ACTIVE JUDGES
PAULO BATISTA – Head Bodybuilding Judge
A 36-year-old transgender male, Paulo Batista is a 12-year fitness athlete and bodybuilder. Paulo trains in the gym as a competitive bodybuilder and has competed in numerous competitions. His passion lies in helping others understand fitness, and advocating in simplicity. He also serves as a mentor for trans youth and a fierce transgender activist. Paulo’s outstanding customer service and leadership skills have spanned many different industries nationwide, from fitness to security, to cosmetology, the arts, education, and retail. He is now a Navy building manager.
Paulo has served as a bodybuilding judge in three prior competitions, and so brings valuable experience to the judges’ table. Competitors can trust Paulo’s keen eye and sense of equanimity to judge fairly.
In 2014, Paulo was the first transgender person to be given the title of Mr. San Diego Eagle.
Paulo resides in Great Lakes, Chicago, IL with his beloved Chihuahuas, Princess, and Nubby.
JANAE MARIE KROC – Powerlifting Meet Director
Janae Marie “Kroc” Kroczaleski is a transgender woman who also identifies as gender fluid and non-binary. Known previously as Matt Kroc she was one of the most successful and popular athletes in the sport of powerlifting prior to her transition. She was known for her training intensity, mental toughness, and ability to overcome numerous serious injuries.
Janae is the former all time world record holder in the 220lb class having squatted 1014lbs, bench pressed 738lbs, and deadlifted 810lbs with a personal best total of 2,551lbs. She was the 2006 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic WPO World Middleweight Champion and after leaving powerlifting also became a successful bodybuilder having won the NPC Michigan State Championships in 2010 and later competing at the NPC National Championships in 2013. Her well known exploits in the iron game lead to an exercise being named after her, the infamous “Kroc Row” which she has been known to perform with a three hundred pound dumbbell for up to thirteen reps.
Janae is also a United States Marine. She was on active duty from 1991 to 1995 and although her primary MOS (military occupational specialty) was infantry she was selected for Presidential security duty and served under President Clinton. Since coming out as transgender she has appeared on Inside Edition, TMZ, numerous radio shows and podcasts, and has been featured in the Huffington Post and Muscle & Fitness magazine. Most recently Janae was the subject of the award-winning documentary Transformer which chronicled her life for two years after she was outed publicly as transgender.
Janae is also a cancer survivor, published author, licensed pharmacist, model, and proud parent of three teenage sons. She is currently sharing her experiences as she navigates through life as an openly transgender/genderfluid/non-binary person on her social media pages as well as speaking at colleges and universities on the topics of gender and sexuality.