Vida Guerra, Mallory Haldeman and Darrian Tissenbaum have been named the June NPC Athletes of the Month in Bikini, Figure and Fitness.
Guerra won her pro card by winning her class at the Junior Nationals. Guerra has appeared on the covers of Playboy, FHM and Maximum and was named FHM’s Model of the Year in 2004.
Haldeman won the Overall at the Junior Nationals. She started competing in 2011, two years after she broke both ankles in a rock climbing accident.
Tissenbaum, 21, earned her IFBB Pro card in just her second competition by winning the Overall at the Junior Nationals.
BIKINI: VIDA GUERRA
Accomplishment: NPC Junior Nationals 1st Class B
Age 38
Height 5’2
Residence Los Angeles, CA
Contest Weight 105-108
Contest History/Highlights 2012: IFBB Los Angeles Grand Prix, 10th; Jr. Nationals 1st Class B; Jr. USA 9th Class B; 2011: West Coast Classic Masters Over 35 1st and Overall; USA Championships 3rd Class B; Nationals 4th Class B
(Go here to see more photos of Vida Guerra)
HOOKED “I started working out at the age of 18, but it wasn’t until I was 25 that I started seriously working out with weights. At 26 I completed in my first NPC show in New Jersey – April of 2000. It was figure division (but they first describes it as bikini), but when I saw what they wanted, I didn’t pursue it any more. I stopped working out from 2007-2010 and didn’t like the way my body had gotten. In April of 2011 I found out about Bikini and I started working out and dieting seriously for the first time. My first show was [two months later] … and after that I was hooked!”
STARTING OVER “I’ve been on the covers of Playboy, Maxim and FHM – but I feel like I’m starting from scratch. I have to bring the stuff I have learned throughout the years from my career and bring it all on stage. I’m still new at this, but I’m starting to get the hang of it.”
POSSIBLE GOALS “I started competing to get back in shape to have a goal. I knew I was going to be on stage and be judged on my body, which would keep me motivated to keep working on improving every day. This is such a great sport – not only does it improve my body but it shows you how with hard work and discipline and dedication anything is possible.”
THE NEW ME “One of my biggest obstacles was letting go of my old body and accepting my new body. I had so much success with the way I was built before that when the transformation started, I found myself stuck between two bodies and not being comfortable with myself on stage. I’m still not close to what I want to look like, I work hard and stay focused and every day I’m seeing improvement – and I welcome the new me.”
OUT WITH THE AIRBRUSH “My role model would be Oprah. I really love what she has done for herself and others.. she came from nothing and has created such a huge empire. I aspire to be the Latin Oprah! I want to be a positive role model for others and not hide behind airbrush pictures.”
