After weeks of strict diet and exercise, 30 of Penn's hardest bodies are ready to take the stage of the Zellerbach Theater at the Annenberg Center at 7 p.m. tonight, sporting nothing but their Speedos and bikinis in the ninth annual Mr. and Ms. Penn bodybuilding competition.
The contest -- which serves as a fundraising event for the women's track and field team -- boasts a lineup of 16 men and 14 women, all of whom are Penn undergraduate or graduate students. Each group is divided evenly into lightweight and middleweight classes, which are based on weight for the male competitors, and based on height for the females, a change that was made this year.
Most athletes began preparing for the event approximately six weeks ago, with a strict diet change and increased weight training. The details of each competitor's diet are based on his or her specific body type, but for most, the diets are similar.
"There's a removal of carbohydrates, a lot of vegetables, a lot of proteins, removal of sugars, and removal of dairy fats," women's track and field assistant coach and event coordinator Tony Tenisci said.
As the big day approached, the diet became increasingly strict, with the complete elimination of carbohydrates the week prior to the event.
In the 24 hours before the event, the competitors are once again permitted to take in carbohydrates in order to harden the body and increase energy.
"You basically deprive yourself for two months," freshman Connor O'Brien said.
After much hard work, the competitors are tan and toned, finally ready to take the stage.
"Everyone works so hard, and at the end, the contest is the fun part of it," senior Imoh Akpan said.
The event itself consists of mandatory posing and brief freestyle routine. Unlike professional bodybuilding competitions, greater stress is placed on the creative aspect rather than the mandatory poses.
"In addition to being a display of one's body, it's also a display of one's personality and creativity," senior Michael Germano said.
Now that the competition has arrived, no one is more excited or proud than coach Tenisci.
"It's very exciting to take a diet and training that you've never done before and to recreate yourself like you've always wanted to be," he said. "Once you know the truth of how to get there, you're never the same again."
