TEENAGE bodybuilders Filomenaleonisa Iakopo and Cielo Citzalli Long won their respective competitions in the 2021 Dee Clayton Classic Bodybuilding & Fitness Championship which also marked its 10th anniversary in the Taga Hall of Saipan World Resort on Saturday.
Iakopo, 15, topped the judges’ scorecards to win overall in the event’s Open Figure category, edging the 2020 DC Classic bikini champion Christina Tudela.
Last year’s bikini second placer, 23-year-old Jamila Alegre, was second place overall while Tudela settled for third place.
Noting that she was competing in a bodybuilding event for the first time, Iakopo attributed her victory to “a lot of discipline, a lot of self-control, a lot of hard work and sacrifices.”
She added, “I have a lot of sports, and this, bodybuilding, is one of those that I will definitely continue.”
Iakopo dedicates her victory “to God, my mom and dad who always supported me throughout this whole journey.” Her father Stanley competed in the open bodybuilding event and won the best abs award and placed second overall.
Iakopo said her parents were always by her side, making sure that she’s okay while working out, and always making sure that she was able to reach her goals.
She also thanked the DC Classic organizers for hosting a wonderful event despite the Covid-19 pandemic. “Thank you so much — it was a great event, it went smoothly, and it was perfect,” she added.
New bikini champion
The new DC Classic bikini champion is 17-year-old Cielo Long who also brought home the teen bikini award.
Mijana Maiyabayabas, 22, was second place overall while 33-year-old Divine Grace Sablan placed third.
Long said she was “extremely grateful” for the opportunity to compete, for the first time, in the DC Classic.
She hopes that she can serve as a motivation to others who are interested in bodybuilding.
“I’m Tinian’s first competitor so I’m just glad that I get to represent the people of Tinian,” she added.
Asked about her preparations for the event, Long said “it’s very strict and you learn about yourself in the process — you really understand what your body feels.” It also required proper diet and extreme workouts. “But it’s a great experience,” she added.
Dee Clayton, the organizer of the annual event, said they were happy with this year’s turnout.
Last year, she said, they were allowed to bring in 45 people only to the venue due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As for the training that bodybuilding requires, Clayton said “it is not something like waking up in the morning and telling yourself you’re going to look good.”
The participants in the annual event dedicate themselves to fitness training, and are always determined to be the best, she added.
2021 Dee Clayton Classic Bikini champion Cielo Long, left, holds her awards, next to second placer Mijana Maiabayabas and Divine Sablan who finished third.
2021 Dee Clayton Classic Open Figure overall champion, Filomenaleonisa Iakopo, left, celebrates as she stands next to third placer Christina Tudela and Jamila Alegre, who finished second.
