A veteran in truest sense of the word when it comes to fitness competitions, Julie Childs has been a colorful and highly athletic competitor since 1998. A tall class and overall winner at the 2002 NPC USA, she turned pro in 2003 and placed fifth at the IFBB Hungarian Pro Fitness Grand Prix. In 2004 she notched another solid effort placing fifth at the New York Pro Fitness Championships. But it was in the 2005 competitive season where she really stepped up to reach the elite level as a pro. First she captured the runner-up placing at the Emerald Cup Pro Fitness event qualifying her for the Ms. Olympia, followed by a fourth place finish at the New York Pro contest. After finishing seventh in her first visit to the Ms. Olympia, she ended the year on another positive note placing second at the Sacramento Pro Fitness contest.

In addition to her active involvement in fitness competitions, Julie was a cheerleader for the Seattle Seahawks and also cheered at the 1999 NFL Pro Bowl. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of Washington, and the former gymnast is also an avid hiker and snowboarder.

With an extensive background in gymnastics as a member of the Australian National team combined with years of dance, prepare to be entertained with Debbie Czempinski’s high-energy performances. As one of Australia’s pioneering fitness competitors, Debbie turned pro after winning the Australian National Fitness title. In 2003 she made her pro debut at the Jan Tana Classic, and has steadily made major improvements in her overall look to a point where she made a major breakthrough last year.

Beginning the 2005 competitive season with an eighth-place finish in her first Fitness International, she quickly added a third-place spot at the New York Pro to qualify for the Ms. Olympia where she notched a solid sixth place finish to become a full-fledged member of the IFBB Fitness elite. Entering her second Fitness International, Czempinski hopes to improve on her 2005 finish in 2006.

Allison Daughtry is another of the new breed fitness competitors possessing a dynamic combination of striking stage presence and a visually impacting physicality. As a top-level fitness competitor, Allison’s overall look is difficult to ignore. Unlike many fitness competitors at the amateur level aspiring to reach the pro ranks, Allison was not an overnight success, but her steady improvement did not go completely unnoticed.

After winning the overall title at the 2001 NPC North Carolina; the short class at the 2003 NPC Junior USA, and ultimately the overall crown at the 2005 NPC Team Universe - all interspersed with several top-five placings at national level events - her entry to the IFBB pro ranks was finally secured in a six-year journey through the amateur ranks. Allison’s first invitation to the prestigious Fitness International will also serve as her debut as a pro, and she has every intention of making her presence felt in this largest-ever field of 20 top fitness pros. A former gymnast and cheerleader in her younger years, Allison earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education at Radford University.

With a degree in fashion merchandising from tiny Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts, tiny Heidi Fletcher is busy fashioning a successful competitive career in fitness that is anything but small in stature. With just three years of past competitive experience at the amateur level, Heidi was the overall winner at the 2004 NPC New England Championships in both fitness and figure. The same year she also won the overall crown at the Adela Garcia Fitness Championships.

In 2005 Fletcher took her biggest step competitively when she won the overall crown at the NPC National Fitness Championships, qualifying her for IFBB pro status. Now with her invitation to the 2006 Fitness International, Heidi has earned the opportunity to compete against the same Adela Garcia whose contest she won two years earlier. Feisty, colorful, and full of energy, few will be surprised that this newcomer will be more than capable of holding her own competitively in, this, her pro debut.

Turning pro after her overall victory at the 1999 NPC USA Fitness Championships, Adela Garcia has become a household name in fitness events at the highest level. Now with two dozen fitness competitions on her contest resume including a remarkable 2004 season where she won the Fitness International, GNC Show of Strength and Ms. Olympia in succession, Garcia has finished in the top five at the Ms. Olympia six consecutive years.

In 2005 Adela notched a runner-up spot at the Fitness International and third at the Ms. Olympia. After those results, she rebounded nicely to capture the top spot at the Sacramento Pro Fitness Championship. As for her history at the Fitness International, Adela finished eighth in 2000, but has been dynamite ever since placing third in 2001, fourth in 2002, second in 2003, first in 2004,and second again in 2005. Watch for her to be very competitive once again in 2006.

As one of the most intensely competitive fitness contestants in the pro ranks, Tracey Greenwood has always placed well throughout a pro career that began after placing second in the tall class at the 2001 NPC USA. A winner at the 2003 Jan Tana Classic, Greenwood has finished fourth at both the 2003 and 2005 Ms. Olympias and fifth in 2004.

The 2005 season was Tracey’s most successful as she placed seventh at the Fitness International, third at the Emerald Cup Pro Fitness, first at the Europa Super Show, and second at the Charlotte Pro Fitness to go with her Ms. Olympia finish. Having competed in the past three Fitness Internationals, Greenwood will be attempting to break into the top five for the first time at this event. Tracey works as a college anatomy professor and earned her Bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Delaware, her Master’s in Science from St. Joseph’s University, and her Ph.D in physiology from Temple University.

As one of the most intensely competitive fitness contestants in the pro ranks, Tracey Greenwood has always placed well throughout a pro career that began after placing second in the tall class at the 2001 NPC USA. A winner at the 2003 Jan Tana Classic, Greenwood has finished fourth at both the 2003 and 2005 Ms. Olympias and fifth in 2004.

The 2005 season was Tracey’s most successful as she placed seventh at the Fitness International, third at the Emerald Cup Pro Fitness, first at the Europa Super Show, and second at the Charlotte Pro Fitness to go with her Ms. Olympia finish. Having competed in the past three Fitness Internationals, Greenwood will be attempting to break into the top five for the first time at this event. Tracey works as a college anatomy professor and earned her Bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Delaware, her Master’s in Science from St. Joseph’s University, and her Ph.D in physiology from Temple University.

In 2005, Jenny Hendershott hit the fitness lottery when she captured the elusive grand slam of contest victories winning both the Fitness International and Ms. Olympia in the same calendar year. Although this rare feat has been duplicated in the past, it serves to highlight just how accomplished and dominant she has become in the sport. A former Ohio State cheerleader, Hendershott has been a major force in the top fitness events since turning pro after winning her class at the 1999 NPC USA Fitness Championships.

With a dizzying array of high placings on her contest resume over the past six years, Hendershott had missed winning her first pro title until last year’s bonanza. As an ultra-energetic stage performer whose unique use of props and choreography have made her fitness performances a fan favorite, Jenny is now looking forward to adding another Fitness International title in 2006, and further establishing herself as one of the sport’s best ever.

One of the best when it comes to energy-packed fitness routines, Tanji Johnson is also the proverbial energizer bunny when it comes to entering contests. After winning the 2001 NPC National Fitness crown, she scorched the pro ranks by entering no less than seven contests in 2002 winning the Toronto Pro Fitness event in the process.

Since then she has continued to be very competitive reaching the Ms. Olympia on three occasions. In 2005 Tanji won the Emerald Cup Pro Fitness contest after placing ninth at the Fitness International a month earlier. Finishing up the year she placed 10th at the Ms. Olympia and third at the Sacramento Pro Fitness. The 2006 Fitness International will be Tanji’s fourth invite to the contest where she made her pro debut in 2002. Tanji earned her Bachelor’s degree in humanities from the United States Air Force Academy.

One of the best when it comes to energy-packed fitness routines, Tanji Johnson is also the proverbial energizer bunny when it comes to entering contests. After winning the 2001 NPC National Fitness crown, she scorched the pro ranks by entering no less than seven contests in 2002 winning the Toronto Pro Fitness event in the process.

Since then she has continued to be very competitive reaching the Ms. Olympia on three occasions. In 2005 Tanji won the Emerald Cup Pro Fitness contest after placing ninth at the Fitness International a month earlier. Finishing up the year she placed 10th at the Ms. Olympia and third at the Sacramento Pro Fitness. The 2006 Fitness International will be Tanji’s fourth invite to the contest where she made her pro debut in 2002. Tanji earned her Bachelor’s degree in humanities from the United States Air Force Academy.

Never count out Angie Monteleone-Semsch in any facet of life. She is the fitness realm’s queen when it comes to triumph over adversity. Born without a hip socket, most of us would be satisfied to walk normally. Not Angie. Fitness competitions became part of her daily devotion in 1998 and by 1999 she competed at the NPC Nationals where she placed an unheralded 15th. All she has done since then is rise to the highest level of the sport by not only turning pro, but competing in the Fitness Olympia.

Turning pro after winning the overall title at the 2003 NPC USA Fitness Championships, Angie made her pro debut at the Fitness International in 2004. Ever vigilant, Angie has moved steadily up the ladder of success and in 2005 she recorded a trio of fifth-place finishes at the New York Pro Fitness, Emerald Cup Pro, and Sacramento Pro Fitness, along with placing fourth at the Charlotte Pro Fitness. Her Charlotte result qualified her for the Fitness Olympia where she inched into the top-ten landing in the ninth-place spot. This is Angie’s second invite to the Fitness International – be prepared to be thoroughly entertained.

As Canada’s most notable and successful fitness personality, Mindi O’Brien has firmly established herself as a consistently inventive competitor without a weakness in any round of the judging process. Competing first as a bodybuilder in 1999 winning the Ontario Provincial Naturals, she later switched to fitness placing third at the 2003 Slovakian Weider Grand Prix, followed by a victory at the 2004 Canadian Fitness Championships. Gaining pro status from that event, O’Brien made a dramatic pro debut at the 2004 Southwest Pro Fitness Cup winning in unanimous fashion. Later in the year she added a ninth-place finish at her first Ms. Olympia.

Mindi kicked off the 2005 season with a 10th-place finish at Fitness International, followed by a sixth-place spot at the New York Pro Fitness, and a pair of thirds at the Europa Super Show and Charlotte Pro Fitness events, each qualifying her for the Ms. Olympia where she again broke into the top ten with a strong eighth-place finish. The 2006 Fitness International will be Mindi’s second visit to the Arnold Classic Weekend event where she will compete in one of the strongest fitness fields ever assembled.

As another hometown favorite who will enjoy a strong fan following at the Fitness International, Julie Palmer has made steady improvement over the years and has developed into one of the finest competitors at the pro level today. Now considered a veteran, Palmer turned pro in 2000 with a runner-up placing in her height class at the NPC USA. Julie made her pro debut at the 2001 Fitness International and the 2006 event will mark her fourth invitation to this contest.

Making a major breakthrough competitively in 2004, Julie placed fourth at the Fitness International, fifth at the GNC Show of Strength, and won the New York Pro Fitness contest qualifying her for the Ms. Olympia where she nabbed a strong sixth-place finish. Placing sixth at the 2005 Fitness International, Julie then placed second at the New York Pro Fitness, first at the Charlotte Pro Fitness, fifth at the Ms. Olympia, and finished off the season with a fourth at the Sacramento Pro Fitness Championships. Look for Julie to make a strong bid for a top-five finish at this year’s Fitness International.

Always a fan pleaser with fitness routines that include mind-numbing levels of flexibility, Stacy Simons is another of the true veterans of fitness competitions. Turning pro in 1997 with a third-place finish at the NPC Nationals (when there were no height class differentiations), she quickly became a prime force with a fourth place finish at the IFBB Pro World Fitness Championships in 1999. Since then she has become unparalleled in her willingness to compete with frequency. For example, Stacy has competed in seven Fitness Olympias, finishing as high as eighth in 2001. She has also competed in four previous Fitness Internationals with a fifth-place showing in 2002.

A two-time winner of the IFBB European Pro Fitness Grand Prix in 2003 and 2004, Stacy has competed in over 30 pro fitness events with no end in sight. Finishing second at the 2005 Europa Super Show to qualify for the Ms. Olympia, Stacy’s presence at elite level events is now an almost foregone conclusion. With a Bachelor’s degree in arts & graphic design from Glassboro State, she remains as one of the Fitness sport’s true jewels of excellence.