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Making Antigua proud was the newly-crowned Bikini Fitness Overall Queen, Kimberley Ephraim.

Antiguan pride on stage

BY no means was it an easy task to come up against the likes of Barbados’ Shakira Douglin, but that is exactly what Kimberley Ephraim of Antigua did and won. Her victory for her country was further boosted when her comrade, Bernard Percival, also took the gold in his Bodybuilding category.

With her gym Xtreme Health and Fitness behind her, Kimberley Ephraim was more than easy on the eyes, she was an image of fitness beauty. Competing in Bikini Fitness (Over 163cm), from the moment Ephraim stepped on the Darcy Beckles Bodybuilding Invitational Classic, Bikini and Fitness stage at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, she was getting ooh’s and ah’s from the crowd. The Antiguan strutted smoothly across the stage, showing an elegance that made her stand out to the audience and undoubtedly the judges.

In the end she was crowned the Over 163cm champion, but then had to come against the reigning Under 163cm champion Shakira Douglin, who had won that category earlier in the evening. Douglin was the defending overall champion and against the odds, Ephraim toppled the queen of local Bikini Fitness to lift the 2017 Bikini Fitness crown. The newly-crowned queen was happy and excited about her achievement and said that it was a tough road to the championship.

“It is overwhelming and I am over the moon happy. It was tough and hard, but the most I can say is that I feel very rewarded for the time and effort put in and pushing through to make it here.”

In second place in the Over 163cm Bikini Fitness was Dionne Clarke of Barbados and third was taken by Stefani Tjon A San of Suriname representing Fitness Factory.

Bernard Percival again made Antigua proud as he provided what was a fully built, muscular and toned body to the judges in the Classic Bodybuilding category. With only three contenders in the class, each athlete was assured a medal but Percival looked the part of a champion and the judges and the crowd agreed.

Second place went to Barbadian Hugo Greaves of ABC Fitness Studio, who also had a great showing on the night with his abs being a hit with the crowd and in third was First Fitness’ Lamarr Coward.

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate after being crowned and his photo op, Percival stated that it felt pretty awesome to come to Barbados after the gruelling schedule of training, to go back home with the title.

“I do not even know what to say. I did not expect it, but I came to put my best foot forward and see how the judges called it and they decided in my favour.”

Both champions wanted to thank their coaches and gym, Xtreme Health and Fitness, along with sponsors Pine Hill, Teamstackingplates.com, Team Body Fitness and B-fit by Killer B Apparel. One thing that must be mentioned as well was how humble the two Antiguan champions were after accepting their titles and hopefully the Darcy Beckles stage will see them again next year to defend.

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