Chaundra, I think I told you this when we met at one of the amateur/pro figure shows a couple of years ago. It was partly because of you and your win at the Nationals that made me think I had a chance in figure. I thought (and still do) that you were beautiful from head to toe. I loved your look!
By the way, I look bigger in pictures than I am in real life, so don't be fooled! Most people are surprised at how tiny I am when they finally meet me. I just became fed up with the lack of criteria, the blatancy of figure politics (worse, in my opinion, than in the other divisions), and the disappearance of "balls to the wall" training that I began to see occurring as figure went "soft." I want to purposefully go on stage at my best...not my semi-best, as I had been doing these past three years.
I've always thought you've deserved better in placings. Many of the shorter girls like you, Monica Guerra, Latisha Wilder, Pauline Nordin, and Christine Wan don't get a fair shake.
Anyway, I think anyone who has the propensity for building muscle and the drive to walk the bodybuilding path can do it. Why not? What do you have to lose...besides a little more fat and water for the bodybuilding stage. Either way, I enjoy seeing you on the stage, and I know you did your last show not long after having a baby, so major accolades to you in that regard! All the best to you!
