Wendy Fortino and Jessica Reyes Padilla have a connection to the figure department

In the early days of bodybuilding there were only male competitors. Eventually women were invited to compete, but growth in this side of the sport lagged far behind its male counterparts. Then came the figure section. Once this division made it to the Olympic stage, There was a boom on the women's side and now some shows have more female competitors than male athletes.

Two of the most prominent competitors in the figure category are Wendy Fortino and Jessica Reyes Padilla. At this stage of their careers they have become enduring Olympic athletes. Fortino originally wanted to compete in fitness, but she told Femme Flex Friday hosts Lenda Murray and Alina Popa that another legend inspired her to switch divisions.

“When I discovered the sport, the first thing I saw was Monica Brant,” Fortino said. "When I saw her, I said, 'That's what I want to look like.'"

Reyes Padilla joined the division in 2014, but her desire to compete came a few years earlier after her father died. She needed a way to channel her emotions, and she found that method in the form of training.

“I decided to go to the gym and hit the weights,” the former model recalled. “Once I started doing it, I fell in love with it.”

Even though they compete in the figure division, many people who are unaware of the sport and the different divisions assume they are bodybuilders based on their development. Many athletes try to educate those who ask and clarify what competitions they are competing in, but Fortino accepts the question as a compliment.

“I’m proud to say this,” she exclaimed emphatically. Padilla agreed and explained why it is a badge of honor for her.

"They notice the hard work we put into the gym and sometimes they don't even ask because they know," she told Murray and Popa. Both competitors shared a lot more about their contributions to the sport, as well as other interesting topics you won't hear anywhere else. Go to www.wingsoftstrength.net to watch the full episode and check back for new episodes every Friday at 6:00 pm Eastern Time.