Photo Credit: Unknows
Ashley Kaltwasser seemingly came out of nowhere in 2013 when she ended her first full year as a pro by winning the coveted Olympia title. She would then go on a run that included two more Olympia wins and put her not only in the conversation but at the top of the list of most successful bikini competitors ever.
Included among those wins was an ever growing fan base. Ashley appealed and still does to everyone. Female fans like Ashley because she is someone they can admire and be motivated by in their own goals, male fans like her because she is easy to root for. If you think back to your high school days, Ashley is the beautiful girl in class who doesn't act like the beautiful girl, doesn't act like the is too good to associate with others. Other competitors can also like Ashley because even on her dominating run of wins, she didn't get stuck up like can happen to someone when they have success, especially the success Ashley was having.
Photo Credit: NPC News Online/Lloyd Terry Jr.
In 2016 Ashley finished fourth at the Olympia. Obviously fourth place against the elite of the elite is great. But also obviously it was below what she had been getting and what most would have expected. This is not a forum I like to be used for the "she should have placed...." discussions, that's for others to decide in other places. But what stood out was Ashley finished below what was expected but handled it was class and professionalism, again, something not everyone could or would do.
2017 was a year where we did not see Ashley on stage one time. But in 2018 she has come back and come back with the proverbial vengeance. Ashley first took first place in Colorado at the Mile High Pro against a solid field of competitors. Then just recently in a field of sixteen, she walked away with another first place at the Vancouver Pro. What's really notable is Ashley is looking as good as she ever has, showing 2017 was not a year to be lazy or relax, instead it was a year where she continued to work and was nowhere near done from adding to her legacy.
Photo Credit: NPC News Online/Imagingbee.com
The bikini division itself has seen an influx of new competitors making statements, winning shows and showing what they are capable of, but Ashley has shown in 2018 she is still at the top of the heap and definitely a favorite to regain her throne as the best of the best. It's going to be fun to watch and see what is next for Ashley and hopefully people are aware of what they are watching, possibly the best competitor we have seen yet since the introduction of the bikini division.
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