The angels division in Ballarat’s Eureka Muscle and Model Showdown is mostly fun for athletes but carries an important message.

Entrants raise money and awareness for National Breast Cancer Foundation Australia but for many, like Ms Berude, it is a chance to honour a loved one

“Being an angel for an angel,” Ms Berude said. “He used to call me a peacock – he said I always strut like a peacock. For some girls, this is their main division. I saw it as a tribute.”

Ballarat was the second appearance for the Yarra Valley athlete in her peacock wings. Some of the peacock feathers in Ms Berude’s wings are more than 30 years old. The feathers are also intricately worked into her bikini and heels.

Angels division – styled similar to the iconic Victoria’s Secret fashion show – was a fan favourite at the Eureka showdown, which featured divisions for all different muscle development and body shapes. This can range from bikini, a beach body look for women, to the defined fitness model and body-building divisions in males and females.

Angels calls for more delicate, rather than posed movement. Ms Berude said the trick, for her, was in trying to remain balanced under the wings’ weight.

This is the third year Ballarat has hosted a muscle and model competition as part of the ICN Federation. ICN is I Compete Naturally, and prides itself on being a clean event that features drug-testing of competitors.

Ballarat featured 224 athletes flexing and posing for competition at Wendouree Performing Arts Centre on Sunday.

Eureka organiser Georgia Holton there was a strong focus on tapping into Ballarat businesses in hosting the event, like MJ’s Beauty which sported a large team backstage for athlete’s hair and make-up.

Ballarat gyms have also increasingly been making a bigger show, including Spartans, Fitquest360 and D2E Gym each with a strong stable of athletes.

Backstage was a flurry of activity with athletes fine-tuning with last minute weights and squats to ensure they were primed to capture the judges’ attention for all their hard preparation in the gym.

Portable tanning booths were on hand for athletes with a competition posing coach nearby for final tips and advice.

Ms Holten said the show was about having a go and celebrating your body shape.

The event featured a transformation division for women who had lost weight and wanted to celebrate their health journey by glitzing up – in a dress rather than a bikini – and taking to the stage.

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