Janet Layug, the 2020 Bikini Olympia champion, began her promoting career in 2021 with the launch of the Battle of the Bodies show. That show is now in its third year, and the 2023 edition will take place on Saturday, Sept. 16, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Over 25 pros will enter this show, and the winner qualifies for the 2023 Bikini Olympia in Orlando, FL, on Nov. 2-5.
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2023 Janet Layug Battle of the Bodies Roster
The roster for this contest is below, courtesy of the IFBB Pro League website.
- Paola Almerico (USA)
- Iulia Baba (Romania)
- Kaitlin Bell (USA)
- Hong Chen (USA)
- April Conley (USA)
- Lizzy Cunningham (USA)
- Lauren Dannenmiller (USA)
- Megan D’Ginto (USA)
- Jessica Nicole Dolias (USA)
- Jacqueline Duke (USA)
- Claudia Garcia (USA)
- Violeta Garcia (USA)
- Kasey Gartner (USA)
- Misty Gauthier (USA)
- Renata Guimaraes (USA)
- Daraja Hill (USA)
- Kristy Imsande (USA)
- Courtney Janecek (USA)
- Dalila Kindermann (USA)
- Sandra Merlo (Argentina)
- Carolina Mestre (USA)
- Cristina Meza (Mexico)
- Ndeye Ndour (USA)
- Rachael Oberst (USA)
- Dianet Pereda (USA)
- Sophia Thaeter (USA)
- Cindy Van Empel-Popowich (Canada)
- Maria Vegas (USA)
Athletes to Watch
Only the Bikini division is featured in this show, but it’s set to be a battle between some promising names. Here’s who to look out for.
Daraja Hill
This is Daraja Hill’s 2023 season debut, and she is considered a favorite to win here. She’s coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Bikini Olympia, one spot short of qualifying for the 2023 contest. A win here would take care of that issue so she could focus on Orlando. She was second in this contest in 2021.
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Lauren Dannenmiller
Lauren Dannenmiller was ninth at the 2021 Bikini Olympia and didn’t compete in the 2022 contest. Her only appearance of the 2023 season was at the Tampa Pro, where she finished in ninth. The fifth-year pro is looking for her second career win.
Ndeye Ndour
Ndeye Ndour is in her rookie season, but she has made the most out of her opportunities thus far. She has finished in the top six of both contests she has entered. She has the potential to make it to the Olympia stage someday, but she will have to win this show or another one before Oct. 9 if she wants to qualify for the Olympia this season.
Other Notes
This is one of three Bikini division contests taking place on the weekend of Sept. 15-17. 2023. The other two are at the Sheru Classic Mexico Grand Battle in Mexico City, Mexico, and the Europa Pro Championships in Alicante, Spain.
Featured Image: @janetlayug on Instagram
