1999 NPC South Padre Island (Celebrity)
By Jabber


Back by popular demand, I'm bringing back the notables in the audience
section that has noticeably been absent from my last couple of reviews.  But
you don't want to hear about Deshay Ebert (promoter of the NPC Jr. Nationals
this year held in San Antonio) even though she was quite fabulous looking
(muscular) in her sleeveless top, do you?  And you certainly don't want to
hear about Kevin Wagner (promoter of the NPC Texas State to be held in my
current hometown of Dallas), do you?

That was not a typo:  Celebrity, singular.  But what an impressive
celebrity.  I talked to Trish Swander at the prejudging when she was simply
walking around in a black sleeveless blouse and skirt (and yes I looked at
her eyes. :-) ).  She along with Denise Hoshor, IMO are two of the most
attractive fbb's facially today.  The difference is Denise finished
fabulously (2nd) at the USA's while Trish was at the bottom of the barrel
(tied for 16th).  I asked her what happened, to which I got a barrage of she
really missed her peak, etc., and she's not sure what she's going to do
next, when her next show will be.

She said her best appearance, arguably was at the '98 Jr. Nationals held in
Charlotte (I missed that, as the Jan Tana was also held in that fine city
(and former -jabber hometown) that year a scant month later).  How she was
too small, etc.  I told her I was surprised, considering how she looked
great simply in the audience at the Jr. Nationals this year (over a month
out and looking big).  Anyway, she even talked about possibly entering
fitness (I hope my involuntary knee-jerk reaction wasn't too obvious :-) )
or slimming down to a middleweight.

To me, this is a great indication that a Light-heavyweight class (like I
suggested in my USA review) would do women like this good.  In order for her
to keep on a goodly amount of mass, she really shouldn't dip down to the
Middleweight, but at the same token, in any condition, she'd have trouble
competing against the really big Heavyweights.  

At this show, she did a guest-posing routine that really was excellent.  I
told her after the routine that if she showed up at the USA looking exactly
like she did there, she would've done much better (I'd venture top 5 or 6
maybe?).  She came out in a jungle motif, the MC said, "Please let me be
Tarzan."  

Later, while waiting for her to return to her booth, I spoke with her
husband, who I'd commented in a previous review looks a lot like Jesse
Ventura.  He also said a lot of the same about her not hitting her peak,
etc.  Disappointing, but she's got a great future ahead of her.  What was
interesting is she had a "Trish Swander" booth - no hawking supplements, a
line of clothing, but her and her merchandise and her website.  While she
doesn't have a magazine like Denise Masino does, I thought it was nice to
see a female bodybuilder hawking, well herself. :-)

Novel concept at a show like this but it seemed to go over well.  When she
finally rejoined her booth (yes the -jabber made an exception and took non
on-stage pics of her at her booth), I was noticing that she actually was
reminiscent of someone else up close while she was in excellent condition.
That someone else has been doing quite well of late.  Her name is Gayle
Moher.

Gayle, too, is a small FBB (relatively speaking) in the pro ranks.  And in
the Amateur ranks, she did win the '96 Nationals as a Middleweight.  But
Gayle's a bit shorter than Trish.  Needless to say, I hope we continue to
hear from Trish in the bodybuilding arena.

Until next review,

-jabber