Thank you for including me in this thread! I tried my hardest to do well in figure and came so close (fifth place at the 2003 Figure Nationals and fourth place at the 2005 USA's), but close wasn't good enough. When I competed and won my class at the 2006 Europa and then at the 2007 Team Universe, I kept hearing from the judges that they liked me better as a bodybuilder.
I enjoyed it more too.
I think it's difficult for the shorter competitors with thicker quads and narrower shoulder structure to do well in figure. Figure seems to be more dependent upon a good bone structure and genetic base upon which to build muscle and create a Y-shape, and bodybuilding relies more heavily on the muscle structure itself to create a true X-frame. Once I came to terms with my physique's weaknesses and understood its strengths, I was able to take off my heels and walk off the figure stage and return barefoot with display of double biceps.
I am still trying to decide what show to do next. I've made the decision to remain off of the stage for a full year, so late Fall this year or mid Spring next year will be the earliest that I'll return to the stage. But I guarantee it will be bodybuilding. It's too much fun to walk away from.
Lisa Bickels and Britt Miller both looked phenomenal as bodybuilders, and I was very pleased to see Beni win the lightweight class here in Dallas at the Nationals. It was a terrific look without going overboard with being too dry, too depleted, nor too big. And Karen Zaremba is just adorable as a bodybuilder! I would love to see her stick with it and just keep bringing a look that works for her...tiny and shredded!
The following are a few images from the World Championships. I was too little, too flat, too soft for the competition (most girls outweighed me by a good eight to ten pounds minimum, and traveling from Texas to New York to Barcelona and then hopping onto the stage the next day is tough), but I wouldn't have traded the experience nor the look I brought to Spain for the world.
