Maria Rita Penteado – From Secrecy to Stardom
I have always said that there's a whole new, unta
pped world for the bodybuilding industry in Latin America. Although romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, and French) dominate the American continent, if you don't speak English it seems you're all but written off. How sad is that?
Nonetheless, today's story is about a hardworking woman that emigrated to the United States, learned the language, and has moved up the ranks. Joined by her boyfriend, Justin Miller, she's transitioned from Women's Bodybuilding to Women's Physique, and she's made a very strong name for herself.
I've been a fan and supporter of Maria Rita Penteado, or "MRP" as I call her, since the beginning. She started out in Women's Bodybuilding, training at the East Coast Mecca – Bev Francis Powerhouse Gym – and she's never strayed from the NPC; she's loyal.
MRP always placed comfortably in the Top 5, but also won many overall titles, including the 2009 NJ Suburban Championships, the 2009 Atlantic States, the 2009 East Coast, the 2010 Atlantic States, the 2010 Europa, the 2011 Eastern USA's, and took 4th at last year's Arnold Classic Amateur. But unlike other international competitors in America, MRP had other obstacles to overcome, like leading a double life!
"I used to live with a host family who didn't really approve that I was competing, but I wanted to compete anyway, so what I used to do was diet in secrecy. I'd cover myself up, so nobody could see me getting leaner. I'd ProTan myself – yes, I'd ProTan my whole body by myself in the middle of the night while everybody was sleeping – leaving my hands and face without it and wear jacket so the tan was hidden.
On Friday before the show, I said I was going to sleep over at some friend's house, go to the show on Saturday, come back home without the trophy... trophy stayed with my friends. On Monday, while everybody was working, I'd go get the trophy (or trophies for when I got overall titles), wrap it up in a lot of shopping bags and hide it under the bed. LOL
But then, there was a time when we couldn't fit any more trophies, so I started leaving them at friends' houses. I had a trophy at each friend's apartment; we still laugh about it. The host family never found out." – MRP
If hiding her training and prep wasn't enough, Maria Rita also had to change gears rather abruptly. She got started in Women's Bodybuilding, bringing classic aesthetics, notable conditioning, and a Latin influence to her posing and transitions. Although she wasn't the biggest or the hardest (by choice), she was happy with the look she brought.
The problem is, that's not what the judges were looking for in that division. She was keen to the fact that WPD was growing exponentially and, further, she was unwilling to sacrifice her femininity by any drastic changes to her look. The decision was made.
In 2013, after years competing as a female bodybuilder, MRP reinvented herself. She placed 2nd at the WPD Arnold Classic Amateur and barely five months later, she dominated the USA's, winning the whole division and an IFBB Pro Card. If that weren't enough, she was soon on a pro stage (2013 IFBB Wings of Strength Tampa Pro) and narrowly missed the Top 10. Oscar Ardon helped her for the Arnold and gives her advice when needed, but most of this success is due to the hard work and teamwork of MRP & Justin Miller.
I have no doubt that Maria Rita could have been the Division's first Ms. Olymp
ia, had she competed. There's no question about that. But she also had an extremely busy 2013 and her body needed a rest. This isn't a race, after all; everything will fall into place at the right time.
So now let's talk some business. Let's talk fans, social media, return on investment – all that fun stuff. Everyone's fascinated, enthralled by the stardom achieved by Dana Linn Baily and her Flag nor Fail imprint. But DLB has the sponsors – from workout devices to a major supplement company, she's had the right people invest time and money into her journey. Thanks to the supplement company, she's been able to shoot with other heavy hitters on the roster.
MRP is on her own, except for Justin Miller, Oscar Ardon, and diehard fans like yours truly. Her photos get thousands of "Likes" and positive comments on Facebook. Anything she does on video goes viral. She could potentially reach audiences in three languages throughout four continents! That is, if the right people invested the time and money in her.
She wouldn't need blasting new wave metal, fancy hairdos, artsy t-shirts, or a computer lab's worth of special effects. All she'd need is a camcorder, some water, and Justin Miller by her side. But I'm not just talking about selling protein powder to scores of women that would like to follow in her footsteps or men that admire her physique!
I don't know about you, but I'd love to see a sequel to Generation Iron, something like Generation Iron 2: (à la Pumping Iron II) The Women. Wouldn't that be a great way for history to repeat itself? “Generation Iron 2: The Women” could showcase the stories of MRP, DLB, Juliana, and Karina, for example.
Didn't Pumping Iron II make Women's Bodybuilding huge for ten or so years? Imagine what something like a GI2 could do for the undeniably popular WPD? This is more food for thought.
One thing's for certain, Maria Rita Penteado is going to go straight to the top in 2014. Just take note of this fun fact Justin wanted to share with the Rx Muscle audience: "Since 2009, Maria Rita has collected a total of 20 trophies (see attached photo) and out of the 12 contests she has entered as an amateur, she won 9 first place trophies and 8 overalls including the USA."
I can't wait for 2014! Stay tuned for more here at RxMuscle.com. Please join MRP's page @ https://www.facebook.com/MariaRitaPenteado
Subscribe to RxMuscle on Youtube
