Monday, March 7, 2016

From Russia With Love-Rippling abs and lashings of fake tan: Bodybuilders flock to annual Siberian contest

Russia famously produces body building stars with impressive physiques, but out there in Siberia, you bring your A game (go hard or go home)

 Competitors showed off rippling bodies maintained by months of grueling preparation in a fitness championship
  Rigorous gym routines and strict diets, liberal application of layers and layers of fake tan


'While women showcased their muscles in skimpy two-pieces, eye-catching jewelery and lucite heels, the male competitors stuck to simple black briefs - and a layer of faux glow.


Men and women in Siberian Russia take to the stage to compete with their impressive physiques in a local bodybuilding competition
Men and women in Siberian Russia take to the stage to compete with their impressive physiques in a local bodybuilding competition





For one day each year, Krasnoyarsk becomes the capital of bodybuilding where there's nothing more important than covering muscles in fake tan and flexing them.Yesterday, the Siberian city played host to some of the world's sculpted citizens, showing off their honed physiques, sparkling bikinis and perfectly applied make-up.
The city is something of a bodybuilding hub. It hosts the 'Strongo Cup', an open amateur bodybuilding and body fitness tournament held in the winter months.
It also boasts local muscle women like mother-of-two Svetlana Babenkova who recently revealed the secret to her six pack was simply working out by using her children as weights.
And the activity behind the scenes is as important as the posing on stage in front of the judges.
Many of the hopefuls had their own fake tanner ready to spray them from head to toe, while others saw themselves having applying the product on fellow contestants with mitts.
Meanwhile, make-up artists were also on hand to apply an extra dab of colour to the contestants' skin.



One tattooed body builder helps another by applying her fake tan with a mitt will she stands in a tiny thong and shower cap
One tattooed body builder helps another by applying her fake tan with a mitt will she stands in a tiny thong and shower cap
Above, female competitors contort their bodies to show off rippling muscles maintained by months of grueling preparation before a local bodybuilding and fitness championship in Siberia. The contest took place on Saturday 5 February in the city of Krasnoyarsk
Above, female competitors contort their bodies to show off rippling muscles maintained by months of grueling preparation before a local bodybuilding and fitness championship in Siberia. The contest took place on Saturday 5 February in the city of Krasnoyarsk
A participant has her body painted before a local bodybuilding and fitness championship in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, March 5, 2016. Picture taken March 5, 2016. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin





A participant has her body painted before a local bodybuilding and fitness championship in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, March 5, 2016. Picture taken March 5, 2016. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
A heavily made-up lingerie-clad blone participant has her body painted by a helper before taking to the stage to impress the judges
Fake tan brand Sienna X explains that a mahogany glow is key for bodybuilders as it creates an illusion of a slimmer profile and ensures muscles are visible when they're not flexed. 
The darker colour also leads the eye inwards away making abs look more defined. Plus it has the added benefit of covering any stretch marks. 
No wonder one woman with blonde hair, heavy blue eye make-up to match her blue spangled bikini was having her skin darkened with even more tan thanks to a helper who dabbed her bottom and even her bikini line to ensure an even effect. 
But it couldn't cover the contestants' many tattoos with one woman, teaming her dazzling faux diamond necklace, matching cuff and belly ring with a French saying written in three lines across her ribs. 



Bulging biceps were all  display at the contestants battled it out to prove their bodies were the most toned and title-worthy
Bulging biceps were all display at the contestants battled it out to prove their bodies were the most toned and title-worthy
 Muscular men and women oiled up, with glistening skin line up in bright and skimpy outfits hoping to catch the judges eyes
 Muscular men and women oiled up, with glistening skin line up in bright and skimpy outfits hoping to catch the judges eyes
Russia has produced some body building stars who have come to international attention for their impressive physiques
A male contestant shows the judges some attitude, and maybe hopes to scare off the competition at the local championships
Russia has produced some body building stars who have come to international attention for their impressive physiques. Right, a male contestant shows the judges some attitude, and maybe hopes to scare off the competition at the local championships
Female models wear underwear encrusted with diamante that leave very little to the imagination in a bid show off their hard work
Female models wear underwear encrusted with diamante that leave very little to the imagination in a bid show off their hard work
Once on stage, each of the contestants stood in a line and showed off the same muscles, tensing and flexing their thighs, backs and biceps in unison.
While the women maintained effortless smiles the men couldn't prevent the odd grimace, with one man ever sticking his tongue out with the sheer effort. 


These are the latest wave of bodybuilding enthusiasts, in a sport that is beginning to boom in Russia
Across the other side of the country Julia Vins, 19, from Engels, is known as the Muscle Barbie for her angelic face and muscular limbs.
The Russian teenager, who has more than 23,000 Instagram followers and holds three power weight records, can deadlift 400lb - the average weight of a male lion. 
Male contestants tend to opt for black thongs to hide their modesty as they pose on the stage
Male contestants tend to opt for black thongs to hide their modesty as they pose on the stage
Weight lifting is become more common place who women many of whom have taken up the usually male dominated hobby of bodybuilding
Weight lifting is become more common place with women many of whom have taken up the usually male dominated hobby of bodybuilding
After months of rigorous gym routines and strict diets, the contestants can be seen applying the layers and layers of fake tan required to make their muscles stand out under the bright lights on the stage
After months of rigorous gym routines and strict diets, the contestants can be seen applying the layers and layers of fake tan required to make their muscles stand out under the bright lights on the stage




Twenty-three-year-old Natalia Trukhina is another Russian women who has taken up the usually male dominated world of bodybuilding. She weighs more than 92kg and has an amazing dead-lift record of 240kg and a 170kg bench press.
Natalia began exercising at 14 years old and became a professional weightlifter after being named the undisputed Zabaikalye Region champion at the age of 16.
The powerlifter set world records in Crimea in 2014 when she deadlifted 240kg and bench pressed 170kg.  


Courtesy: DailyMail

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