Welcome to Europe, Fit Model!

This weekend I'll be making my IFBB Pro League debut in Portugal. So, no pressure (actually... a little pressure). Not because it's my first pro show (although my cortisol would like to remind everyone every five minutes), but because this isn't just another competition. It's the first-ever Fit Model Pro show in Europe. And that's a pretty cool sentence to write. When Fit Model launched, there were plenty of people who thought it was a ridiculous decision; an undermuscled division made for women who have “never stepped foot in the gym” (yeah, one internet troll really did say that). Fast forward a few months and here we are with 37 pro women stepping on stage this weekend. Thirty-seven. For context, that's an INSANE lineup for a brand new division. Thirty-seven athletes means first call-outs could genuinely end up looking like the queue for airport security. But, whatever your opinion on Fit Model, one thing is pretty obvious: people want in. Now comes the part I'm most excited about. We've already seen several Fit Model pro shows in the United States, so we've got a rough idea of what the judges are rewarding. But Europe is completely uncharted territory. Do European athletes present differently? Will we see a slightly fuller look? Leaner? Different posing? Different stage presence? It's almost like bodybuilding's version of comparing the Premier League with Aussie rules rugby. Same sport... just a completely different flavour. To make things even more interesting, we've got a US head judge overseeing the show, Rich Palmer. So this weekend almost becomes an experiment. Do European physiques naturally line up with what we've already seen rewarded in America, or will we learn something completely new about where this division is heading? Every show comes with its own storylines, and this weekend is no different. There are a handful of athletes many people will be keeping an eye on. Team Atlas athlete Faithlyn Derla arrives after impressive second and tenth-place finishes in her last two pro shows, while Jen Popatia heads into her third Open test after a hugely successful 2026 season that saw her claim three Masters victories and qualify for the 2027 Masters Olympia. Then there's Finland's Julia Heinio, who already secured her Olympia qualification in South Korea, making it fascinating to see how she matches up against this European lineup. And from the UK, Marnie Al-Saraf brings another interesting storyline, making the switch from Bikini to Fit Model and giving fans a chance to see how a physique built for a more muscular division translates under Fit Model judging. But while those names are generating plenty of conversation, one of the most exciting things about a lineup of 37 athletes is how much can happen once everyone steps on stage. There are more than 30 other women who have been quietly putting in the work, peaking behind the scenes and preparing for this moment. Some may be making their pro debut, others may be flying under the radar, but all it takes is one standout presentation to change the conversation completely. That's one of my favourite things about bodybuilding. The stage doesn't know who's been tipped as the favourite. It doesn't know who's got the biggest Instagram following or who's been featured in the pre-show predictions. Once the tan goes on and the heels come out, everyone starts from the same place, and that's exactly what makes this sport so exciting to watch. As for me, I'm just excited to finally step on a European pro stage! I've spent the last few months weighing out my food like it’s made of gold, saying no to basically every sweet treat known to mankind, and convincing myself that a crushed-up rice cake bowl is actually a personality trait... But now I finally get to do the fun bit. Whether I place first or thirty-seventh, this weekend is history for the division. The first European Fit Model Pro show. And I have a feeling it won't be the last time 37 women show up wanting a piece of it!