Name: Shelly Howard, figure
Age: 34
Location: Monterey, CA
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 141 lbs.

Info: Shelly Howard began training for bodybuilding in 1999 and found she had a hard time putting on muscle because of her height.

"After taking 3rd in my first bodybuilding show, I turned to obstacle course events and placed in the top 15 at the Venice Beach Galaxy Competition in 2000. We were then sent overseas (Okinawa Japan - my husband is a Marine) so I had to decide between either bodybuilding or fitness.

"At my first attempt, I took the Overall in Okinawa's first Far East Fitness Competition. Because I didn't have any gymastics or dance background, training for the routine was tough, and I didn't see a future in it. When I discovered Figure in 2002 at the Emerald Cup where I placed 5th in the Tall class, I knew I found a sport I enjoyed.

"At that show I met so many beautiful older women with children and I was 33 years old at the time with a biological clock that was ticking! So afterwards I was motivated to become a mom and get right back into training," she says.

Her son Gabe was born on March 30, 2003, and she competed 7 months later at the Sacramento Championships, coming in 5th again.

"Now I'm prepared to step onto the Junior Nationals stage at my best ever, and I'm 34 years old! I believe that the sport has no age boundaries, and that many of the older women who compete have better muscle separation and maturity. I'm glad to see that Figure girls keep coming in more muscular and fit looking. Soft bodies are for bikini magazines."

Well said indeed! Look for a future "Flexing Figure" feature here on FTV!