Kristina Nicole Mendoza
Parents of young children who are particularly physically energetic often get them involved in some sort of exercise activity very early on. Kristina Nicole Mendoza was just such a young girl – a dynamo of youthful energy – and she began gymnastics training at age five. “I was in constant action as a young girl,” Kristina says. “Fortunately, gymnastics gave me an outlet for all my excess energy.”
Growing up in Florida, Kristina later got into competitive dance and cheerleading. Both very athletically demanding, she emphasizes. The only problem, she reveals, was the size of her legs. “My legs have always been very muscular and developed,” says Kristina. “Too much so for a dancer or cheerleader.” Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray also had the same “problem” – although with both women what was a problem in one context became decided genetic advantage later on.
After getting out of high school, no longer involved in athletic competition, Kristina found herself starting to gain weight and joined a gym to help her stay in shape. “Working out in the gym, including muscle training, I started to get comments on my physique,” Kristina recalls, “from people who kept asking if I planned to enter some kind of muscle competition. So back in 2012, after seeing my first bodybuilding competition, I decided that is exactly what I would like to do.” Kristina’s first contest was the physique class at the 2016 Dayana Cadeau Classic – where she placed second
“I was thrilled to do so well right at the beginning,” Kristina says. “But the criticism I got was generally that my legs were too big. About that point I started working with a new coach who told me I was in the wrong category, that I looked more like a bodybuilder than a physique competitor. So I decided to change categories.”
Kristina had been somewhat frustrated to this point because, instead of going all out in her workouts, she had been having to hold back. She has been concentrating on making her legs smaller, not maximizing their development. As a bodybuilder, she found this was no longer necessary. She placed third at the 2017 NPC in bodybuilding, but points out she only decided to compete in bodybuilding two weeks before the event, hardly time to make major changes in her physique. A few months later she went to the NPC Nationals, finishing fourth.
“It was at the Nationals that I met Jake Wood and Alina Popa, who asked me to join Wings of Strength as an Ambassador. The interest they showed in me was a great motivator and make me even more determined so succeed as a bodybuilder.”
In 2018 I placed second in the Ms. International Classic (hosted with the Chicago Pro event) “I was making progress, but I spent the next year working on what I felt were my weak points and concentrating on aesthetic qualities like symmetry and proportion. When I came back to the Arnold in 2019 I placed first / Overall in Ms. International Classic earning my Pro card
Kristina is 5’ 5” and her contest weight is about 160 pounds. She is determined to eventually be a world champion but she knows “muscle maturity” is a factor. “Champion bodybuilders, both male and female, can keep getting better as they mature, right up through their 40s. I’m only 28, so I have plenty of time ahead of me to develop and improve. It is just a matter of being patient and maintaining discipline. And those are things I’m determined to focus on.”
KRISTINA NICOLE MENDOZA
COMPETITION HISTORY
2017 – Dayana Cadeau Classic
Second
2017 : Pro Qualifier
USA’s Physique – Third
National’s Bodybuilding – Fourth
2018 : Pro Qualifier
Miss International Classic Bodybuilding- Second place
2019 : Pro Qualifier
Miss International Classic Bodybuilding – Overall Winner
Earned Pro Card
2019 : Rising Phoenix Bodybuilding : Pro Debut
No placing
2020 : IFBB Savanna Pro – 6th
2021 : IFBB Chicago Pro – 2nd
CONTACT
Instagram : @krristinanicole