During our second day in Las Vegas, all three of us headed over to the Convention Centre, lining up to enter the fitness expo. I was bored so I took a photo of the entrance. Now you can see what I saw for about 10 minutes.

Once inside we were handed huge plastic bags for collecting free samples of protein powders and bars from booths promoting nutrition, weight loss, and muscle gain. There were plenty of activities too, with power lifting performances—how I love those strong women whose faces puff up like tomatoes when they squat with five times their body weight on their backs—chin up competitions, costumed super heroes, and even The Incredible Hulk himself. I can’t remember what he was selling, but I saw him later with his much younger short-skirted wife, chowing down at the seafood buffet at the Orleans Casino. Insider’s report: Lou Ferrigno likes crab legs and is not afraid to attack the dessert cart. Continue reading →

I am reading about the history of beauty pageants because they set the stage for the bodybuilding and figure contests that are held today. A book called “There She Is, Miss America” (2004) provided me with a fascinating piece of information: the North American and European tradition of female pageants was innovated by suffragists lobbying for the vote in the 1910s. These women made a spectacle of suffrage, demanding women’s rights by staging costumed events in public spaces. One performance in Washington in 1913 featured a female activist dressed as Columbia, summoning the allegories of Charity, Liberty, Peace, and Hope. I will try to incude an archival photograph with this post because Columbia is one hot and happening babe. Named Hedwig Reicher (she was clearly destined to kick some patriarchal butt), she is dressed like Athena the warrior goddess, wearing a form fitting cuirass, impressive helmet, and brandishing a halberd. She stands strong, daring to draw attention to herself, and insisting that women’s voices be recognized. All I can say is: Respect. 

Continue reading →