HOW BODYBUILDING CHANGED THE LIFE OF A FILIPINA IFBB BIKINI PRO OLYMPIA QUALIFIER

Last Oct. 25, Musclecontest Philippines held its annual National and Pro-League qualifier at The Upper Deck Sports Center in Pasig City. Out of the eight IFBB Pro Cards programmed to be given away, only five were awarded.

- MYLENE MENDOZA-DAYRIT

Adrielle Gan, a neonatal ICU nurse for 17 years in California, won the gold in Women's Fit Model and an IFBB Pro Card.

Female athletes only nailed two of the five IFBB Pro Cards. Adrielle Gan (a Filipina based in the US) got her Fit Model Pro Card while Ching Wen Yang of Taiwan got her Pro Card in Bikini.

For the second year, US-based Filipina IFBB Pro Bikini athlete Jennifer Lau attended the event to inspire the competing female bodybuilders. She arrived jubilant from a very recent IFBB Pro championship that qualified her for Olympia 2027. A mother, Navy veteran, business owner, stylist, and accountability coach, Jennifer shared how bodybuilding transformed her life.

Jennifer began competing in 2022, earning her Pro Card in 2023 at the Master’s Collegiate in Pittsburgh after two earlier attempts. She placed third at the Charlotte Pro Master show soon after turning Pro and recently earned second place and first place in two separate US competitions.