IFBB Pro Larissa Reis and IFBB Pro Ava Cowan, Sponsorships with Nutrex and Gaspari

With the flash of big muscles and over the top stage presence bodybuilding has been known for the super heavies and paying only a quarter of attention to female competitors who have earned the right to be on the same stage as the big boys. This is not to say that figure, fitness and bikini competitors aren't being noticed but that females in the industry are not hitting "paydays" like their male counterparts. Yes, this can be seen as a feminist point of view but the fact is; it is what it is. Any female competitor out there will admit to this but there have been two female athletes, IFBB Pro Ava Cowan and IFBB Pro Larissa Reis, who have seen the change of tides with two S-W-O-L-E campaigns they have landed. Excuse the slang but no other term can describe the scenario better.

Cowan has earned a sponsorship with Gaspari while Reis with Nutrex. Both of these campaigns are in many magazines and across the internet but what makes these women any different than the women who are gracing the covers of women's fitness mags? Both have smoldering, exotic looks and rock-hard bodies so what's the secret? Good-old-fashion-hard-work is the answer. Both women have modeled, trained clients and have made top ranks in competitions and wheeled and dealed with their intelligence to get what they want and need from the sport.

With talks of ads being too sexy and not pertaining to bodybuilding; fans, readers and competitors have to look at the big picture when it comes to sponsorships and businesses. Sex sells but that doesn't mean the competitor is a sell-out. If sex is still the ensuing argument then promoters, sponsors and the fitness industry should put the money where their mouth is to find other innovative ways of marketing.

Bodybuilding's an expensive sport for the promoters and sponsors but more so for the athletes. For those who don't compete understanding the ins-and-outs of the industry is difficult and with lowering fan bases what else is a better way to capitalize and advertise than to use what your mama gave you.

Besides the obvious sex appeal many hours, hard work and networking have been put into action by both Reis and Cowan to earn these sponsorships and both deserve to get paid. Other female competitors deserve to land the large campaigns also but the sport has to have more female athletes fighting for what they want. It has been said that bodybuilding, especially the female divisions have been a dieing sport but perhaps there will be other competitors who will go for the "platinum record" with such a fervor that the livelihood of female bodybuilding becomes more than a fleeting thought.

For more information on IFBB Pro Ava Cowan she can be contacted at www.Ava.GaspariNutrition.com and www.AvaCowan.com. IFBB Pro Larissa Reis can be contacted at www.LarissaReis.net.