DeShay, however, is very much involved in the physique world and is also lovely enough to be selected the Fitness Darling of the Month. DeShay is a bodybuilding promoter and, even more important, the Bodybuilding Chairman (or woman) for the state of Texas. She is also a professional bodybuilding judge for the IFBB (International Federation of BodyBuilding).

It's obvious from looking at her physique that DeShay has been involved in athletics for most of her life. She has been participating in sports since she was in the first grade. She played basketball, volleyball and ran track (all first string) in junior high school and high school. DeShay even lettered in volleyball in her sophomore, junior and senior years in high school.

After her volleyball season was over, DeShay started partying alot and gained some unwanted pounds. After graduation, she went the opposite extreme and began running 9-12 miles a day while only eating salads in order to shed the excess weight. Eventually, her Mom stepped in and suggested that the now ultra-thin DeShay start working out at the local gym with her.

DeShay took her Mom's advice and began working out at 18 years old. She became friends with some of the girls who trained there and they suggested that DeShay consider competing in bodybuilding contests since her genetics were very evident. DeShay decided to go for it and was soon being trained for the West Texas Classic by some experienced bodybuilders at the gym.

DeShay entered the contest but placed near the bottom because she was still too thin. Her trainers bulked her up and she returned to competition the next year in 1983. She took an impressive first place in the tall class at the Mid-America and then won her class and the overall at the West Texas Classic. Talk about improvement!

DeShay was going to continue her bodybuilding career by entering the NPC USA Championships but she opened up a gym instead. In 1984, she was invited to compete in the Texas Cup but placed a disappointed fourth place in her class. Too much too soon.

In 1985, DeShay got a good look at female bodybuilder Dorothy Herndon at the Mid-America contest and decided right then and there that she really didn't want to be a competitive female bodybuilder anymore. DeShay felt like she was starting to look too masculine and was even beginning to look like a man from the rear.

She decided to go where the money was, contest promotion. DeShay also became a state judge around this time. She co-promoted the West Texas Classic in 1984 and took over promoting duties from 1985-1989. She also co-promoted the 1989 NPC Western Cup which featured future Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman and future Mr. USA Craig Titus.

In 1990, Mike Graham stepped down from the NPC Chairmanship and handed it over to DeShay and Kevin Wagner. DeShay moved to San Antonio in 1993 to be with her beau Matt Mendenhall. They promoted the NPC South Texas together and also the NPC Texas State which was Matt's last guest posing appearance as a competitive bodybuilder.

After the relationship ended, DeShay bidded on the NPC Junior Nationals in 1999 and 2000. She also became a national judge around this time. In 1999, NPC National Chairman, Jim Manion, appointed DeShay as the sole Chairman of Texas Bodybuilding.

For her two promotions of the NPC Junior Nationals, DeShay tried some new ideas and both competitions became big hits. She used the WWF's Shawn Michaels as a co-emcee for the 1999 show. For the 2000 Junior Nationals, DeShay brought in Shannon and Sterling Sharpe to emcee and Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman and fitness star Mandy Blank to guest pose. The show sold out and was one of the best Junior National shows ever.

DeShay is currently the only woman physique chairman in the USA and one of the few woman promoters in the country. In 1999, she was also appointed to be a judge for the IFBB Professional ranks. In addition to her physique duties, DeShay also owns her own shop called Turbo Custom Components which deals with smaller turbo chargers for trucks, diesel engines, etc. She has written for South Texas Fitness and Health magazine for the last 6 years and has also submitted articles to the magazine Muscle Elegance. Finally, DeShay is also a certified personal trainer with ISSA.

As for the future, DeShay will continue to beef up the Texas physique organization with the NPC. She also is in the process of developing a website for the NPC in Texas and will sell photos of herself on the site. She loves writing and will continue to write for other magazines in the future. She is also working hard on promoting the 2001 Texas State Championships on August 25, 2001. J.M. Manion will be on hand to take photos for Flex Magazine and the NPC News.

Of course, you can't look like DeShay does without attracting the attention of some photographers. In 1999, DeShay did photo shoots with Ralph DeHaan and Barry Brooks and she also did 3 photo shoots with a Houston photographer, was on the cover of South Texas Health magazine and was featured in an ad for Max Muscle in San Antonio.

DeShay continues to train as hard as she did way back in 1983. She goes heavy when training her shoulders, arms and back but she NEVER trains her legs. For that bodypart, DeShay runs 4-5 miles per day with bleacher work every other day. She also eats a high protein diet with moderate amounts of fat and carbs while dieting for photo shoots. People think DeShay is always getting ready to compete but she promises that you will never see her onstage again. She only trains for herself. It's obvious that the lady loves what she does!

I salute the work that DeShay Ebert has done in the sport of bodybuilding. Having people like her at the organizational level will ensure that our sport will continue to grow as we progress into the 21st Century. Her passion for the sport carries over into her personal life and into her physique. The results are very evident in the outstanding photos that she takes. My only request to DeShay is to keep doing those photo shoots. We may never get to see her onstage but don't deny the rest of the world from seeing that great physique!