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Elizabeth Smart’s Bodybuilding Transformation: From Survivor to NPC Champion

The story of transforming one’s physique and making it worthy of the competitive bodybuilding stage is generally an inspirational tale, but for Samantha Smart, treading the boards at the 2026 NPC Wasatch Warrior show was more poignant than most. Undoubtedly, her participation was more about making the most of every moment than winning trophies. Still, she took one home anyway. From Trauma to Triumph: Redefining Identity Through Fitness Of course, Elizabeth Smart acutely understands the importance of living life to the full. Tragically, she was abducted at 14 years of age from her home in Salt Lake City, UT, and was kept captive for nine months. During this harrowing ordeal, Smart was beaten and raped but was thankfully rescued after her kidnappers were recognized from an episode of America’s Most Wanted. And, in an incredible showing of strength and continued bravery, Smart has dedicated her life ever since, to the serious issues around child safety and human trafficking and has ste...
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After Football, Ben Braden Is Now Ready and Refueled to Excel in IndyCar

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There’s really no other way to describe Ben Braden today than as a motorsports mass monster. At 6’7″, 330 pounds, he obviously stands out while navigating pit lane on the IndyCar circuit, looking better suited for protecting quarterbacks instead of being a technique-driven specialist fueling Marcus Armstrong’s No. 66 Honda. And technically, you’d be correct. Before his current role as a member of Meyer Shank Racing, Braden was a University of Michigan offensive lineman, who dreamed of hearing his name called on NFL draft, but instead signed as an undrafted free agent, spending six years in the league before a severe spinal injury forced him into early retirement. He’s since made a successful switch to racing, enjoying his first season as the team’s fueler. He still gets to put on a helmet several Sundays a year. Now it’s an entirely new role, but with the same sports mindset. “It’s so nice,” the gas-toting giant says of his new role. “There’s still a competitive edge to all this. ...
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Jordan Horston ACL Injury Comeback: The WNBA Star Shares Her Rehab and Recovery Plan for a 2026 Return

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Jordan Horston’s exceptional rise to basketball superstardom was halted in February 2025, when the Texan tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left leg, taking the passionate player off the court and requiring a lengthy recovery process. Fortunately, this fearless female is back and readying for a 2026 season return, and in a recent conversation with M&F Hers, explained the injury, rehab, and fire that still burns for basketball. Who Is Jordan Horston ? Career, Injury & Comeback Timeline 6’ 2” tall Jordan Horston, who was born in Dallas, TX, attended Columbus Africentric High School in Ohio and helped her team win their second straight state title while a high school senior. As a top guard, Horston committed to play college basketball for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, picking up MVP status in the McDonald’s All-American Game and helping Tennessee to make three NCAA Tournament appearances along the way. By 2023, Horston was the ninth overall WNBA draft pick by the Seat...
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WWE Star Ivy Nile Shows Off Her Physique Transformation by Winning Bodybuilding Show

WWE Superstar Ivy Nile (real name: Emily Andzulis) has got to grips with the world of competitive bodybuilding after a dominant performance at the 2026 GRL PWR Championships, and her pro wrestling peers even came out in support. The powerful pro wrestler, who won the first season of NBC’s The Titan Games, was signed to WWE in 2020 and had been taking fans on a journey via social media as she prepped for the NPC GRL PWR Championship in Orlando, Florida, not too far from WWE’s own Performance Center . No doubt, her dedication paid off, as Nile gave an excellent showing of herself on the night, winning the Women’s Bodybuilding division (Open and Overall) and Women’s Physique division (Open and Overall) to make a serious impact. View this post on Instagram WWE Superstars React to Ivy Nile’s Bodybuilding Competition Win Taking to Instagram to celebrate her bodybuilding success, Nile said: “I undoubtedly have the best people in my corner, I could ...
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Best Squat Depth for Muscle Growth: Here’s How to Add Greater Size to Your Legs

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Admit it at one time, you judged someone else’s squat depth. Are you on the “ass-to-grass, or it doesn’t count” side, or are you a “parallel is good” member? But somewhere in the middle are everyone else, wondering how low they need to squat to build muscle. Why does it matter? Because squat depth changes the game. Go shallower, and you can use more load. Go deeper and recruit more muscle, especially the glutes and adductors. But depth doesn’t mean a thing if you lose position, dump tension, or force your body into a range it can’t handle. Here, I’m cutting through the squat-depth dogma to focus on what matters for muscle growth . Here I’ll break down, with some help from Greg Nuckols, powerlifting coach, researcher, and writer, what different depths do, what the research says about quads vs. glutes, and common mistakes, such as forcing a range you don’t own. First up, why squat depth matters for muscle. Why Squat Depth Matters for Muscles No matter your squat depth, these are ...
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Erin Stern’s Inner Thigh Workout: 3 Best Exercises to Build Strong, Sculpted Legs Without Machines

Building impressive legs is more than just crushing your quads and raising those calf muscles. To sculpt some seriously impressive pins, you’ll also need to dial into the details in order to create legendary legs. Fortunately, bodybuilders like two-time Olympia Figure champion, Erin Stern know that photoshoot-worthy legs are the result of quality workouts that are completed away from the flashbulbs. Here’s how to replicate her reps. Short on time? This is the type of session that will get you in shape for the summer and can be done at the gym or at home. “Three exercises for inner thighs that don’t require using the adductor machine,” touted Stern as she demonstrated a convenient workout for her almost 400K Instagram followers. View this post on Instagram Erin Stern’s Top 3 Inner Thigh Exercises for Muscle Growth Deep Sumo Squats Stern suggests that any variation on the deep sumo squat is a great way to tax the inner thighs. If just starting...
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Are Wesley Vissers’ Legs Bigger Than Arnold Schwarzenegger? Bodybuilding Experts Weigh In

On Episode 282 of The Menace Podcast, host Dennis James was joined by his regular team of Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier, and the gang got to grips with Wesley Visser’s recent leg gains. Just how would his pins place, against Arnold Schwarzenegger? Vissers, who has the nickname, “The Dutch Oak,” bears more than a passing resemblance to the original “Austrian Oak,” Arnold Schwarzenegger , and in a recent Instagram post, revealed his recent leg gains, leading The Menace Podcast to questions whether or not his lower extremities could compare with the seven-time Mr Olympia. “Do you think Wesley’s legs are smaller than Arnold’s?” asked host Dennis James. In response, both Chris Cormier and Milos Sarcev answered that Wesley’s legs were smaller than Arnold’s. “No,” responded The Menace. “Wesley’s legs are bigger than Arnold’s legs.” View this post on Instagram How Big Were Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Legs? Multiple sources cite The Running Man star as ha...
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Life Time Has Created a Fitness and Recovery Paradise

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Don’t you dare call it a gym. Walk into a Life Time for the first time and it might take a few minutes to fully process the world you just entered. The equipment is impressive, but the workout isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. You notice the space, the scale, and the way it feels more like somewhere you’d never want to leave. Within minutes, it becomes clear why first-time visitors struggle to find an appropriate comparison. Life Time is in a league of its own. “I feel like I’m at a spa resort, and I didn’t even have to leave town.” That’s the kind of reaction Natalie Bushaw –Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Communications for Life Time – says she hears constantly, especially when new locations open. It’s not just about the design—it’s about the way the environment shifts expectations the moment someone walks in. “You walk in and everything from the wall coverings to the desks,” she says. “to the eucalyptus in the steam rooms, you feel like you are in a res...
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Have You Heard of Astaxanthin? You Will Soon

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Regardless of the fitness discipline you’re committed to, one universal truth remains: Your output is only as good as your input. To maximize the potential that you demand from your body when it’s time to perform, the purity of your nutrition isn’t just a preference, it’s a critical biological necessity. A potent carotenoid antioxidant that has been receiving a lot of buzz in recent years is astaxanthin (pronounced as-tuh-ZAN-thin). If it’s new to you, you’re not alone, but you might want to pay attention because it will soon be a force multiplier that aligns your cellular recovery with your physical ambitions. AstaReal, which is a part of Fuji Chemical Industries, is the company considered by many to be the global authority behind astaxanthin. As Scientific Communications Specialist Susan Hamrahi , ND explains, the brand’s roots are as deep as the science itself. “We have a manufacturing facility just outside of Stockholm, Sweden, and that is where the original research started.” ...
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IFBB Pro Petar Klančir’s Dumbbell Row Variation to Build a Bigger Back

IFBB Pro, endurance athlete, and transformation coach, Petar Klančir may have a phenomenal physique, but this bodybuilder is all about trying new variations. To that end, the big man took to Instagram recently and demonstrated a dumbbell row variation that targets the entire back but requires some serious control. Here’s how to try it for yourself. “If you want a stronger back, do this exercise,” encouraged Klančir, using his direct approach to sharing the details. While the traditional bentover dumbbell row targets the latissimus dorsi (side of back), rhomboids (upper back), and trapezius (neck and shoulder) muscles, using a bench to assist with the movement can negate some of the stability work. For a more taxing approach, Klančir’s variation offers no such support, but still requires a unilateral execution. View this post on Instagram How to Do Petar Klančir’s Dumbbell Row Variation (Step-by-Step Guide) “Take two dumbbells,” explained the ...
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