Raechelle Chase's First year as Figure Pro, Nov 10

Before getting your Pro Card what did you imagine it would be like competing on stage in the Pro ranks? It's pretty much exactly as I imagined it would be. It's kind of surreal competing alongside Girls I used to watch on the Olympia Stage.


California Pro

What shows have you competed in and placing?
The Sacramento Pro- November 2009-10^th Place
The California Pro- May 2010- 13^th Place
The Houston Pro-October 2010-10^th place
The Fort Lauderdale Pro-November 2010- (Didn't make the night show)

Now that you've competed in them, is being a Pro Figure athlete lived up to your imagination/expectation? It's pretty much what I expected; I love the glamorous side of competing in Pro Figure where there can never be too much bling.

What, if any, were your expectations of placing in the shows?
I was so happy and surprised to place 10^th in my first Po show The Sacramento Pro, so it's safe to say that was totally unexpected and a great starting point for me. I have learnt over the year that you just don't know who is going to show up on the day and in what condition so I always just aim to bet my personal best. Sometimes you will beat a competitor and the next show she will turn up in better condition and beat you, so you just have to do your best.

    
Houston Pro

How different or similar are the Pro shows run compared to NZ regional shows?
They are not much different at all, just more competitors.  

What is the camaraderie like amongst the girls backstage compared to NZ shows? 

I have only competed in 5 shows in NZ, during that time there has been allot of controversy about my placing's and especially obtaining my Pro card that  made my experiences competing in NZ not the most pleasant. However, In the Pro ranks the Girls are all lovely back stage, helping each other out. I have made some great friends through competing in the States and we stay in touch via Face Book. I guess when you compete at that level we all understand that each one of us has worked hard to be there and just try to have fun and support each other on the day.

How have the American judges and athletes responded to having a kiwi in the lineup?
The athletes are great, no problems there. As for the judges, it can be hard to get noticed if you are not from the States, I'm sure they prefer the tops girls to be from their own back yard. You have to love the sport to do it because you dedicate allot to get ready for a show. But I'm improving my physique from show to show and that's always my main goal when I compete.

The U.S girls are very glamorous. Do you think sometimes it comes down to the battle of the bling to catch the judge's eyes?  LOL, you're asking the wrong person Lisa, you know me I have always been one of the more ‘blinged' out of competitors whenever I have competed in NZ, they are all the same in the Pro ranks. I haven't seen anything more blinged out than my own suits so far.

What is actually involved during a figure contest? 
We usually have the briefing the Friday night before the show where we receive our competitor numbers and information on the format for the show. We are able to arrive later than the NPC competitors and have our own dressing room for the ‘Pro Figure ‘girls which is always nice.

  
Fort Lauderdale Pro

When it's time we line up and go on stage one at a time and then wait on stage for all the competitors and do the comparrison rounds. Because it's done alphabetically i'm generally one of the first competitors to go on stage which can mean allot of waiting on stage when the class in big.

Immediately after the pre judging we leave and come back a couple of hours before we are due back on stage for the night show for make up and spray tan re-touching.. We all come on one at a time again and do quarter turns in line ups then leave the stage and the top 5 are called back on for prize giving. Some-one usually brings the score sheets out the back at that time so all the competitors can see where they placed.

What advice would you give to the girls who are considering giving the ‘international figure' class a go?

If it's your dream to turn Pro, then follow it with all the passion, drive and motivation you have. Stay focused don't let negative people make you believe it's not possible. Anything and everything is possible it's tough out there, you have to be strong, I guess it depends how much disappointment you're willing to take

What contests and goals have you got planned in the upcoming future?

I have just completed my first year competing as a Pro almost to the date and competed in 4 shows. I'm looking forward to having some quality time with my family now and will look into which shows I intend to do next year over the next few weeks.