This year’s WBFF World Championship will be in Las Vegas! (Photo courtesy of the WBFF)
By: Jacob Elyachar
Over the past decade, the fitness world has blossomed as more people around the world are embracing the fit lifestyle.
While there are numerous Crossfit acolytes and P90X followers, competitive bodybuilding competitions continue to attract athletes to compete in fitness shows around the world.
According to Bodybuilding.com, there are 12 active competitive fitness organizations that invite elite athletes around the world to compete on various stages.
One organization that continues to grow its profile is the World Beauty Fitness and Fashion, Inc. (WBFF).
Since legendary bodybuilder Paul Dillett started the organization, the WBFF has attracted the best athletes compete in their shows, which conclude at the organization’s World Championships.
“The WBFF Worlds Championship started in 2007 in Canada with 62 contestants,” said Allison Dillett, the WBFF’s Executive Vice President. “It has now grown to over 500 contestants and over 23 shows worldwide from Asia to South Africa.”
There are several factors that make the WBFF stand out is that they have exclusive categories in their shows including the Male Fitness and Muscle Model categories.
The Muscle Model category is exclusive to the WBFF Worlds Championships. (Photo by David Ford & Courtesy of the WBFF)
“I created a division called “muscle model,” said Paul Dillett, the WBFF President and CEO. “It is a cross between a fitness model and a bodybuilder. There is a market for guys who like training, like working out and even competing but who do not want to be a bodybuilder.”
Another important element that helps distinguish the WBFF are two of the women’s categories: Diva Bikini Model and Diva Fitness Model. Besides having both of these categories, Mr. Dillett stated that the judges’ criteria include looking at the whole package.
“The WBFF looks at everything. We look at your physique, your face, your hair, the way you put on your make-up—-every single thing.” Mr. Dillett stated. “We ask: “Could this girl be on the cover? Could she be in ad campaign for Nike or Rebook?”
The WBFF staff and judges will be answering these questions and more when the organization travels to Las Vegas for this year’s WBFF Worlds Championship at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
“Las Vegas is definitely a fantastic location for all of our contestants,” said Allison Dillett. “It is also home of both the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants and now it is home to the WBFF Worlds.”
This two-day celebration of fashion and fitness will not only bring together the WBFF Pro family, but also countless of amateur athletes that are working on trying to earn their WBFF Pro Card.
Among the amateur athletes that will represent Kansas City at this event include fitness trainer Tayler Parry and husband-and-wife fitness enthusiasts Dane and Sara Sutherland.
For Parry, this will be her second time participating in the Amateur Round of the WBFF Worlds’ Championship. But, Parry stated that it was an experience that she never forgot.
“It was…unreal,” said Tayler Parry. “To be backstage with the WBFF pros and talk to some of them that I looked up to for years, not knowing that they were a pro…it was an amazing experience for me!”
The WBFF Amateurs Round at the World Championships will be Tayler’s second show with the organization this year after competing in this year’s WBFF Central Kansas City show.
Kansas City fitness trainer Tayler Parry will return to the WBFF Amateur stage in Vegas with a brand new look. (Photo courtesy of Tayler Parry)
“Training for Worlds has been a 12-to-13 week process,” Parry said. “Luckily, my body and muscle memory are really good at adapting. It is not taking me as long as others to prep for a show and I have already started developing tunnel vision and been thinking about the show non-stop.”
Meanwhile, the Sutherlands were originally not going to even compete at this year’s championship.
“We were going to Vegas to watch and support our friends that are WBFF pros,” said Sara Sutherland. “But as it got closer, we both decided that it was an opportunity to take advantage of the fact that they (the WBFF) moved the Worlds to Vegas this year.”
Hitch Fit trainer Sara Sutherland will be competing in the Diva Fitness Model category in the Amateur Round at the WBFF Worlds. (Photo courtesy of Sara Sutherland)
For her training, Sara teamed up with WBFF Pro Diana Chaloux to prepare for her Worlds.
“In addition to my workouts, my training regiment is a combination of really dialing in on my nutrition and making sure that my diet is spot on,” said Sara. “That combination is really going help me prepare for Vegas.”
In order for Dane to make his debut on the WBFF Worlds Amateurs stage, he decided to up the intensity of his workouts by using a popular fitness tool recommended by his trainer and WBFF Pro AJ Ellison.
“He encouraged me to get the Polar FT7 watch,” said Dane. “The watch has told me in an unbiased way how many calories that I burnt and I realized that I was not working hard as I thought.”
Dane continued to increase intensity in his workouts, which lead him to develop some incredible results.
“I had 20-percent body fat a year ago and currently, I am at six-percent body fat.” Dane said. “By Worlds, I hope to be at six-percent body fat on stage. I have so much more respect for the athletes who are up on the stage and on the covers of magazines because I now know the amount of work it takes to get there.”
While it won’t be all about competing, the Sutherlands agreed that it will a great time to socialize and learn from their fellow competitors.
“I am looking forward to seeing a lot of my friends that I met through the various competitions that I have done in the past,” Sara said. “All of us live across the country and shows are the only time I get to see them.”
Dane added that while he is not competing with the WBFF Pros, he is very fortunate to have the chance to walk on with them during the show’s parade of athletes.
“Besides walking on stage with them, the amateur athletes will be able to be backstage and talk to them.” Dane said. “Some of the WBFF Pros are icons in their industry and are my idols.”
Meanwhile, Tayler Parry stated that Sin City has inspired her to pull all the stops in her routine.
“This year, I am bringing a whole new look to the stage,” said Parry. “I changed up my training to really bring the ultimate package that I have. Plus, I have some incredible theme wear that I am really stoked about…unfortunately, I cannot share at this time.”
The 2013 WBFF Worlds Championship will take place on Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, 2013.
To learn more about the show, visit the WBFF’s special section for the show: http://worlds.wbffshows.com/
Also, if you cannot make to Vegas this year to cheer on your favorite WBFF Pro, do not worry…you can catch it live on Pay Per View! You can watch the competition, by clicking here: http://live.wbffshows.com/video/world2013.aspx
