Angela Ruscilli, IFBB Pro

Prejudging at The Showdown of Champions is a wrap. There were 8 of us in the first callout of the Masters over 40. I was moved to split Center then moved to the first place position and stayed therefor 3 turns to the back then finally moved out switching places with the gal next to me. I felt amazing. This was definitely my best look. I did not compete in my age group because I want so badly to requalify for Masters Olympia. I felt amazing up there. I’ve had so many issues from having microneedling with RF to the back and inside of my legs back in 2024 after qualifying for the 2025 Masters Olympia. The nurse practitioner went to deep and caused adhesions into the muscle creating both muscle and nerve damage to my hamstring and abductors. The pain has been so bad that it’s caused horrible impingement symptoms in my hips. I could not squat to reach into the cupboard, I could not do any kind of walking without pain. For the last two years I’ve been doing scraping, cupping, everything that I can think of to break up those adhesions, and I finally just started doing gentle tissue mobility, which is finally working. My pain is nearly gone, and it feels wonderful. The skin still shows the track marks from the micro needling, but even that is getting better. There was puckering and pitting in the back and inside of my legs, which is now finally resolving. I will have it gone by next year; I am confident in that. The reason I bring this up is to warn other women against having microneedling with radio frequency done to the back of their legs. The FDA did come out with a statement in 2025 that it has the potential to cause muscle and nerve damage. Apparently, I am not even a good candidate for the procedure because of my low body fat and did not help my skin. It made it 10 times worse. I am just happy to be healing. Like I said, this was the best look I’ve had on stage this year. I’m so blessed to be able to do what I love once again. I feel like my symmetry, hair and makeup as well as my structural balance was on point. Next time you see me on stage, I will be even better! 🙌🙌🙌🤗🫶🏻. Stay tuned for finals at four.