Top Ten Fitness Beauties for November

I haven't done a top ten list here on this blog, but I thought I would do one featuring the most viewed female fitness competitors, figure competitors and bodybuilders on this site.
I have to admit that I was kind of happily surprised that most of the ladies that hit the top ten aren't widely known...yet.
I know how hard these ladies work to get in shape and to stay in shape.
They deserve recognition.
So without further ado, here are the top ten women from last month.
Starting with...

Fitness and Figure Competitor and personal trainer from Hungary, Gabriella Bankuti, was by far the most viewed of the fitness beauties on this site.

Coming in second is the sleek and muscled Melissa Merritt from Austin, Texas.

Third up is fitness babe Shonda Lee from Shreveport, Louisiana.

Our fourth lady is the breath-taking NPC figure competitor, Jodie Minear.

Fitness model and personal trainer Mary Jarmolowich came in fifth.

Professional Fitness Model and NPC National Figure Competitor Kavvy Sonhos came in at number six.

Number seven is the incredibly ripped Catherine Holland (Catherine Boshuizen). She's a IFBB Pro Figure Competitor, a fitness model and personal trainer.

Coming in at number eight is beautiful Finnish fitness competitor, flight attendant and aerobics instructor, Minna Pajulahti.

National Figure Competitor and Fitness Model Dora Trikoupis comes in at number nine.

And finally rounding out the top ten is the beautiful British Colombian fitness beauty, Lisa Giesbrecht.

Torrie Wilson - Fitness Competitor and Fitness Model

Here is a blast from the past in a way.
Many of you may know Torrie Wilson as a female wrestler, but before Torrie ever set foot in a wrestling ring, she was a both a female fitness competitor and female fitness model.
Torrie was born on July 24, 1975 in Boise, Idaho.
Before becoming a fitness model, as she was growing up Torrie was into cheerleading, dance, and track and field.
But starting at the age of fourteen, Torrie began to suffer with anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
She started a fitness program, working out and eating six meals a day as a way to overcome this and plunged head-long into fitness.
Torrie entered her first fitness competition and placed third, then went on to win the Miss Galaxy competition in 1998.

At that competition she met Lisa Marie Varon, another fitness competitor.
Lisa went on to become Victoria in the WWF/WWE and Tara in TNA.
The meeting in 1998 was the start of a life-long friendship.
Also in 1998, Torrie took part in the Women's Tri-Fitness Championships, and placed first in the Grace and Physique round, also doing very well in the Fitness Routine and Obstacle Course.
Lisa Marie was also a top ten finalist in that competition.

As a fitness model, Torrie appeared in several of the muscle and fitness magazines swimsuit issues, as did another one of the fitness beauties who later turned female wrestler, Trish Stratus.

Juliana Malacarne - IFBB Figure Pro

I did a write up on IFBB Figure Pro Juliana Malacarne last year on my other fitness women blog, but I wanted to do an update on her here.
Juliana is of Italian heritage, but was born in Brazil.
And like many of the other female fitness beauties that I do write up on here, she is multi-talented.
She's not only a fitness pro, but a female personal trainer, nutritionist and female fitness model.

Female Fitness Competitions:
2006 IFBB Europa Super Show - NP
2007 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Figure Championships - NP
2007 IFBB California Pro Figure Championships - 13th place
2007 IFBB Colorado Pro/Am Classic Bodybuilding And Figure Contest - NP
2008 IFBB Arnold Classic Bodybuilding, Fitness And Figure Contest - 12th place
2008 IFBB New York Pro Figure - 13th place
2008 IFBB Atlantic City Pro - 4th place
2009 IFBB Arnold Classic - 13th place
2009 IFBB New York Pro Figure - 10th place

Catherine Holland (Catherine Boshuizen)

Catherine Holland (Catherine Boshuizen) is a IFBB Pro Figure Competitor, a fitness model and personal trainer
She was born on March 21, 1980 in Portland, Oregon, but she now resides in Orlando, Florida.
Catherine stands 5’7”, weighs in at 130 lbs (contest weight) and 140-145 (off season).
She has a BS and MS degrees in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University and she is a business owner and instructor of Celebration Boot Camps.

Contest history:
2004 NPC Northwest Natural Figure Championships: Overall
2005 Oregon Ironman Figure: 1st place over 5’6”
2005 Emerald Cup Figure: 7th place 5’6-5’8”
2006 Emerald Cup Figure: 13th place 5’6-5-8”
2006 NPC Jr. National Figure Championship: 9th Place Class D
2007 NPC Jr. National Figure Championship: 12th Place Class F
2007 NPC Figure Team Universe: 16th place Class F
2007 NPC Figure USA’s: 16th place Class E
2008 Emerald Cup Figure: 2nd place Class F
2008 NPC JR USA Figure Championship: 1st place class E
2008 NPC JR NATIONALS Figure Championships: 1st place, Class E
2009 IFBB Europa Super Show of Champions Pro Figure: 16th

IFBB professional Cristiana Casoni

Cristiana is 5'4 and weighs 136 pounds.
She was born on July 11th, 1968.
Cristiana has been in the fitness scene quite awhile as you can see here in her contest history.....

1997 IFBB Italian Pro Fitness, 5th place
1997 IFBB Norway Pro Fitness, 11th place
1998 IFBB Arnold Classic And Internationals, 14th place
1998 IFBB France Pro Fitness, 9th place
1998 IFBB Italian Pro Fitness, 8th place
1998 IFBB Jan Tana Pro, 16th place
1998 IFBB Fitness Olympia, 11th place
1999 IFBB Mid-West Pro Fitness, 3rd place
1999 IFBB Olympia, 12th place
2000 IFBB Rimini Pro Fitness, 6th place
2005 IFBB Toronto Pro, 5th place

K.L. Frahn

This beautiful young lady is fitness model K.L. Frahn (Kristen Leigh Frahn).
She's 5'4" and weighs 124 lbs and is not only a fitness model, but is trained in Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (brown belt).
K.L. started out with fitness training to enhance her martial arts training, and I would say it worked.

Shonda Lee

Beautiful figure competitor Shonda Lee is from Shreveport, Louisiana.
She's 5' 5" and weighs 121 ripped and lean pounds.

Contest History:
2008 NPC Southern Classic (MS) - 5th Place, Class C
2008 NPC Louisiana BB & Figure (LA) - 3rd Place, Medium Class
2008 NPC Nationals (GA) - 8th Place, Class C
2008 Bikini USA International (Mexico) - 7th place

Melissa Merritt

This sleek and muscled personal trainer, figure competitor, and fitness model is Melissa Merritt from Austin, Texas.
Melissa won the Figure Overall title in Las Vegas at the Fitness America World Championships on November 21, 2008.
Melissa just ran a Fitness Bootcamp with fellow fitness stars Abby Marie and Brenda Mikalajunas.
Abby Marie is also being trained by Melissa.

Michelle Berger

I seem to have a lot of inspirational women on this blog, and this one is no exception.
Certified Personal Trainer (NESTA),expert on exercise science, nutrition and coaching and mother of four, Michelle Berger.
Yes that's right, mother of four.
She had all four in four years, starting in 1999.
Michelle made a huge change in her body after giving birth, and she didnt use a nanny, a personal trainer or a regular sitter.

Dora Trikoupis, National Figure Competitor

Dora Trikoupis is a National Figure Competitor, a Fitness Model and she does online training and nutrition.
She has competed in:

2006-Eastern USA Championships-Figure: Class A (4th place)
2007-Bev Francis Atlantic States Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Championships-Figure: Class A (10th place)
2008-NPC Mike Francois Classic Bodybuilding and Figure Championships (8th place)
2008-NPC Lehigh Valley Bodybuilding and Figure Contest (3rd place)
2008-NPC Junior National Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships (13th place)
2008-NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships (10th place)

Fitness Model and Competitor, Laura Coleman

Laura Coleman is an up and coming fitness model and competitor.
She's 5'7" and weighs 127.
I was only able to find two competitions Laura has been in, she placed 4th at the 2005 Los Angeles Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships, Class F and she came in 1st in Figure F at the 2007 Los Angeles Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships.
Laura has appeared in Oxygen, Ironman, Muscle Mag and Muscular Development.
And as far as I can tell, she is in a relationship with retired IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Eryk Bui.

Pauline Nordin

The stunning Pauline Nordin.
Pro Figure athlete, fitness model, actress, Certified Fitness Trainer and journalist, Pauline Nordin was born on July 23, 1982 in Ystad, Sweden.
Pauline has been on the cover, and featured in several magazines, among them Oxygen, BODY, Ironman and Muscle and Fitness.
She is a writer for Bodybuilding.com, and has been sponsored by Better Bodies and Optimum Nutrition Inc.
She and her husband Pavel Ythjall own the fitness and wellness company Conforce.

Kavvy Sonhos - Fitness Model and Figure Competitor

This lovely young lady is Kavvy Sonhos.
Kavvy is a professional fitness model and NPC National Figure Competitor.
She is also a certified fitness trainer, licensed massage therapist and nutritionist.
AND she held a World Record in Deadlift Powerlifting.
Kavvy is of Brazilian and Latino descent.
She has competed in:
2008 Sunshine Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 1st place.
2008 NPC National Bodybuilding & Figure Championships, 6th place.

IFBB Figure Pro Erin Stern

IFBB Figure Pro Erin Stern is from Wellington, Florida.
She's a fairly new face, but I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of her.
Before entering competition, she competed in track and field at the University of Florida. Her specialty was the high jump and hurdles.
When she's not competing, she works in the real estate industry.
Contest history :
2003 NPC, Gainesville
2008 NPC National Figure, won F class (over 5'7") and got her IFBB Pro Card.

This 5'8", 136 pound beauty can bench press 193 lbs, deadlift 230 lbs, and squat 230 lbs.

Catherine Holland, IFBB Pro Figure Competitor

IFBB Pro figure competitor, fitness model and certified personal trainer, Catherine Holland was born on March 21, 1980 in Portland, Oregon.
This lovely young lady holds BS and MS degrees in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University.
In addition to Figure Competitions, she is a business owner and instructor of Celebration Boot Camps.
She has competed in the:

2004 NPC Northwest Natural Figure Championships: Overall
2005 Oregon Ironman Figure: 1st place over 5’6”
2005 Emerald Cup Figure: 7th place 5’6-5’8”
2006 Emerald Cup Figure: 13th place 5’6-5-8”
2006 NPC Jr. National Figure Championship: 9th Place Class D
2007 NPC Jr. National Figure Championship: 12th Place Class F
2007 NPC Figure Team Universe: 16th place Class F
2007 NPC Figure USA’s: 16th place Class E
2008 Emerald Cup Figure: 2nd place Class F
2008 NPC JR USA Figure Championship: 1st place class E
2008 NPC JR NATIONALS Figure Championships: 1st place, Class E, and new IFBB FIGURE PRO

Fitness Competitor: Jen Cook

This 5' 2", 115 pound beauty is fitness competitor and IFBB pro Jen Cook.
Jen has a huge modeling background including fitness, swimsuit, glamour and fashion modeling, commercial and print appearances, and being the spokesmodel for companies.
And besides being an IFBB Professional Athlete, she is a published international fitness and fashion model calendar model, and commercial actor.

Contest History:

1999- NPC Southwest USAs
Short Class, Fitness - 2nd place

1999- NPC Muscle Beach (Galveston, TX)
Short Class, Fitness - 1st place and Overall Winner

2000- NPC Jr. Nationals
Short Class, Fitness - 1st place

2000- NPC Nationals
Short Class, Fitness - 7th place

2001- NPC USAs
Short Class, Fitness - 2nd place
(IFBB Pro qualifier)

2002 - IFBB Jan Tana
Pro Fitness - 10th

2007 – IFBB Atlantic City Pro
Pro Figure – 8th

Fitness model and competitor Yenny Polanco

Fitness model and fitness competitor Yenny Polanco is an IFBB Athlete, born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Like a lot of female athletes, Yenny doesn't just wear one hat.
She's an AFPA Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, Licensed Board Certified Cosmetologist, owned a hair salon from 2001 to 2006, Former Public Access T.V. producer (she produced a make-over show "Re-Inventing Yourself" where she did complete make-overs on volunteers) and she's a two time Light Flight weight Golden Gloves Boxing Champion!
Believe it or not, when Jenny got to the US from the Dominican Republic at the age of twelve, she couldn't even speak English.
And look at what she has accomplished!

Contest History:
2007 INBF Northeast Classic Bodybuilding, Fitness And Figure Contest - 1st place
2007 INBF Northeast Classic Bodybuilding, Fitness And Figure Contest - 1st place
2007 NPC New England Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure Championship - 1st place
2007 NPC Team Universe Bodybuilding, Fitness And Figure Championships - 3rd place
2008 IFPA Yorton Cup Pro International - 2nd place
2008 MuscleMania Fitness America Weekend - 1st place
2009 NPC USA Bodybuilding & Figure Championships - 16th place
2009 NPC Team Universe - 1st place
2009 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Pro Fitness & Figure - 3rd place

Karen Zaremba

Stay at home Mom, IFBB Bodybuilder, former IFBB Figure Pro and fitness model Karen Zaremba.
Karen was born on January 27, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan.

Contest History:
2003- Michigan Novice Bodybuilding championships- overall
2004- Central States Figure championships- overall
2005- Junior USA's - third place Class A
2005- Junior Nationals- third place class A
2005- NPC National Figure Championships- second place class A, earned IFBB pro card
2007 Europa Super Show - 8th place lightweights

Jamie Eason

Who doesn't like Jamie Eason?
She's very popular on the internet, and she seems to be a very nice young lady, who actually goes into forums and posts.
To get into the incredible shape you see here, Jamie used a personal trainer and nutritionist.
It looks like it really paid off.
I can't really find much on her in the way of contest history....
Maybe someone out there can tell us where she has competed.

Besides being a fitness model, she is a computer software consultant.
Jamie has been on the cover of Oxygen Magazine twice.

Trish Stratus, Fitness Model

Of course you associate the name Trish Stratus with the WWE.
She was the WWF/WWE Women's Wrestling Champion 7 times.
But before she was a professional wrestler or television personality, Trish was a sought after fitness model.
When Trish was growing up in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, she wanted to become a doctor.
It looked like Trish was getting her wish when she became a pre-med student at York University in Toronto, Ontario.
Things looked good for her medical career until a faculty strike by YUFA in 1997 that lasted seven weeks, effectively shutting the college down.
Since Trish couldn't go to school, she got a job in World Gym, and was approached by Scott Able (who has trained over 300 bodybuilding and figure champions) to do a modeling job for a supplement line.
This lead to her catching the eye of Bob Kennedy, and being contracted to work for the Musclemag International fitness magazine from 1997 to 1999.
Trish became one of the world's most sought after fitness models, and wound up appearing on the cover of over 20 international fitness publications.
One of Trish's most remembered projects from her fitness period was the infamous The Dream Team calendar with fellow fitness model Stacey Lynn.

Amber Elizabeth Fournier

Oxygen covergirl and rising fitness model Amber Elizabeth.
To stay in this condition, she does Pilates, kickboxing, weight training and CrossFit.
I would say it appears to be working for her.
Besides Oxygen, she has appeared in Muscle & Fitness, HERS and Mens Fitness among others.

Jennifer Nicole Lee

The beautiful Jennifer Nicole Lee is a Fitness Expert, Lifestyle Consultant, Fitness Model, devoted wife and mother.
She is drop dead gorgeous.
And she is also an inspiration.
To improve her physical and mental health and become more active with her children, Jennifer began a fitness program and nutrition program and lost 70 pounds.
Her goal was to lose weight and enter a bikini contest.
Jennifer surpassed her goal and one year later was crowned Miss Bikini America 2005!
She's appeared on Oprah, Inside Edition and E! featured her as one of the "Top 20 hottest women of the web".

Christine Pomponio-Pate - Fitness Beauty

This is possibly one of the most beautiful women I have ever profiled here.
Christine Pomponio-Pate was born in 1975 in Denver, Colorado.
She started working out with weights while she was still in high school, in 1994, a horrendous car wreck almost ended her career, and her life.

Female Fitness Competitions:
1999 Colorado Fitness Championship - Overall Winner
2004 Figure Olympia - 6th Place
2005 Arnold Figure Classic - 4th Place
2005 Figure Olympia - 6th Place
2005 Pro Figure Tournament of Champions - 1st Place
2006 Figure Olympia - 4th Place
2006 IFBB CO Pro/Am - 3rd Place
2006 IFBB CA Pro Championship - 1st Place

This five foot one inch 105 pound fitness beauty has also appeared in, and on the covers of, magazines including Muscle and Fitness, CORE Magazine, MuscleMag International, Flex, Ironman and Muscle & Fitness Hers.

Allison Frahn

Awhile back I did a write up on the lovely K.L. Frahn.
Well here is her sister, the equally beautiful Allison Frahn.
Allison was born on September 27, 1980 in Nanuet, NY.
She definitely has a ripped lean look, and if you go to her website and check out her bio, you'll see that this young woman overcame a tremendous obstacle to get to where she is today.
It's a very inspiring story.
Besides doing figure competitions and being a fitness model, she has a BA in Communication from the University of Delaware.

Contest History:
2004 NBI Tri-State - 1st Place in the Figure Short.
2005 INBF Naturalmania - 1st Place Figure
2005 WNBF Pro World Champs - 3rd Place Figure Short
2005 WNBF Pro World Champs - 2nd Place (Best Body)
2006 WNBF Pro Natural Cup - 4th Place Figure Short.
2006 WNBF Pro World Champs - 2nd Place Figure Short
2007 WNBF Pro World Champs - 4th Place Figure Short.
2008 WNBF World Championships - 2nd Place Figure Short.
2008 WNBF Kansas City Pro International - 2nd Place Figure

Irina Kiselev - Figure Competitor

This beautiful young lady is figure competitor Irina Kiselev (Irina Kiselev-Kononenko).
She was born in Moscow Russia and is five foot three, 123 pounds.
I couldn't find a lot of info on her other than she came in 4th in class B figure at the 2010 NPC USA Championships.
And she's a professional graphic designer/artist.

Terri Turner - IFBB Pro Athlete

This is IFBB Pro athlete Terri Turner.
Terri was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia and currently lives in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Before getting into fitness competitions, Terri tried her hand at field hockey and dance.
But she found that she liked weight lifting better.
This fitness beauty has a pretty extensive list of contests...

2007 NPC Gaspari Nutrition Jr. USA Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships - 11th Place
2008 NPC Team Universe Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure National Championships - 4th Place
2008 IFBB North American Bodybuilding and Figure Championships - 3rd Place
2008 NPC Junior USA Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships - 1st Place
2008 NPC XII Annual Ronnie Coleman Classic Bodybuilding Fitness & Figure - 1st Place
2009 IFBB Kentucky Muscle Pro Figure - 5th Place
2009 IFBB Sacramento - 13th Place
2009 NPC Junior National Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships - 1st Place
2010 IFBB Europa Super Show - 1st Place
2010 IFBB Europa Battle of Champions - 2nd Place
2010 IFBB New York Pro Figure - 3rd Place
2010 IFBB Olympia - 8th Place

Terri has appeared in fitness publications like FLEX, Muscle and Fitness Hers, Oxygen and Iron Man.

When she's not on the stage, Terri is a Personal Trainer, Fitness Director, LSUS Teacher and FMG (Fitness Management Group) Athlete.

And you know, as well built as she is, the funny thing is, when I first saw her I thought, "Damn..look at those cheekbones!"