One member of this pioneering group who has managed to weather the

storms of change - in a sport that has turned itself inside-out with ongoing changes - is Michelle Ivers-Brent.  And as one of the longest lasting amateurs in the United States, she has seen a myriad of competitors come and go. Meanwhile she remains.

   Still as enthusiastic about bodybuilding as she was in her initial contest experiences 23 years ago when she placed first at the 1985 Monterey Sports Festival in her native California, Ivers-Brent can look back on countless memories and recall events ranging from local, state, regional, national and international - all of which have left her with a uniquely impressive amateur career.

   "I guess the question I get asked most is if I'm frustrated that I haven't made it to the pro ranks," says Michelle. "But honestly, it isn't something I lose sleep over. I've been athletic all my life, so I've enjoyed keeping myself in the muscular condition I've always had."

   A Physical Education major at Sacramento State where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree, Ivers-Brent got started in bodybuilding innocently enough when a girlfriend suggested she go to a sports club with her to train.

   "Around the same time, I saw a bodybuilder named Tom Sims who competed in the Northern California area," recalls Michelle.  "He looked great and it turned out that both he and his wife Sally competed in mixed pairs events. Well, the more I was around people who had the muscular look, the more I was getting hooked. Susan Roberts (who won the 1983 California and both the USA and Nationals lightweight titles in 1983) was a top competitor in my area (I lived in Salinas at the time), and Cory Everson were women who I was impressed with in those days.  In 1984 Cory had just won the Nationals and Ms. Olympia and she was in all the magazines. By 1985 I decided to enter my first contest, and I've pretty much been at it ever since."

   Being at it "pretty much ever since" is an understatement.  Ivers-Brent has a contest resume that includes entries at various levels in almost every year since she began.

   "I did take time off in 1987," laughs Michelle. "I gave birth to my son Kyle that year. He has grown up watching me compete. The time has really flown by since then.  Now he's 21 and just returned from a 15 month tour in Iraq. I'm very proud of him."

   Ivers-Brent resumed her competitive efforts in 1988 competing twice.  Then, in 1989 she entered the NPC USA for the first

time placing third in the middleweight class. A year later she entered the NPC Nationals placing fourth - again as a middleweight.

  But it was in 1991 where she began a string of entries at the IFBB North American Championships that anyone will be hard-pressed to match..... and certainly not willingly.  You see, Ivers-Brent finished second that year.  And she finished second again in 1992.  She added another runner-up finish in 1994 event. At that point she stepped aside from entering the North American Championships until 2004 when, that year, she placed fourth. But in 2006 she was back and once again she finished second.  And second again in 2007, and unmercifully, second in 2008.

   "I've entered that contest seven times and finished second six times," says Michelle with more than an air of astonishment. "It's hard to grasp that reality when you really think about it."

   Hard to grasp indeed - Ivers should be presented with the unofficial ‘IFBB North American Championships Bridesmaid' award for showing undying perseverance, patience, passion, and determination in the face of a remarkable set of circumstances.

   But it is just the above-mentioned qualities that have driven Ivers-Brent onward through a career of contest entries that would send most mere mortals into a room with padded walls.  Not Ivers-Brent, however.

   "Sure," admits Michelle. "I'd love nothing more than to reach the pro level before I decide to quit competing.  But I see myself as a true athlete.  I've always loved the challenge of self-improvement. And I've been very lucky to avoid injuries that could have kept me from continuing.  So I keep going."

   And keep going she should.

   "I'm 51 now and at the NPC Masters Nationals I feel I was in the best shape I've ever been," says Michelle matter-of-factly.  "When I look at the condition that Betty Pariso, Lisa Aukland and Robin Parker have carried into their 50's, it just motivates me that much more to keep competing. But hey, I love bodybuilding, what more can I say?"

   There is little question Ivers-Brent holds a strong affinity for the sport, and her remembrances are understandably countless.  That tends to happen when you've been around a while.

   Take the NPC USA in 1996 for example.   It's been a dozen years ago, but ask Michelle about her competitive experience at that event.  She made the decision to move up to the heavyweight class that year.  As luck would have it, that division was jammed with quality competitors.  There were 19 contestants in the heavyweight category and Michelle was competing in uncharted waters having only been a heavyweight once in her competitive career (and that being a local event in 1985) to that point in time. So, when she placed a distant 14^th, she was disappointed, but at the same time she was shocked into the

reality of just how difficult moving up a weight class could be, to say nothing of how good so many women were.

   How difficult?  Well, the winner that year was Heather Foster, followed closely by Iris Kyle.  Third was Betty Pariso and fourth was Brenda Raganot.  And the quality didn't end there. Eighth went to Theresa Nabors (now Theresa Paschal who recently won the 2008 IFBB North American overall).  The ninth spot was claimed by Robin Parker, while Lora Ottenad checked in at 11^th!   Each of the above mentioned competitors have reached the IFBB pro ranks while winning major events at the NPC national level during their collective careers.

   Although Ivers-Brent pre-dates Annie Rivieccio by a few years, Rivieccio is another in the same mold as what we can affectionately call ‘blue collar bodybuilders'.  Competing from 1988 to 2003 as an amateur before she finally won the overall NPC Nationals crown, Rivieccio never once complained about her slow move to the pro ranks.  But once she was there, her competitive career was revitalized and she has since finished as high as third at the Ms. Olympia, and her career is now in its 20^th year.

   In addition to her ample involvement in competitions over the years, Ivers-Brent also became a gym owner in 1995 operating Bayside Fitness in Seaside, California, for five years. 

   Michelle remarried in 2004 to Bill Brent - who she proudly states has been a rock of Gibraltar and an ardent supporter of all her career desires. 

   Currently Michelle has no plans to retire from competitions and is looking at moving up to the heavyweight class in 2009 when she has her sights set on entering the NPC Masters Nationals once again.

  So after a career that has included her entry in unlikely local events such as the Tidal Wave Classic, to her seven North American entries, nine trips to the NPC Nationals, six entries in the NPC USA, and four tries at the NPC Masters Nationals (an event where she has never placed lower than third in her class), Michelle Ivers-Brent will enter her 24^th year of getting herself ready to show the bodybuilding world she still packs a muscular wallop.

   Meanwhile, Michelle has undertaken the creation of a protein cookie business called Michelle's Magic Morsels where she will tell you to "Try a morsel, get a muscle, enjoy the taste!" To learn more about her new biz click on: www.michellesmagicmorsels.com . Or try her website at: www.michellesmajesticmuscle.com.

Contest History

Monterey Sports Festival                                    1985    1^st Med & Overall

Santa Cruz Classic                                            1985   6^th HW

San Jose Superbowl                                           1986   1^st MW & Overall

NPC Northern California                                      1986   1^st MW

NPC California                                                   1986   1^st MW

NPC Nationals                                                    1986   16^th LW

NPC Los Angeles                                                1988   2^nd MW

Russ Warner Classic                                            1988   1^st MW & Overall

NPC USA                                                             1989    3^rd MW

NPC Nationals                                                      1990    4^th MW

NPC Tidal Wave Classic                                         1991    1^st MW & Overall

IFBB North American                                              1991    2^nd MW

IFBB North American                                              1992    2nd MW

NPC Nationals                                                       1992    8^th MW

NPC USA                                                              1993    6th MW

IFBB North American                                              1994    2nd MW

NPC USA                                                              1996    14^th HW

NPC Nationals                                                       1996    4^th HW

NPC USA                                                               1997    4^th MW

NPC Steel Rose                                                     1997     2^nd HW

NPC Nationals                                                       1997     6^th HW & 4^th Mixed Pairs

NPC Nationals                                                       1998     3^rd MW

NPC Nationals                                                       1999     2^nd MW

NPC Nationals                                                       2000     6^th HW

NPC Ironmaiden                                                    2000     2^nd HW

NPC USA                                                               2001     4^th MW

NPC San Jose                                                        2003      1^st MW & Overall

NPC USA                                                              2003      6^th MW

NPC Nationals                                                       2003      11^th HW

NPC San Francisco                                                2004     1^st MW & Overall

NPC Excalibur                                                       2004     2^nd HW

IFBB North Americans                                            2004     4^th MW

NPC Masters Nationals                                           2005     2^nd LtHW

NPC Masters Nationals                                          2006      2^nd LtHW

IFBB North Americans                                           2006      2^nd LtHW

NPC Masters Nationals                                         2007      3^rd LtHW

IFBB North American                                            2007      2^nd LtHW

NPC Masters Nationals                                         2008      3^rd LtHW

IFBB North American                                            2008      2nd LtHW