye on.

Figure Competitor Kelly Grossman Coming Soon

Kelly Grossman

Back to back top ten finishes this year for striking Kelly Grossman on the national stage, first at Junior Nationals and later at North Americans. Here’s a sneak peak at the 26-year-old brunette figure girl from Arizona with more pictures to come likely in the next update or so.

2011 IFBB MuscleContest Pro Bikini Championship

In my last Lens I did a write up on the 2011 IFBB Arnold Classic, Ms. International, Fitness International and Figure International.
That contest incorporated all the IFBB categories, Bodybuilding, Figure, Fitness and Bikini.
On March 26th, 2011 in Culver City, California, they held the IFBB MuscleContest 2011 Pro Bikini Championship.
That contest was held at the NPC Musclecontest Bodybuilding, Figure, Men's Physique and Bikini Championships contest and it's the second year this event has been held.
Last year, Sonia Gonzales took first place, followed by Monique (Minton) Ricardo, Amanda Latona, Stacey (Oster)Thompson, Natalie Pennington, Alea Suarez, Dianna Dahlgren, Michelle Gullett, Sherlyn Roy and Leigh Lingham in the first ten spots.
This year, the field was almost entirely different.
But the winner was someone you should all know.
(At least if your read my Lenses).

1. Amanda Latona

 

Yes, the five foot five, 120 pound fitness beauty from Las Vegas, Nevada won hands down.
This is Amanda's fifteenth 1st place win and her fourth since turning Pro.
Last year Amanda came in 3rd.

2. Dina Al-Sabah

Coming in at number two is a lady that could almost be considered a fitness legend.
Dina Ali Fahad Al-Salim Al-Sabah has been competing since 1999 and was the first female Arab athlete to get an IFBB Pro card.
At 37 years of age, she is still going strong and defeating women half her age on the stage.
Dina didn't place last year.

3. Abigail Burrows

This is the first Pro competition for the lovely Abbie Burrows from Denver, Colorado, and she came in third.
Looking at her, I expect we will see a lot more of Abigail, and maybe some 1st place finishes.

4. Zhanna Rotar

Number four is Zhanna Rotar from Chernivtsi, Ukraine.
When she was sixteen, Zhanna immigrated to the U.S. with her family.
She has been competing since 2005 and last year, Zhanna placed 12th.

5. Anca Marcus

Figure competitor: Melanie Cheang

Figure competitor, Full-time Student and Personal Trainer, Melanie Cheang was born in Singapore.
Melanie currently lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
She stands 5’5 ½ and weighs in at 124 lbs for contests.
She came in second in Figure Medium-Tall catagory at the at the Canadian Championships in 2007.
And Melanie came in third at the 2008 Canadian Championships in the Figure Medium-Tall division.

Kavvy Sonhos-Fitness Model and Sexy Female Bodybuilding

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.

Michelle Berger-Trainer Fitness

I seem to have a lot of inspirational women on this blog, and this one is no exception.
Certified Personal Trainer (NESTA),expert on exercise science, nutrition and coaching and mother of four, Michelle Berger.
Yes that's right, mother of four.
She had all four in four years, starting in 1999.
Michelle made a huge change in her body after giving birth, and she didnt use a nanny, a personal trainer or a regular sitter.