It was 5:30pm on Saturday night in Cleveland at the 2006 North American’s. Hazal Nelson was trying to get out of her hotel room so she could make it to the meeting on time and look somewhat put together for the night show. Everyone else was doing much the same except that while her fellow competitors were concerned with last minute adjustments to their suits,
tan, and hairstyles, Hazal was literally begging for her life as her husband was savagely beating her.
(We did this interview in Dallas at the Europa this year in the hotel restaurant. Sitting in stunned silence, listening as she quietly recounted the events that night it was impossible to remain objective, calm, or rational – or free of guilt. I had seen her compete that night. She even did a photo shoot the next morning with me for Bodysport.com while he stood by watching and making pleasant conversation. I recall that Hazal forced a smile that morning doing her best to feel beautiful for the camera but it wasn’t sincere. She didn’t say more than a few words and left quietly when we were done. Something was wrong but there was no way of knowing how bad it was. As she continued on with her story I couldn’t help but feel sick to my stomach, angry, even frustrated that I was so close yet she couldn’t feel safe. Had someone only known maybe she could have gotten out sooner. Mostly I felt sad for her, and women like her that feel they have no option so they keep it a secret and simply try to survive.)
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