Stephanie Ayers - 2002 Women’s Champion

Poised, lean, feminine, athletic, and just darn pretty were some of the compliments Connecticut bodybuilder Stephanie Ayers received during the Musclemania Atlantic Championships at the Palace Theatre. And the competition wasn’t even over yet! It must have been a omen because Stephanie Ayers won the 2002 Musclemania Atlantic this past April.

After learning she had won a beaming Ayers said, “I’m very happy that I was successful at winning this competition tonight.” Standing 5’-5” and weighing in at 112 pounds, many in the audience felt Stephanie came into the competition in her best shape ever. “Stephanie is truly one of the most polished competitive women bodybuilders we have seen in a long time,” said Dean Correia, co-promoter of the Mr. And Ms. Connecticut Bodybuilding contest.

Stephanie is proof positive that women bodybuilders don’t have to give up their femininity in order to win a bodybuilding contest. When asked to comment on the statement Stephanie said “I really think the women bodybuilding ideal that is pushed in muscle magazines is a myth. What is portrayed in the magazines as normal is in fact very extreme. A woman can be feminine and totally sexy as a bodybuilder and my goal is to always portray that image.”

In addition to winning the Musclemania, Stephanie also went on the won the Ms. Connecticut women’s open and female best poser as well in 2002. When asked what’s next on the horizon, “After two competitions this year, I need some time to rest and concentrate on my future plans.

Bodybuilding is about doing something positive for yourself and this sport has help me move forward in all aspects of my life. With strong work ethic, bodybuilding has shown me that you can do anything you can set your mind to.”