New IPL Figure Pro, Melanie Giroux!
Apparently two was the charm for IPL Figure competitor, Melanie Giroux at the 2017 2nd Annual IPL West Coast Pro/Am on Saturday September 30th in Rancho Cordova, CA.
After placing 2nd in Figure Open at the IPL California Championship back in May, Giroux was back with an improved look. But, it would not be easy.
Hot on Giroux’s heels was an impressive IPL newcomer, Valeria Cota. Giroux and Cota were neck and neck throughout Prejudging. However, in the end, Giroux pulled ahead for the win. By… One. Single. Point.
That being said, in order to achieve the coveted IPL Figure Pro Card, Giroux would also need to hit a minimum point total. At this contest that minimum was 126 points out of a max of 180. What was Giroux’s score? 129. With that, Melanie Giroux became the IPL’s newest Figure Pro.
IPL Pro Figure is incredibly competitive. With the likes of Pros such Yady Cedeno, Alisha Msprettydaisy Gray, Christy Byxbee, Kaylin Payne, and Pro Champion Mary Onyango, it will be interesting to see how Melanie matches up. Michael Brooks Photography.
IPL APEX Pro Figure Champion, Mary Onyango!
Mary Onyango was AWEOSME at 2017 IPL APEX II, the IPL’s Year-end Pinnacle Championship Event, in Sacramento CA on November 19th.
IPL Pro Mary Onyango is a force to be reckoned with. Ever since she splashed onto the IPL stage at the 2016 New York Pro/Am, where she earned her Pro Card in Figure and Athletic in stunning fashion, she has been on a meteoric rise to the top.
Mary Onyango’s first contest of the 2017 season was the North Atlantic & USA Pro. Here Mary faced Julia Hubbard in Pro Figure. Mary placed 1st, adding a second IPL Pro title to her collection. She would go on to earn a third at the USA’s, but we will get to that later…
APEX II marked the official rematch between Onyango and Hubbard.
In APEX PRO FIGURE, Mary Onyango would once again dominate, winning each of the six scored categories: Muscularity, Symmetry, Conditioning, Posing & Presentation, Suit, and Model Walk at Finals. Julia Hubbard would come the closest in two rounds: Posing & Presentation (MO = 36/JH = 35) and Model Walk (MO = 37/JH = 35).
Needless to say, Mary Onyango was victorious as she earned 1st place, her fourth IPL Pro title and went down in history as the very first APEX Pro Figure Champion. AND, shortly after APEX, Mary made the front cover of the Spring 2018 issue of NATURALMAG.
But, Mary Onyango was not done at APEX yet… Michael Brooks Photography.
New IPL Figure Pro, Doré DeBartolo-Robinson!
Next up on the IPL contest calendar was the 2017 IPL Tahiti Pro/Am on Saturday October 14th on the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia. And, without a doubt, Doré DeBartolo-Robinson was one of the most celebrated athletes of the show.
Doré would travel to the South Pacific, all the way from Midwest USA to take part in the Tahiti Pro/Am. And, with what she brought to the stage, she was certainly a fan favorite. There were moments when the cheers that Doré received from the packed Tahiti theater were deafening. This would go on throughout the night, as Doré entered several divisions and classes, Pro and Amateur.
Starting with Figure Open, Doré brought it. Needing a minimum score of 126 (out of 180) for the PQ, Doré earned 143 and became the IPL’s newest Figure Pro. This would be Doré’s 5th division IPL Pro Card. She was already qualified in Bodybuilding, Athletic, Sports Model, and Fitness Angels (yep). But, Doré was not done yet in Tahiti…
Side question… Is Doré DeBartolo-Robinson ready to face #1 IPL Figure Pro, Mary Onyango???
Michael Brooks Photography.
New IPL Figure Masters Pro, Julia Hubbard!
Julia Hubbard came to collect at the 2017 2nd Annual IPL New Jersey Pro on May 6th in Jersey City, NJ.
Already an IPL Figure Open Pro (earned at the 2016 IPL Southwest Grand Prix in Arizona), Hubbard had her sights set on the Masters as well. With her streamlined physique and top notch stage presentation, Hubbard easily nabbed enough points for the PQ and added yet another IPL Pro Card to her collection. AND, she was not done yet in New Jersey… Michael Brooks Photography.
New IPL Figure Pro, Betty Rise!
“Beastmode” Betty Rise brought a dominating package to the IPL stage at the 2017 3rd Annual IPL Midwest Championship on April 15th in Madison, WI.
Brilliant V-taper, great conditioning, full, round muscle bellies (including 3-D deltoids), and an A-level Model Walk at Finals put Rise in the winners spot. In order to land the IPL PQ, on top of placing 1st, Rise would need an elevated point total of at least 168 (out of a max 240). In the end, she earned 202 (one of the highest totals of the show) and became the IPL’s newest Figure Pro.
How exciting is it to imagine Betty Rise up against top IPL Figure Pros such as Kaylin Payne, Yady Cedeno, Vanessa Lynn Campos, Mary Onyango, and Midwest native Nina Olsen???? Michael Brooks Photography.
