Musclemania® Pro Julian Navarro holding his own 3 weeks after competing at MM World Pro. The 5’7″, 185 lbs., 24 year old lifetime natural athlete says, “So far a productive offseason. The gains are coming and I am still able to see great detail in my obliques. My abs not so much. But as long as I can see detail in either one, I am happy!”
Musclemania® Paris Physique Short Class Champion Raquieb Balaydin has stayed super lean since the October show. The 5’7″, 180 lbs., Dutch trainer says, “I am keeping it tight. I haven’t let up on my diet because its really part of my life. Eating clean has become easy, it just is.” Raquieb says he’s plans for next season include the Universe in June in Florida.
He’s been competing since he was 17 years old, but Jesus Villanueva plans to come into his own next season. The 5’11″, 190 lbs., 20 year old student has consistently added size and conditioned his muscle. “I’ve been eating a lot more disciplined and it shows,” Jesus says. “Supplements are expensive here in Mexico, so I focus more on eating right and it works.” Jesus will be in stage at Musclemania® Mexico in May
With just three shows experience, Musclemania® America Physique Champion Perry Hoskin is shaking up the sports model muscle scene. The 5’11″, 185 lbs. barber says its become his new passion. “I have a couple of entrepreneur endeavors which all have taken a back seat to my training. I really want to enter the fitness field. I’ve stopped personal training to work on me for no pay. But it’s my passion for sure. I played amateur and semi pro football for years then left to play arena football in Salt Lake City and cracked my sacrum before the season even started. So I came home to Texas and working out took the place of my football games.”
Raghu Ramappa is a popular figure in the Bangalore, India film industry and won Musclemania® India LW Championships last weekend. He says “I was always a hardcore enthusiast of bodybuilding. My Dad was a competitive bodybuilder and I wanted to follow his footsteps. I was in the industry and competing for four years, until 2006. But being natural and trying to win shows where ‘enhanced’ freaks competer is was close to impossible. I was distraught and gave up on competing. But when I recently learned about MM and natural bodybuilding was coming to India, it gave me hope. I’ve been training harder than ever to get back into prime form. And thanks to my Dad, my biggest inspiration, who at 62 years recently won a local competition, I’ve managed to win my first show after 8 years! My Dad is still in the reality television show ‘Big Boss’ (in India) and we haven’t spoken in months. He doesn’t even know the result yet. When he asked the television crew to call me, they refused and the entire state of Karnataka was shocked to see him break down on live television. He was always known to be a strong person, so this came as a shock and I couldn’t sleep all night. The ZEE TV network said it was to surprise him later when we get my pictures and complete posing routines. I hope to get them soon so he can celebrate my victory.”
He didn’t win or even make the Top 5. But, the 6’2″, 230 lbs., heavyweight Daniel Babcock says he depleted too much for Musclemania® America in Las Vegas last month. “I had photo shoots the week before the show and just didn’t time it out very well. Thick, lean and symmetrical, Daniel has impressive potential, especial for a tall HW. He explains, “It’s pretty amazing how the body over compensates and taken in everything after being on an extended diet. Any bit of nutrients it gets goes straight to use and your muscles become beyond full.” Daniel isn’t sure in what show and where he’ll compete next, but wherever it is, no one should take their off this guy. He’s going to be a threat.
The inaugural Musclemania® India took place today with over 100 of the country’s top natural competitors! Introducing natural bodybuilding into the country was a challenge since there had never been any such show before. Said promoter Tharun Sholarajan, “We started getting so many guys wanting to jump into the show that we initiated an application process. It was real simple – we had them send in photos and if they were obviously on juice, we directed them to another show happening in Mumbai today which was an open to anyone. It thinned the ranks a bit, but we had a pretty clean show off the top. Then, we had urinalysis testing conducted before the start of the show today. We should get the results back within a week or two. I was real proud that stuck to the MM tradition and ran a tight show, nice and clean. And especially since it was the first natural show in the country!” Next season, MM will expand in India with shows in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore.
Daniel Roman says he’ll be competing at Musclemania® Colombia in February. The popular 5’6″, 183 lbs., 21 year old college student stays in contest shape all year, so he says competing will be nothing more than dropping a little water. “I always eat clean,” Daniel claims. “When I eat any junk, I feel like crap. I just can’t eat outside my diet even if I want to! I train super heavy and eat just enough carbs to get the energy I need, but nothing more.”
Musclemania® Middle East Junior athlete Mohammed is lifetime natural with a passion for bodybuilding. “My parents want me to become an architect, so I am studying in the university for it,” he explains. “But my heart is too much into fitness and everything about it. I just love eating right, training everyday and looking great.” Right now, Mohammed is off-season training but he explains, “My idea of bulking isn’t so much like other people’s. I don’t believe in bulking to the point were you just become a big fat power lifter. I believe in bulking with proper strict dieting and good nutritious food.” So, like many other MM athletes, Mohammed follows the “lean bulk” regimen. He will be competing again next season and aiming to win MM in Cairo.
Hard to believe this kid’s just 21 years old, but Daniel Roman has been training for 6 years. He’s preparing for his first Musclemania® show next season. The 5’7″, 180 lb., lifetime natural says, “I want to wait until I am ready. I’ve been at this for a long time and when I get to the show, I want to bring the perfect physique.” Daniel is a popular Colombian sports model and personal trainer.
Congratulations to Julian Tanaka who will graduate next week with an MBA in Nuro Business! The 5’8″, 195 lbs., 27 year old bodybuilder mixed his training with school while also working for his family businesses. Julian will make his Musclemania® debut next season. “I keep a super lean 5% physique all season, so contest prep won’t be more than loosing a bit of water,” he explains.
Still just 19 years old, Onome Egger is holding out for his first Musclemania® until next year. The 6’2″, 230 lbs., high school senior says, “I know I got some work to do on my legs and I really don’t want to get on stage until everything’s ready.” Ono trains everyday after school during the week and before work on the weekends. “My parents help me out with the stuff and stuff, so I am ready thankful. I will shock everyone next year that all this hard work is worth it.”
French natural star Greg Vong is still looking insanely shredded nearly a month after Musclemania® Paris. The 5’8″, 175 lbs., hospital orderly has remained lean all season. “I learned that staying in shape makes it easier for shows,” Greg says. “Besides, I like being in shape, eating clean and looking good all year. Why not? Its easier and looks better!”
Colombian physique star Julian Tanaka may work on his family’s ranch, but the 5’8″, 195 lbs., 27 year old makes it to the gym everyday without any excuses. “I live and breathe this stuff,” he says. Always lean and yet still growing, Julian has only competed once, but he will make his Musclemania® debut next season.
Reggie Valera says he’ll will be competing in this first Musclemania® show next season. The 5’11″, 190 lbs., 21 year old former soccer player has been bodybuilding for four years. “I got into this because my friend started lifting and would go to the gym with him,” Reggie says. “I guess it just got me and I haven’t stopped. I hit the gym every day, now.” Reggie will be on stage at MM Universe next June in Ft. Lauderdale.
New Musclemania® Pro Kwame Duah is already lean and ready for MM World in Las Vegas. At 5’9″ and weighing an enormous 220 lbs., the 21 year old university student is the youngest MM Pro! “I’ve been eating real clean, but lots of calories and its keeping me full but still getting leaner by the day,” Kwame explains. He lead Team Australia into Las Vegas next month.
A skinny guy who was ignored and bullied decided to take control of his life and health. Mazher “Mazi” Hamlaanihas been relentlessly working out for years. Now at 28 years old, the Indian bodybuilder he’s at an impressive 5’8″, 150 lbs., 5% body fat and keeps getting fuller, thicker and more aesthetic each day. “When I started working out, it was to gain attention, but I soon realized that doing this to prove someone else wrong only gives them the power they always had over my mind”, Mazher says. “Instead, I embraced fitness as my passion and never looked back.I did it for me alone. Initially I faced financial issues while working out, as I was still a student. Then when I started working with an events agency, I faced major time constraints; since I had to travel for work and my working hours were almost never fixed. Round the clock reporting and ate night rigorous event setups took a toll on scheduling consistent training and food timings.” Mazi says. But this never stopped him. “When you want it that bad, you find a way around the obstacles. Over the years, I learned to work efficiently across various aspects of my life, be it work, workout, nutrition, or partying with friends. Sure, I never smoke or drink, but that doesn’t mean I ignore friends who do. It’s important to strike a balance between all. Having very supportive parents is my biggest strength. Especially my Mom. I would never have reached so far” he says. He doesn’t follow any star religiously but is a fan of Ulisses Jr, watches his workout videos and reads his material. Mazi says “Third time’s a charm. I did not place in both the Men’s Physique competitions I took part in this year. But that did not disappoint me. Instead, I took them as learning experiences. They only made me work harder and be more focused for Musclemania® India. I will bring my best form yet, and am pumped to kill it on stage!”. Mazi will be competing in Model and Physique India this December at the first Musclemania® India Championships.
His friends call him Anand Arnold for being an Arnold Schwarzenegger fanatic. But behind it all is an inspiring story of determination. “At the age of 15, my legs stopped functioning because of the effects of cancer,” Anand explains. “I had to wait three years after my cancer treatment to begin bodybuilding. Now, I am 25 and I continue working out and am one of India’s top bodybuilders beating men with fully functioning legs.” Anand has won several titles including Mr. India (two times), Mr. North India and Mr. Punjab (nine times). He’s lifetime natural and says he’s been waiting for an all natural competition in India. “The moment I heard about the world’s greatest competition Musclemania was coming to India, I was exhilarated and signed up immediately!” Anand works out hard thrice a week, eats clean and is continues to be an inspiration to Indian bodybuilders, natural or not.
He did not win, but lifetime natural bodybuilder Luke Belcher made a big impact at last week’s Musclemania® Australia. The 5’10″, 215 lbs., 27 year old nutrition store manager has been competing for nearly 10 years and always in natural shows. “I train because I’m passionate about it,” Luke says. “There isn’t a day go by that I miss, I just love it!” Luke could have been a contender for the overall title if he’d been leaner. Surely he won’t make that mistake again.
Adika Njemanze won the Musclemania® Australia last week in Gold Coast. The 5’10″, 189 lbs., 18 year old high school student had already won all of the other major natural shows last year and decided he was ready to move up to MM. “I did not want to take on the best guys until I knew I could win,” Adika says. “Now I am back in the gym and going to hit the weights and eat like a pig so I can compete with the Open guys next year.” Adika will still be just 19 years old, but could still take on the the big boys.
