Taylor 'The Typhoon' Smith, July 2012

For years Aussies have been claiming Kiwi icons like the pavlova and phar lap as their own so its only fair that we claim one of theirs as our own.

Taylor Smith barnstormed onto the kiwi bodybuilding last year at the 2011 NZIFBB South Island displaying awesome mass and muscularity in a feminine package and it got everyone talking. Her condition and cuts wowed the Aussies at the INBA All Female Classic taking out the Overall Physique Title in only her 3rd comp.

So who is she and where is she from?!! And where will this muscle typhoon head next?

Taylor Smith is an Aussie but she was lucky enough to marry Kane, her kiwi hubby and moved to Christchurch and now lives in Lyttleton. She's been training for 20 years but only took up competitive bodybuilding last year. But why did she take so long to get on stage? Read on to find out more....

Thank you to Melita Jagic for INBA pics and Paul McSweeney for Go Figure ones. Great team effort.

Teneka Hyndman's video interview and photoshoot, July 2012


Fresh after winning the International Figure class and 2nd in the Open Physique at the INBA All Women's Classic, Teneka Hyndman made a quick trip back to Auckland for a family celebration and a photoshoot with photoshoot.co.nz. So I thought I'd take opportunity to drop in on the shoot - both to interview and film Teneka - and also watch how a real Pro shoots using all that fancy lighting. I ask her about how she achieved her leanest condition yet weighing in at 51kg at the show and how she feels about her win and look at the INBA. I also want to thank Teneka for modelling a couple of shots of our new Go Figure singlet (which will be available at the NZ Fitness Expo). The stars aligned with a great model and photographer! Thanks to you both Teneka and Peter... oh yes and Rosemary too!!!! Watch the video to see Teneka's dance moves and glimpse of the photoshoot. Lisa p.s Teneka has got a busy contest year ahead which includes competing at: - 4 Aug, NZIFBB Akl Champs - 27 August, INBA South Pacific Champs Taupo - 28 Aug - 3 Sept, INBA Natural Universe, Chicago - 23 Sept INBA Queensland - 29 Sept, NZIFBB NZ Nationals Auckland - 6-7 Oct INBA Australian Nationals - 30 October - 7 November. "INBA Natural World Cup" and INBA Natural Olympia- 1 week apart.

Jess Coate. The Shape Juggernaut. July 2012

While she had only burst on to the bodybuilding scene at the end of 2010, it seemd Jess Coate's sporting prowess has been on the rise since her school days. A self proclaimed fitness freak, Jess had always enjoyed sports and was pretty good at netball to the point of representing the Wellington u21s and the University team in 06.

However it was also netball that steered the way for Jess to try bodybuilding. She was getting too many injuries playing netball snapping her right ACL twice and had a right Ankle reconstruction. She didn't want to risk snapping her ankle again so took up the less punishing sport of bodybuilding and entered her first comp in 2010.

The rest they say is history. Since stepping on stage in 2010, she's been on a roll winning all before her. Wherever this Juggernaut takes her, we know Jess will remain a humble, cruisy (and sometime late lol) athlete she's always been. In this story we find out more about Jess and how she copes with the pressure of being the current shape Queen.

Jamie Onekawa's little surprise, June 2012

Hey all,

I wanted to keep you all up to date with our competition plans and life in general so I thought it was about time to start blogging again.

Coming into 2012 Darryn and I have been adamant that this is our year! And it really has been already. It started off with a bang, I got a new job sales repping, Darryn left his job that he’d been in for six years to pursue his bodybuilding dream and we moved into a bigger house as the one we were living in was the size of a shoebox!

Taylor 'The Typhoon' Smith, July 2012

Teneka Hyndman's video interview and photoshoot, July 2012

Jess Coate. The Shape Juggernaut. July 2012

Jamie Onekawa's little surprise, June 2012

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