By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DAWN Charlton was pleased with her season’s professional bodybuilding debut at the 2025 NPC/IFBB Pro League Daytona Pro/Am Championships over the weekend in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Competing in the women’s bikini competition, the 5-feet, 7-inches Charlton placed fourth in the masters 40+ category out of a field of 10 competitors and was 16th overall in the open category.

The legal assistant at Providence Law went to the championship with the goal of qualifying for Joe Welder’s Mr Olympia, the ultimate competition in Las Vegas.

But while the former soccer and track and field athlete fell short, Charlton said she will be back in her final two shows this year to attempt to qualify for the sports’ grandest stage in 2026.

Charlton was beaten out by three Americans Myra Colcord, Vanessa Guzman and Subriyah McKenzie, the top three finishers in order in Daytona Beach.

But as the lone non-American in her category, Charlton said she was thrilled to have represented The Bahamas the way she did on stage on Saturday night.

“It was good. It was a big international show. I was really trying to get that Mr Olympia Qualifier, but I had some good feedback,” she pointed out.

“I just need to come in a little tighter in the legs and then see what happens.”

Going into the competition, Charlton said you never know what to expect. All she can do is prepare to do her best and see what happens on stage.

“I want that Olympic qualification, so I’m going to push harder,” said harlton, who is aiming to qualify for both the masters and the open categories.

“I will just do one at a time and see what happens.”

But in the meantime, Charlton said she’s put on a few pounds in the right areas of her body and right now both her lower and upper body is fine.

“So the feedback is good. There’s nothing to worry about, just that I need to come in a little tighter, which is very easy to do,” Charlton pointed out. 

Charlton said she took the past few months to grow her body instead of competing, so she was pleased to finally get the first one under her belt.

She will be back in action on November 16 in Fort Lauderdale and the final one on December 6 in California.

“I just have to come in a little tighter and work on my posing,” said Charlton as she prepared for the final two shows. 

“I just have to keep lifting, keep training and keep my diet tight.

“I’m like seven weeks out from the next show, so I will swee what happens.”

In acknowledging God for giving her the ability to compete, Charlton expressed her gratitude to her American coach Paul Riveria; her mother, Mavis Charlton; her friend Elroy Weise; her MacFit training family, including Kenny Mackey and Craig Bowe; her mentor Joel Stubbs; her co-workers at Providence Law and her family and friends.