The 2023 Bikini International competition is set for March 3-4, 2023, at the Battelle Grand Ballroom in the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH. The contest will feature 10 of the IFBB Pro League’s best Bikini athletes vying for the championship and the interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger during the award ceremony.
The roster of athletes is below, with names in alphabetical order:
2023 Bikini International Roster
- Romina Basualdo
- Maureen Blanquisco
- Lauralie Chapados
- Jennifer Dorie
- Ivanna Escandar
- Alessia Facchin
- Eli Fernandez
- Phoebe Hagan
- Ashley Kaltwasser
- Ukachi Onyejiaka
The 12 previous editions of this contest had nine different winners, with a different champion being crowned each year since 2018. This show has a blend of former champions and future stars in the making — an exciting combo for fans and a difficult challenge for the judges.
[Related: 2023 Musclecontest Japan Pro Results: Nittaya Kongthun Wins Bikini Division]
Past Champions
Below is a look at who has worn the crown at the Bikini International before:
Lauralie Chapados
Lauralie Chapados is the defending champion. She could become the first champion to successfully defend the title since Angelica Teixeira went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
Chapados is coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2022 Bikini Olympia in Las Vegas, NV. She didn’t feel she was at her best at that contest, and will have to make the necessary adjustments to win in Ohio.
If successful, Chapados will stamp her qualification for the 2023 Olympia on the weekend of Nov. 2-5, 2023, in Orlando, FL. Only show winners qualify for the Olympia. A victory in this show would allow her eight months to prepare for the Olympia.
Jennifer Dorie
Jennifer Dorie won the Bikini International in 2021, the same year she won the Olympia. She didn’t compete in the Arnold contest in 2022 but scored a runner-up finish at the 2022 Olympia.
Like Chapados, Dorie could become the fourth woman to win two Bikini International titles. This is also a chance for her to stand alongside the 2022 Bikini Olympia winner, Maureen Blanquisco, in a rematch of the 2022 Olympia.
Ashley Kaltwasser
Three-time Bikini Olympia champion Ashley Kaltwasser is one of the two-time Bikini International winners. She could become the first three-time champion in the contest’s history if she captures the title in 2023.
The Ohio native is the all-time winningest athlete in IFBB Pro League history with 37 wins. She placed third at the 2022 Bikini International and the 2022 Bikini Olympia. Kaltwasser will likely be in the first and final callouts for this contest, as her consistency is revered in the sport.
Top Contenders
Below are the athletes who have yet to win the Bikini International contest but have a legitimate shot in 2023:
Maureen Blanquisco
Typically, the Olympia champion is an automatic favorite to win any contest they enter. Blanquisco shocked the bodybuilding world when she defeated Dorie to win her first Olympia title in December 2022. Now, she seeks her first Arnold title.
Blanquisco finished second to Chapados in this contest in 2022 but evened that score in Las Vegas. Blanquisco will have to improve her look in Columbus if possible because Dorie, Chapados, and Kaltwasser will have done their homework and should be better at this contest than in Las Vegas. That said, Blanquisco won the Olympia for a reason, and she stands a good chance of winning this show.
Phoebe Hagan
Hagan won the 2022 Battle of Texas Pro and placed seventh at the 2022 Bikini Olympia. She finished ninth at the 2022 Bikini International. This will be her second Bikini International appearance.
Hagan has an Arnold title in her possession — the 2021 Arnold Classic UK contest. The sixth-year pro seeks her third pro victory and first Arnold USA title. It will be an uphill climb to defeat the champions in this lineup, but the Bikini division is known for its deep competition.
Dark Horses
Given the number of heavy hitters on this roster, some athletes might get lost in the shuffle, but there are dark horses that should have full attention when stepping on stage — they could upset the previous champions.
Romina Basulado
Romina Basulado represents Argentina and finished in tenth place at the 2022 Bikini Olympia. She last competed in this competition in 2021, where she finished fifth.
Basulado has eight pro wins to her credit, including two New York Pro championships earned in 2018 and 2021. She’s familiar with big stages, and ignoring her would be an error. She can place high in this contest.
Ivanna Escandar
Escandar is in her third year as a pro. She has already competed in 13 pro shows, winning eight, including the 2022 Bigman Weekend Pro, which earned her a 2023 Olympia qualification. The native of Spain finished the 2022 Bikini Olympia in 13th place. This will be her first appearance in Columbus as a competitor.
Alessia Facchin
This will be Facchin’s sixth professional season. Both of her pro victories came in 2021. She was sixth in this competition in 2022 — a significant improvement on her 12th-place finish in 2020. She has been on the Olympia stage three times. Her highest finish was 14th in 2021.
Eli Fernandez
Mexico’s Eli Fernandez is kicking off her ninth pro season at this contest. She seeks her fifth pro victory. Her only previous appearance at the Arnold Classic was in 2019, where she placed 16th. Her most recent appearance was at the 2022 Olympia, where she ranked 14th.
Ukachi Onyejiaka
Ukachi Onyejiaka won on this stage in 2022 as an amateur. The 2022 Arnold Amateur Bikini winner earned her pro card at that contest and returns to Columbus to make her professional debut. No Arnold Amateur Bikini winner has won the Bikini International the following year.
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Fans who can attend the 2023 Bikini International live can purchase tickets on the Arnold Sports Festival website. Fans who want to watch at home can order the pay-per-view livestream covering all seven pro shows of the Arnold Classic, courtesy of Fanmio.
Featured Image: @lauraliechap on Instagram
