What great bodies are made of

Three shapely mommies proved over the weekend that they could be mothers and bear children, but still be sexy and fit to win in the Great Bodies competition of Slimmers World International.

An annual contest organized by this leading fitness center, the top winner in the female division of the Great Bodies event held last Friday, Nov. 25, at Pagcor Theater was 43-year-old Selvina Ching. Petite at 5’2”, she weighs 100 lbs. and measures 34-25-34. Aside from running a household, she also doubles as a businesswoman and is the epitome of today’s modern female who can have a career and be a mom at the same time. And yes, she is also sexy. She represented the Slimmers branch in Pasay Road.

First runner-up Marilyn Luna is proud to be a plain housewife and mother, who always finds time to be in shape. From Slimmers Megamall, she is a repeat contestant from last year. Now 39 years old, she had become more curvaceous this time at 110 lbs. with a body measurement of 32-27-35. Marilyn stands 5’3”.

In third place was 45-year-old entrepreneur Liza Schneider. Standing at almost 5’6”, she weighs 117 lbs. and measures 35.5-26-34.5. She joined the contest with husband Sidney. The couple works out in Slimmers Megamall. One of their kids, now 19, proudly  and loudly  cheered from the audience area and that provided more fun to the contest hosted by Christian “Slyde” Ardiente and Sheryll Crystal and graced by Slimmers big bosses Joseph Moy and Helen Camacho.

The grand winner in the male division was 22-year-old Ranille Cabanilla, who stands 5’11” and weighs 155 lbs. He represented Slimmers SM North EDSA, which is dubbed as the home of the champions since most winners in Slimmers competitions come from there. Slimmers manager Michelle Calub herself closely monitored Ranille’s training.

Cabanilla’s first runner-up was Marc Yu, 37 years old. Representing Slimmers Binondo, he stands 5’6” and weighs 145 lbs.

 In third place was 24-year-old Joseph Ken Lizardo, a voice-over talent (not surprisingly, he stood out in the interview portion) who stands 5’10” and weighs 161 lbs. He represented Slimmers Pasay Road.

The list of other finalists in both male and female division includes Manu Reyes, Dr. Rovi Nino Samedra, Jan Paula Vergara and Donata Haque-Bernutz.

Winners of Slimmers World’s Mr. & Ms. Great Bodies fitness competition: (From left) second runners-up Joseph Ken Lizardo and Liza Schneider, Mr. & Ms. Great Bodies titleholders Cabanilla and Ching, first runners-up Marc Yu and Marilyn Luna with Slimmers World president and CEO Ronald Joseph Moy (rightmost) and his wife Desiree

Last Friday night’s Great Bodies competition was made special by the return of Jackie Lou Blanco, a 2001 grand winner, whose showbiz career was completely reinvented after winning the top prize. She became an endorser for various consumer products that promoted fitness and healthy living.

I asked Jackie Lou how today’s crop of Great Bodies contestants compare to those during her time. She said that the contestants now have even improved in terms of shape, dedication and determination to win. This makes the Great Bodies competition even tougher for this year’s batch of contestants, who were all impressive especially in the question-and-answer portion (everyone was eloquent  and no wrong grammar!).

The other judges aside from Jackie Lou were Slimmers World vice president Helen Camacho, actor-model Troy Montero, actress Aubrey Miles, GMA 7 News and Public Affairs showbiz authority Nelson Canlas, Slimmers World head dermatologist Dr. Caroline Chavez, Team Azkals member Roel Gener, Slimmers World managing director Dinah Quinto and this writer.

2011 Great Bodies champions Ranille Cabanilla and Selvina Ching and their runners-up will be the new and official endorsers of Slimmers World International and expect to see more photos of them in their ads in this paper soon.

See for yourself if the judges selected the deserving winners. Don’t forget that Jacquilou, a former Great Bodies winner, was there and she knows what a truly great body is.