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Paula Ranta Wins Women’s Bodybuilding at 2026 Tampa Pro

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Paula Ranta Wins Women’s Bodybuilding at 2026 Tampa Pro

Paula Ranta delivered one of the defining performances of the 2026 Tampa Pro, winning the Women’s Bodybuilding title in her divisional debut and leading a ten-athlete international lineup in Tampa, Florida.

The Finnish athlete arrived already qualified for the 2026 Women’s Physique Olympia after victories at both the New York Pro and Pittsburgh Pro. Her Tampa victory has now added a Women’s Bodybuilding Olympia qualification, giving her an extraordinary route to Las Vegas across two divisions in the same season.

Paula’s win came through an exceptionally conditioned presentation. Her separation, detail and control gave the judges a clear standard in a contest where Alida Opre provided a very different challenge: greater overall size, density and muscular roundness. The contrast between Ranta’s sharp condition and Opre’s fuller, more powerful look made the final comparison one of the most compelling stories of the division.

Paula Ranta wins on her Women’s Bodybuilding debut

Paula Ranta has moved quickly through the professional ranks. After winning the 2025 Chicago Pro and placing ninth at the 2025 Women’s Physique Olympia, she opened 2026 with Women’s Physique victories in New York and Pittsburgh.

Tampa was the first test of her physique under Women’s Bodybuilding criteria. She answered it with a win. Ranta retained the conditioning that had become her calling card in Women’s Physique while presenting enough muscularity and balance to take the top position against experienced Women’s Bodybuilding professionals.

The result means Ranta is qualified for the 2026 Olympia in Women’s Bodybuilding after already securing her Women’s Physique place through two major victories. Whether she ultimately chooses one division or considers both, her Tampa performance established her immediately as a serious Women’s Bodybuilding athlete.

Alida Opre pushes the winner to the finish

Alida Opre finished second with one of the most substantial physiques in the lineup. The Hungarian brought impressive size, density and roundness, particularly through the upper body and legs, creating a striking contrast with Ranta’s extreme condition.

Opre entered Tampa with strong 2026 form after placing third at the Toronto Pro Supershow and second at the Mr. Big Evolution Portugal Pro. A former Women’s Physique professional who moved into Women’s Bodybuilding, she won the 2024 Romania Alina Popa Classic Pro and competed at the 2024 Olympia. Her Tampa runner-up finish reinforces her position among the leading contenders of the current season.

Ranya Temizkan takes third

Ranya Temizkan continued her rapid professional rise with third place. Temizkan earned IFBB Pro status by winning the heavyweight class at the 2025 NPC USA Championships, then made her professional debut one week later at the 2025 Tampa Pro and finished fourth.

Returning to the same stage in 2026, the American moved up one position into the top three. Her combination of muscularity, structure and improved stage presence held up in a deep comparison and confirmed that her fourth-place debut was the beginning of a genuine professional breakthrough.

Reshanna Boswell finishes fourth

Reshanna Boswell brought extensive championship experience to the lineup and secured fourth place. Boswell is a former Puerto Rico Pro winner and won the Women’s Bodybuilding title at the 2023 Masters Olympia.

Her record also includes multiple Olympia appearances and consistent results across open and masters contests. At Tampa, her maturity, balance and practiced presentation kept her firmly inside the leading group against athletes at very different stages of their careers.

Taylor Smuck makes an impressive pro debut

Taylor Smuck placed fifth in her first professional Women’s Bodybuilding appearance. Smuck earned her pro card at the 2025 NPC National Championships, winning the light-heavyweight class and the overall Women’s Bodybuilding title.

She had previously competed in Women’s Physique, including a runner-up finish in Class A at the 2022 Arnold Amateur. A top-five result in Tampa gives her a strong foundation in the professional division and marks her as an athlete to follow as she continues developing at this level.

Gabriela Pena De La Vega earns sixth and a masters victory

Gabriela Pena De La Vega completed the open top six and also won the Women’s Bodybuilding Masters 40+ title. The American has built a consistent record across open and masters contests, with previous leading finishes in Toronto, Arizona and at the Vancouver Island Showdown.

Her Tampa results showed that experience across both formats can translate into a demanding multi-class performance. Sixth in the open lineup and first in Masters 40+ made her one of the division’s most successful athletes across the full weekend.

Sherry Priami returns and wins Best Poser

The return of Sherry Priami was another important moment for the division. The former Vancouver Island Showdown Pro and Chicago Pro champion was back on a professional stage after an extended absence from competition.

Sherry did not make the first callout and ultimately placed seventh, but her contribution went well beyond the scorecard. She brought her trademark performance quality to the finals and received the Best Poser Award, a fitting recognition for an athlete whose presentation has long been one of her strengths.

Anastasia Rider and the campaign that restored the division

The presence of Women’s Bodybuilding at the 2026 Tampa Pro was not guaranteed. The open and masters divisions were initially removed after a lack of sponsorship, prompting athletes and supporters to organise a campaign to bring them back.

Anastasia Rider, played a central role in that effort. She helped establish a GoFundMe campaign and worked to mobilise fans, athletes and supporters of Women’s Bodybuilding. Their response helped make the division’s return to the prestigious Tampa Pro stage possible.

That work gave ten open athletes, and additional masters competitors, the opportunity to compete. It also turned the event into more than a results story. The lineup represented what can happen when athletes and the community work together to protect opportunities for Women’s Bodybuilding.

2026 Tampa Pro Women’s Bodybuilding results

  1. Paula Ranta — Finland
  2. Alida Opre — Hungary
  3. Ranya Temizkan — USA
  4. Reshanna Boswell — USA
  5. Taylor Smuck — USA
  6. Gabriela Pena De La Vega — USA
  7. Sherry Priami — USA
  8. Kyna Squarey — Canada
  9. Anastasia Rider — USA
  10. Ursula Morrow — USA

The official scorecard is available from the IFBB Pro League. For full Hardcore FBB coverage, schedules and results across every division, visit the main Tampa Pro page.

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