In my last seven posts, I provided lists of all the ladies who earned IFBB Professional Status by competing onstage in the Bikini Division in NPC events and at the IFBB North American. Here are the totals for each year:
2009: 36
2010: 34
2011: 35
2012: 54
2013: 72
2014: 79
2015: 72 *NOTE: There will be 12 more ladies joining this group in late November after NPC Nationals takes place.
That’s a total of 382 IFBB Bikini Pros who won their status on a bodybuilding stage in the seven years since the Bikini Division was established. However, there are plenty of IFBB Bikini Pros who got their Pro Cards in another division, then crossed over after they went pro. Sonia Gonzalez, who holds the esteemed title of the first Miss Bikini Olympia, won her Pro Card as a figure competitor, and even competed on the Olympia stage in 2009 as a Figure Pro. The following year, she returned to the Olympia stage and made history. Natalia Melo is another very prominent Bikini Pro who attained her Pro Status by a different means. Let’s also not forget the international IFBB Bikini Pros who have competed in Pro events.
The IFBB Bikini Pro Ranks have grown dramatically as a result of the increase in the number of Pro Cards offered at national events. There are now twice as many cards handed out as there were in the early days of this division. However, the sheer number of competitors who funnel through national amateur events each year continues to make the designation of IFBB Bikini Pro a highly desirable and honorable title to have.
It truly is an honor to be part of this incredible group of top bodybuilding athletes!
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