Photos courtesy of Marcello Dezallez

46 year old Mancino Ornella from Salerno, Italy has been training just under a year with her sights set on competing. With a July 2015 show on the horizon, Mancino is extremely busy balancing her online wedding favors store, raising her 3 children ages 23, 10 and 7, and finding time to hit the gym for training.

Mancino’s dedication to her training shows in her remarkable transformation with less than a year of training. She has built up to some pretty impressive lifts in that short time.

Dumbbell Curls: 10kg
Tricep Pushdowns: 45kg
Leg Extensions: 50kg
Leg Press: 90kg
Calf Raises: 70kg

We look forward to seeing more of Mancino as she continues towards her goal of stepping on stage and wish her lots of success in her first show. Just stepping on stage is a huge victory.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the look and aesthetic of a fit, athletic, female physique. When I first came across women who had taken their bodies and athleticism to the next level, I knew I had found my home. Not only for myself physically but also for the look I wanted to achieve. Knowing that we all can’t be Ms. Olympia, or even come close to that level, I strived to be the best I could with the genetics I was born with. I’m very happy and very proud of what I’ve accomplished.

There have been a few women, along my journey that have motivated me, inspired me and given me the drive to build a strong, muscular physique. And though I will never step on a competitive stage, I can still flex my biceps, smile and be thankful for these handful of women that I admire.

So today, in honor of them and their accomplishments and for all the dreams they inspired, I give you some of my most favorite female bodybuilders of all time.

Louise Stock, 30, was barely able to walk and off work for six months

A female bodybuilder has told how a debilitating illness made her lose three stone in a month, nearly led to cancer, and almost killed her.

Mum-of-two Louise Stock dropped to just 7st at the worst point after developing pancolitis – a disease which spreads throughout the large intestine.

After a marriage break up, the 30-year-old hit the gym to get over it and was at the peak of her physical fitness last May when struck down with the condition.

It was just three months before she was due to take part in her first bodybuilding contest after nearly a year of training.

Instead the business advisor from Bargoed, south Wales, was left dangerously underweight and barley able to walk so could not take part.

She said: “The disease hit me hard. I was losing weight rapidly and was admitted to hospital six times. I was going to the toilet 20 times a day and was unable to eat and drink.”

The condition, which is a form of ulcerative colitis, causes severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding, and made her feel constantly drained.

Ulcerative Colitis is one of the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease.

The other is Crohn’s Disease which caused former TOWIE star Sam Faiers to drop to 7st in the Celebrity Big Brother House in February 2014.

Things got worse when she developed hospital bug Clostridium Difficile and a dilated colon, which saw her lose three stone in four weeks.

“It was horrific. I was treated with intravenous steroids and immune suppressant drugs. I dropped to 7st,” she said.

The disease weakened her immune system and led to her developing pre-cancerous cells on her cervix which needed urgent surgery and follow-up chemotherapy.

She now suffers with arthritis in her knees and swelling in the joints which has completely knocked the self-confidence she built for herself during weight training.

“I’ve had to take six months off work,” said Louise, who also has bipolar disorder.

“Before this hit I was a bubbly, outgoing, busy person. I loved going to the gym, going on days out with the kids – and now a barely leave the house.

“I have no confidence. I have to fight to get out of bed in the morning. Every time I eat I have to take medication. It’s really a life-changing disease.”

The doting mum, who has a six and 11-year-old, fears she may need her large intestine removed should her steroid medication fail to improve her condition.

“It means I may need a colostomy bag – that would be a massive challenge. This disease is so debilitating and cruel. I am just one in over 261,000 people affected by this.”

She is now determined to overcome the condition which almost claimed her life.

She said: “The gym completely changed my life. It wasn’t just about getting fit. It became a new family for me.

“The exercise made me more confident physically and made me feel much better about myself.

“I am now back up to my normal weight and I won’t give up without a fight.”

One of her closest gym friends, award-winning bodybuilder Michelle Dempsey, is planning on shaving off all her hair on April 17 for charity Crohns and Colitis UK.

Louise has also taken inspiration from English bodybuilder Blake Beckford who was crowned champion of a national fitness competition despite being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003.

“Many people think that this disease is just diarrhea, they are so wrong,” she added.

“There is a lack of publicity around this condition compared with cancer.

“In some ways I’m lucky. I’ve seen babies with the condition who need feeding through tubes, and teenagers missing school because they’re in so much pain.

“But I have fantastic kids. They understand that mammy cannot do many things she’d like. They’re as good as gold.”

Courtesy of: Mirror

This gorgeous 24 year old blonde Body Fitness competitor from Trencin Slovakia has taken the European competitive scene by storm. A fitness manager by day, Adela Ondrejovičová is a World Champion, IFBB Pro, and fitness model.

Adela’s began training during her last year of high school. The past 7 years of training have allowed her to create an amazing physique on her 5′ 5″ (167cm) frame. Stepping on stage at 115lbs (52-53kg), Adela has held her own with several Junior World Championships and huge wins at the Vitazka Nicole Wilkins Cup in Finland and the Arnold Classic Europe 2013 in Madrid.

We look forward to following Adela in her future training and on stage.

With baseball season finally here, how can we not share an all time favorite lady of ours…..IFBB Pro Sarah Dunlap.

Yes, it’s been a long time since Sarah stepped on a competitive stage…but who can argue with the physique she brought to the stage. Besides, what’s not to love about some female muscle supporting our hometown team?

Priscilla Freeman (left), Mark Bouvet and her husband Richard Freeman (right)

A former bodybuilder and wife of a well-known Christchurch businessman has died suddenly.

Priscilla Freeman, 44, was on holiday in Hanmer with her family when she became unconscious in a room at Chalets Motel in Hanmer on Friday night.

Emergency services were called, but the mother-of-four could not be revived.

Police have referred her death to the coroner.

Freeman competed internationally as a bodybuilder at several Universe championships, including in 2003, before retiring from the sport.

She was married to Onyx Homes director Richard Freeman who fought to save her life.

He took to social media to pay tribute to “my baby, love of my life, my rock, my amazing wife”.

“There’s a hole that will never fill . . . Amazing mother, sister, daughter and lover,” he posted on Facebook.

“I tried to get you back but couldn’t and it kills me.”

Richard Freeman declined to comment when contacted on Monday.

Courtesty of: Stuff