The body part no one likes to talk about

[Harry The Hat]

There’s a thought that’s been clattering about my head and it won’t go away. It’s probably not going to make me very popular and I haven’t come to any firm conclusions, but unless I express it, it’s going to destroy my last remaining brain cell. So here’s the thing…

Having already argued that Yaxeni’s lines are better than Iris’s – which I still believe to be the case – there’s an angle to this that seems to be unspoken but out there nonetheless. How much of a role did Yaxeni’s face play in this? Before you batter me to death with the nearest available blunt instrument, hear me out.

The Ms O is different. The winner of the Ms O is, in effect, the ‘poster girl’ of fbb-ing for the next twelve months. Iris has a great physique, carries herself with dignity and speaks with intelligence, but she’s no conventional beauty. Can you see her appearing on Jay Leno? Probably not.

Yaxeni’s physique is big and beautiful. She has vivacity and passion. She also has classic Latin good looks. Can you see her appearing on Jay Leno? Well yes, personally, I probably could.

If you had a good visual sense, or too much time on your hands and a passing knowledge of Photoshop, you could transpose the heads of the two women onto each other’s bodies. Does it change things? Maybe.

Is there are a vast difference between them? Not really. Does the face influence how the physiques are judged? Well yes, despite our best efforts, it probably does.

When Iris is called ‘unfeminine’ are we really talking about her physique or her face? I mean, Yaxeni’s physique is different, but hardly radically so. The vagueness of the ‘total package’ concept for the Ms O has always worried me. I always had this gnawing feeling that they were talking about a pretty face to go with the good physique.

As I say, I haven’t come to any real conclusion. I just have the suspicion that all other things being equal, a pretty face will tip the balance. The Ms O is the public face (excuse the pun) of female bodybuilding. I just wonder if there isn’t an unspoken undertow, amongst both fans and FBBs alike, that wanted a more presentable representative.

[Tonia Williams]

Did you know that the Jay Leno show was there? Or was that just a coincidence that you mentioned it??

Yax is beautiful and will be a great spokesperson for FBB.... if you can understand her.

[Harry The Hat]

I had no idea that the Jay Leno show was there. I only mentioned it as an example of getting big-time coverage. Doubtless, it was one of their famous reporters-with-a-smirk doing a 'these people are nuts' roving report.

That having been said, there's (to use a soccer analogy us Europeans are very fond of) an 'open goal' there for the ball to be rolled into. It wouldn't take much more than a phone call and a follow-up visit to the show's producers to put Yax in with a very good chance of making an appearance. Ronnie's been on the show before, but he's old news.

She's beautiful, has charisma and I should imagine both her accent and way with the English language would add to her charm, rather than detract from it. If the IFBB has the slightest intention of getting FBBing back on the map, this is as good (and big) an opportunity as they're ever going to get. Where's that IFBB-appointed PR person for women's bodybuilding I'm always looking for when you need her?

[Justice]

Did you know that Yaxeni made an appearence on the Jay Leno show ages ago?

She did!

[Justice]

Tonia williams, You are looking great as usual.

[bigbrother]

Well, well Harry
What is the next conclusion?
Yax had the most influent sponsor putting presure on the judges!
She is beautiful and dumb, so that s why they preffer her over Iris!
Sorry, but Yax has what it takes to win the Ms. O, period.
Last year it was Iris, this year it s Yaxeni, next year who knows ...
Can't people just not accept the true value of a bb without always have to look for silly excuses why this one got the upper hand over another one ...
My idea ... perhaps she had a better overall package on O-day .... how does that sound?

[Maxt]

Sounds good to me Big Brother.

[Mike]

Yax is beautiful and will be a great spokesperson for FBB.... if you can understand her.


:rolleyes: haha actually her English is substantially better than it was a few years ago. I had breakfast with her a few years ago and she spoke no English period.

[Tre]

Did you know that the Jay Leno show was there? Or was that just a coincidence that you mentioned it??
For what it's worth, one of the producers from the JLS has been in contact with me previously about featuring some footage of women bodybuilders on the show.

It doesn't surprise me at all that Jay or someone from the show might attend - they seem to be pretty fascinated with the entire culture.

[BigD]

Montel Williams has been into it for a very long time.

[CalJoe]

There’s a thought that’s been clattering about my head and it won’t go away. It’s probably not going to make me very popular and I haven’t come to any firm conclusions, but unless I express it, it’s going to destroy my last remaining brain cell. So here’s the thing…

Having already argued that Yaxeni’s lines are better than Iris’s – which I still believe to be the case – there’s an angle to this that seems to be unspoken but out there nonetheless. How much of a role did Yaxeni’s face play in this? Before you batter me to death with the nearest available blunt instrument, hear me out.

The Ms O is different. The winner of the Ms O is, in effect, the ‘poster girl’ of fbb-ing for the next twelve months. Iris has a great physique, carries herself with dignity and speaks with intelligence, but she’s no conventional beauty. Can you see her appearing on Jay Leno? Probably not.

Yaxeni’s physique is big and beautiful. She has vivacity and passion. She also has classic Latin good looks. Can you see her appearing on Jay Leno? Well yes, personally, I probably could.

If you had a good visual sense, or too much time on your hands and a passing knowledge of Photoshop, you could transpose the heads of the two women onto each other’s bodies. Does it change things? Maybe.

Is there are a vast difference between them? Not really. Does the face influence how the physiques are judged? Well yes, despite our best efforts, it probably does.

When Iris is called ‘unfeminine’ are we really talking about her physique or her face? I mean, Yaxeni’s physique is different, but hardly radically so. The vagueness of the ‘total package’ concept for the Ms O has always worried me. I always had this gnawing feeling that they were talking about a pretty face to go with the good physique.

As I say, I haven’t come to any real conclusion. I just have the suspicion that all other things being equal, a pretty face will tip the balance. The Ms O is the public face (excuse the pun) of female bodybuilding. I just wonder if there isn’t an unspoken undertow, amongst both fans and FBBs alike, that wanted a more presentable representative.
Jay Leno and the rest of "mainstream America" would consider Yaxeni a repulsive freak, and they would feel that way about any other bodybuilder at that level. It's the way things are. Walk down the street with a female bodybuilder in shape, not to mention contest shape. If she's wearing anything revealing people will gawk, stare, say rude things out loud, and act generally obnoxious. This happens with 135-140 pound women. Imagine how much it happens with someone who is 165 on stage like Yaxeni, and 185-190 like she if off-season. Forget about mainstream America accepting female bodybuilding, it will never happen, and so what if it never does? All that matters are the fans and followers of the sport. Those of us that follow the sport and have been around it for years find the women that compete beautiful and admirable, but you can't say that for the mainstream population. And again, you're wrong about Yaxeni being more balanced and more symmetrical than Iris. If you want to say Yaxeni is prettier, more in line with what the IFBB is looking for that's fine, but don't even start the "Yaxeni is more symmetrically balance than Iris" argument, because it holds NO water.

[Maxt]

Yaxeni has got a lot more symmetrical balance than Iris Kyle. Yaxeni Oriquen also got a lot of respect on Univision-spanish language TV. I think she is marketable. She has the look. She is no repulsive freak. I am a member of Mainstream America.

[CalJoe]

Yaxeni Oriquen got a lot of respect on Univision. She is no repulsive freak.
I was on a Spanish talk show with my ex-wife and Yaxeni, and the audience repeatedly voiced insulting remarks at these women. Obviously Yaxeni is not a repulsive freak to you, and she is certainly not one to me either. On the contrary, I think Yaxeni is beautiful, but I'm telling you what mainstream America thinks of these women. You can bury your head in the sand about it if you want to.

[Maxt]

What was the name of the show?

[CalJoe]

What was the name of the show?
The name of the show was Sabado Gigante. My ex-wife's name is Marta Rosello, and she was on the show with Yaxeni. Any other questions jackass?

[Maxt]

I saw the show but I don't remember you or your wife. Were you in the audience?

[Maxt]

I took a little survey of my friends who are not all into the scene of female bodybuilding but like the Exotic Dancer look and most of my friends who are about as mainstream America as you can get thought Yaxeni Oriquen looked pretty good. I used a video by Yaxeni that was about 3 years old and it is sold by GMV.

[Maxt]

I saw the show but I don't remember you or your wife. Were you in the audience?
I remember. Yes I saw the show. Maybe they edited out some of the bad comments?

[CalJoe]

I saw the show but I don't remember you or your wife. Were you in the audience?
Now, I'm going to ask you a question. What year was that show? My ex-wife and Yaxeni were on the show as well as another female bodybuilder whose name escapes me. I was slightly off and backstage.

[Maxt]

I'd say 2001 and I'd say Yaxeni was looking good.

[Brandi Burns]

I was on a Spanish talk show with my ex-wife and Yaxeni, and the audience repeatedly voiced insulting remarks at these women. Obviously Yaxeni is not a repulsive freak to you, and she is certainly not one to me either. On the contrary, I think Yaxeni is beautiful, but I'm telling you what mainstream America thinks of these women. You can bury your head in the sand about it if you want to.

agreed. Muscles are gross to people thats just the way it is. I know people who think the "toned" physiques of the figure girls is "too much".

[bigbrother]

agreed. Muscles are gross to people thats just the way it is. I know people who think the "toned" physiques of the figure girls is "too much".
you are absolutely right Brandi!!!!
I am married to a HW fbb (last competition at 177 lbs), and most people find it rather repulsive, to start within our own relatives, not speaking about strangers.
Being a bb myself, i love the life we live together.
The critics and remarks from "hot dog eating - beer drinking" lambda citizens don't bother us, or better it won't turn our lives upside down.
Everybody is entitled to have their own opinion, it s a free meaning of speech country after all
;)

[Ze_Artist]

For what it's worth, one of the producers from the JLS has been in contact with me previously about featuring some footage of women bodybuilders on the show.

It doesn't surprise me at all that Jay or someone from the show might attend - they seem to be pretty fascinated with the entire culture.

Years ago Jay's show had a little comedy segment featuring two women bodybuilders. I do not know who I only caught the near end of it and it was actually before I became a fan. Believe me if it was today I would probably recognize them. LOL The segment was funny but not insulting to women bodybuilders. It was a montage where Jay and Keven Eubanks walk around L.A. with the two women. They get mugged but the women save them. LOL While watching T.V. they have bad reception so they send the women out to adjust the huge radar dish the size of a car.

Jay also had (I think it was) Ronnie Coleman on too. And Kevin Eubanks is into the whole bodybuilding thing so maybe he's a fan of the women hmmm? And he's brought Jay over to our way of thinking! LOL

Jon

[Ze_Artist]

you are absolutely right Brandi!!!!
I am married to a HW fbb (last competition at 177 lbs), and most people find it rather repulsive, to start within our own relatives, not speaking about strangers.
Being a bb myself, i love the life we live together.
The critics and remarks from "hot dog eating - beer drinking" lambda citizens don't bother us, or better it won't turn our lives upside down.
Everybody is entitled to have their own opinion, it s a free meaning of speech country after all
;)

I really wish things were different indeed. Remember the famous picture of Mia Hamm ripping her shirt off after winning the game? That was on Sports Illustrated and I heard people saying that she was too buff. First off, she's a professional athlete who traines every day so she's going to be "buff". And secondly she was flexing because of the moment.

But it's just so annoying that the mainstream says that women must be skinny and weak where men should be big snd strong! It's a load of crap, women can be strong and still be beautiful and feminine.

Jon

[CalJoe]

I'd say 2001 and I'd say Yaxeni was looking good.
Wrong!!!! Thanks for playing... The show I speak of was circa 1994-95.

[Maxt]

That was definitely not the show I saw. I saw the show in 2001 and talked to her about it. She's been working hard for this goal and through hard work and never quitting she's won the Ms. Olympia. Definitely a great story.

[southpump]

The name of the show was Sabado Gigante. My ex-wife's name is Marta Rosello, and she was on the show with Yaxeni. Any other questions jackass?

Your former wife is Martica Roselló? Wow, she was/(still is?) an amazing bodybuilder. I've read somewhere she was the personal trainer of Christina Saralegui and she appeared on her magazine and on her show when they discussed the controversy of female bodybuilders, Rachel McLish was there too.

Do you know where is she now, is she still competing?

sp

[CalJoe]

Your former wife is Martica Roselló? Wow, she was/(still is?) an amazing bodybuilder. I've read somewhere she was the personal trainer of Christina Saralegui and she appeared on her magazine and on her show when they discussed the controversy of female bodybuilders, Rachel McLish was there too.

Do you know where is she now, is she still competing?

sp
Yes, Martica is my ex-wife. I don't know if she's still competing to be honest with you. She was an excellent natural competitor that held her own in NPC and IFBB amateur shows. Yes, she was Christina's personal trainer. For those of you that don't know, Christina Saralegui is the "Oprah" of Spanish television. Marta and I appeared with 3 other bodybuilding couples appeared on Christina's show in 1993. The show was about bodybuilding couples and their lifestyles. You can imagine the questions we got from the audience. Rachel McLish was not at the show we did, and that must have been later on after Marta and I split up.

[fivegrand]

If the IFBB has the slightest intention of getting FBBing back on the map


Therein lies the rub.

With the Ms O being presented on a cafeteria table in the Expo, it's clear that they don't.

:(

[Tre]

With the Ms O being presented on a cafeteria table in the Expo, it's clear that they don't.
Ouch, yet so true.

I'm going to start a chant - "The IFBB is not your friend, the IFBB is not your friend..."

[BTX]

For the record: of course the face matters. All the women know this, it's part of the total package. With the new rules, softer more rounded faces are likely to become the norm.

A flashback: it was probably around '86 or '87. My girlfriend at the time and I were walking back from a movie and we saw a poster of Cory Everson hanging outside a gym. I remember her reaction: "ewwww" (Ironically, since getting married a moving to Cali, she's become something of a gym rat).

Bodybuilding editorials that wistfully look back to the "golden age" of Women's Bodybuilding might suggest that there was broader acceptance of the developed female physique...but it wasn't so... It didn't matter whose face, Cory's Rachel's, Bev's, Lynda's or Yaxeni's... It was considered a "freak show" then and it's a "freak show" now.

BTX