’14 Physique America Champion Lauren Austin’s 2 year transformation. Her before picture shows what bad nutrition, an eating disorder and just hoping that her body will change resulted in. She says, “After 2 years of training with Dewayne Malone, he has transformed me into a completely new person! I am excited to see what comes of this next competition season with Musclemania!”

’14 Physique America Champion Lauren Austin is currently training for 2015 Lone Star show in Galveston, Texas on May 16. She is going to work with her trainer and Musclemania Pro Dewayne Malone in Houston to prepare. Lauren says, “Make being healthy your lifestyle not your resolution! Make it a habit, not a chore!”

Fitness Universe Pro Ada Abanobi is a nurse of over 10 years on an orthopedic/trauma unit. She became a personal trainer because she wanted to help people healthy lives. Ada’s love for the center stage stemmed from her former role as a NFL cheerleader. She didn’t stop with just the Fitness division. Ada went on to compete in the Figure and Physique divisions and won 1st place in the ’14 Physique Universe show. She says, “I am my only competition. I work to beat myself so that I am always better and stronger than my last show.”

Figure Universe Pro Cindy Canas is a posing coach, mother of four, and is aiming to also compete in the Musclemania Physique division. She stays motivated by seeing the constant changes and improvements she has made and how healthier she feels. Cindy says, “I used to be that person that was on anxiety and depression meds. Thanks to exercise, I have been completely off them for almost 4 years. I have four children, which is no easy task in itself, so the gym is my playground and my “mommy time”. It’s also motivating to know my children are watching my every move.”
- Photo by: Alfonso Aguirre Rocking Photography 

’14 Musclemania® America Physique Women Champion and personal trainer Laruen Austin says she has a passion for fitness and helping others. “I grew up being athletic but never in great shape. I suffered from an eating disorder for 10 years. Despite where I started and when I began my fitness journey, I always had a certain determination to follow through with something I start. I always wanted to compete in a fitness competition and so last year I started training with Dewayne Malone for my first figure show. I wanted to build a strong physique. So as time progressed, I planned to compete in Las Vegas in both Figure and Women’s Physique. Winning 1st Place in Women’s Physique was an amazing moment and I hope that other women will follow and help grow the new division.”

’14 Musclemania America competitor Melanie Redington placed second at the ’14 Musclemania America show. She has participated in numerous fitness activities and taught PE to kids in K-12 for ten years. Melanie has received the Presidential Physical Fitness Council’s Community Leadership award for her contributions to improving the overall health of children in interior Alaska. She says, “When I train in my mind, I am pretty big. I feel ripped to the bone and not very feminine. However, when I actually see myself, I don’t really look like that haha. In my opinion this year’s physique is very feminine. I actually really like the long and lean look and I think it suits me very well. I do not really fit the typical female muscle profile and I am okay with that.” – Photo by: Gordon Smith

’14 Physique America winner Lauren Austin is a former 5th grade teacher who found a passion for fitness. She always sets short term goals to complete. Some people pressure Lauren to eat more than she should. She says, “Being a fitness competitor has taught me loads on how to stick to my goals and not get side tracked. No matter what happens I will not be tempted at the social functions I attend! Stick to your goals! When your friends, family, and coworkers start to see you change, then you will be the motivation for them to change their lifestyle!” – Photo by: Gordon Smith

Only 2 weeks until Nicole Matthews reunites with the stage at the ’14 Fitness America show in Las Vegas. She has spent the last year of her life developing her physique, her stage presence, her confidence and poise. Nicole has overcome so much, pushed hard and held steady to her goals. She spent her time in the gym looking forward to and envisioning the moment when she will take the spotlight. Nicole says, “My heart is invested in any commitment I make. It beats a little faster each time I reflect. I can feel the obstacle, victories, sweat and battles overcome. It isn’t the show that defines me, it’s each step I took to get there and the person I became on the way there. It’s more than a body that competes; it’s a person’s heart, soul and inner beauty that finishes! Thank you to my friends, family, and coaches for being the lights in my life and supporting me! Time to rock on! 

Ms. Bikini and Figure Universe Pro Ann Hubbard and Fitness Universe Physique competitor Roger Williams say wine is not the only thing that can get better with age. Ann and Roger are at 48 and 52 years old respectively. She says, “It is never too late to start a healthy lifestyle of physical fitness and good nutrition. Due to modern medicine and technology, people are living longer than ever before. However, they are living with disease and poor health in their later years. The key is to live longer and be healthy enough to enjoy it!

 Originally from Lubbock Texas, Fitness America 2013 Champion, Stephanie “CoCo” Brewster now lives in Las Vegas, NV. When she’s not busy performing on stage or catering to a crowd she finds time to be a fitness model, coach and all around athlete.

“I like to say, ‘Me and my coco puffs are always ready for battle!’ I pride myself on my athletic ability. I train hard and push myself every second I am on the field, turf, court, or gym floor. I have been lucky to find coaches and mentors to push me to be better, and I know that the best is still yet to come. Will I step on stage for a second time as a Figure competitor? Possibly. Unfortunately, society hasn’t fully accepted a woman with a lean, fit physique such as today’s Figure competitor which makes it hard to work in the Las Vegas industry. This town definitely favors Bikini physiques. When I’m not serving cocktails in this city of Sin, I’m prepping food, training, coaching fitness athletes, or trying to find time to sleep. Working as a cocktail server, bartender, or performing on stages in Honduras and still finding time to help others pursue their fitness dreams make the adult power naps all worth it!”

Stephanie is currently preparing for her Fitness Pro debut on June 27th at Fitness Universe in Miami. She devotes four days of weight training at Phase 1 Sports, one day on the track or running stairs, and checks in biweekly with her coach.

“I don’t blame anyone for not being able to keep up with my crazy schedule! If it weren’t for my cell phone I would barely know what month we are in! But no matter the organized chaos which is my life, I train like a beast so that I can be a shining star on stage! There is nothing my 5″ Cinderella heels can’t handle. I believe that anyone can be the person they want to be too, whether it’s on stage or off. My whole purpose in being in this industry is to help show people that anything in this world is possible, but all that starts with a healthy foundation. I deal with an autoimmune disease, work two full time jobs, and still find time to train and portion out my food for the week. No one is ever “too busy.” We all just have to learn to sacrifice the less important things for this lifestyle that we all so knowingly deserve.”

The former track & field and basketball athlete Kandis Arzu-Thompson, is originally from Queens, New York. Kandis is 30 years old, 5’4″, 127lbs and has lived in the metropolitan DC area since her time after college.

“I was raised in Virginia as both my parents were in the Navy. I am a single mom of a beautiful and intelligent five year old girl. I work as a certified personal trainer and nutritional consultant, and I pride myself on helping my clients break down weight loss barriers and regaining their zest for life.

I made my fitness debut last year at Foxwoods Fitness New England and have competed in both bikini and figure as well. I have taken a long time to develop my physique and conditioning and am looking forward to competing in fitness for the second time at Fitness New England this coming May with a revamped routine – sure to be a crowd pleaser!

With my experience as a track and field and basketball athlete, plyometrics and high-intensity interval training are always a part of my workout regimen. I can squat 330lbs and perform a box jump onto a 3 foot platform. I pride myself on pushing my limits and inspiring my daughter to be active and healthy as well. I believe anything is possible with the right mindset, and the only person who’s going to stop me from achieving my dreams is me.”