What a whirlwind of a weekend it has been! I arrived in New Jersey Thursday morning last week to compete in Team Universe a Pro qualifying competition.  I was very excited, eager and confident to take the stage and show the judges what I had. I came in with my most complete and conditioned physique ever and had also made many improvements from the year before. Check-in went great, I did a photoshoot with one of my favorite photographers, Dan Ray, Thursday afternoon and then Friday morning my parents arrived to come support me, as well as my significant other.  I was ecstatic to have them all there to show their support as well as all the awesome Oddo Angels that were there competing! Kim (Oddo Angel’s coach and trainer) was there to make sure we were stage ready! Everything was going very smooth and as planned, Kim said everything was perfectly dialed in and was excited for me to present my best package to the judges.  Saturday morning pre-judging rolled around and I was starting to get a little nervous, there were 16 girls in my class, which is actually pretty small for a National level show, all the girls were looking pretty good! Finally it was our turn to line up and hit the stage, first we came out in groups of eight, we did our comparisons and then came back out for our individual model poses.  After that were the call outs.  Call-outs are where everything changed.

First call-outs were made and my number was not called, I instantly felt a little frustration within, but held my composure for the next call-out. Then I was stunned to not be called for the second round.  I was now the only girl left on my side of the stage, which is never a good feeling. Then was finally brought out for the last call-out, where the judges didn’t even call my number, they simply told the final six of us to move to center stage to be compared. There I was instantly moved from the outside to the middle, where I remained so I knew I had placed around 11^th. I felt as though the judges didn’t even notice me until that very moment. Here I looked my best ever and placed 11^th behind a lot of girls I placed ahead of at Nationals last year with a less complete physique. I felt very discouraged at the time, but am feeling much better now. Everything happens for a reason and we all have times where we feel as though we are completely overlooked and this was definitely my turn for that.  I am so thankful to have the friends and family that I have. Of all competitions for my family to attend this was one that I truly needed them by my side. They helped me get through one of the more difficult moments I have had to deal with in this sport. In addition to having them there I had the support of my significant other who I can’t thank enough and my great friend Wendy Fortino, a fellow competitor who placed 4^th and surely should have gone Pro years ago. All my fellow Angels showed amazing support, thanks to Danitza Freigher, Lisa Rooney, Kat Tarbox, Carla Cadotte, Shala Singer, Patty Zariello, and so many more of you, You all are amazing and I thank you so much for all your love and support! This competition was very necessary and has really helped open my eyes to the subjectivity involved in this sport. I have never fully experienced this, only heard from others and now I know first hand what a last call-out feels like, especially after all 15 weeks of prep and hard work and to feel as though your weren’t even given an equal judging opportunity. I know my physique isn’t perfect, but whose are?  We all have improvements to make, but I truly feel that I was misjudged. I will only grow from this. My fire is burning on high, I am ready to take on the USA’s in 3 weeks with full force and nothing will stand in my way!