In modern times we have seen women embrace the art of muscle, bulking their way to the top and competing to become the world's next super-woman. The sheer fact that women can achieve such a magnitude of muscle without the aid of testosterone is astounding. Female bodybuilding has become a modern phenomenon, with thousands of women world-wide taking to the heavy weight stacks to bulk up on 'shemuscle' (so it has been dubbed).
Beginnings
Allegedly the first 'bodybuilding' contests were held in the 1960s', but it was not until 1978 when the first U.S. Women's National Physique Championship was held that contestants were judged solely on muscularity instead of beauty. Despite this fact, contestants were still required to wear high heels and did not clench their fists while posing. The sport lacked an official governing body until 1980.
Stacey Bentley was among the first role models of bodybuilding for women, landing a position as finalist in the inaugural Women's World Bodybuilding Championships in 1979. She later won the Robby Robinson Classic, for best legs and best poser. After moving to Los Angeles she became the personal trainer for Hollywood actor, Jack Nicholson.
The 1980s
The 1980s heralded a new age for female bodybuilders. As the sport grew older, the level of training and emphasis on muscle increased. The contestants' bodies grew bigger and poses changed from an emphasis on classical beauty to the three poses regularly used by male bodybuilders, including the double biceps, crab, and lat spread.
Carla Dunlap claimed the crown for both Pro World and Ms.Olympia in 1983. Then in 1984, actress and body builder Cory Everson famously won the American Women's Championship. Her stature at 5'9" and 150 pounds set a new standard for the field.
This beauty then went on to win 6 consecutive Ms. Olympia contests until 1989. Shortly after she began starring in major blockbuster films including Double Impact (1991) with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Natural Born Killers (1994) and Ballistic (1995). Her role, Kara the bone-crushing assassin, is wonderfully epitomised in this Italian-dubbed version of Double Impact:
Everson has also made a number of TV guest appearances, most notably playing Atlanta on Hercules: The Necessary Journeys.
At a time of the fitness rage, Everson was the original host of the fitness show BodyShaping and the Gotta Sweat on ESPN.
The 1990s: Attempts to 'feminize' the sport
The 1991 Ms Olympia and 1992 Ms International contest were the harbingers for an identity change in the development of the sport as judges, led by Ben Weider, created a series of "femininity" rules for the sport.
They were looking for healthy, feminine contestants who were not "too big". The 1992 Ms Olympia contest winner was Germany's Anja Schreiner, a blue-eyed blonde weighing at a slender 130 pounds at 5'7".
This moment was met with such uproar and booing from the crowd, that one of the audience members, Arnold Schwarzenegger, lept onto the stage yelling "the hell with the judges!"
The Naughties and Now
Ms Olympia continues as the prime body building championship, claimed by muscle-clad Heather Armbrust last year.
Beginnings
Allegedly the first 'bodybuilding' contests were held in the 1960s', but it was not until 1978 when the first U.S. Women's National Physique Championship was held that contestants were judged solely on muscularity instead of beauty. Despite this fact, contestants were still required to wear high heels and did not clench their fists while posing. The sport lacked an official governing body until 1980.
Stacey Bentley was among the first role models of bodybuilding for women, landing a position as finalist in the inaugural Women's World Bodybuilding Championships in 1979. She later won the Robby Robinson Classic, for best legs and best poser. After moving to Los Angeles she became the personal trainer for Hollywood actor, Jack Nicholson.
The 1980s
The 1980s heralded a new age for female bodybuilders. As the sport grew older, the level of training and emphasis on muscle increased. The contestants' bodies grew bigger and poses changed from an emphasis on classical beauty to the three poses regularly used by male bodybuilders, including the double biceps, crab, and lat spread.
Carla Dunlap claimed the crown for both Pro World and Ms.Olympia in 1983. Then in 1984, actress and body builder Cory Everson famously won the American Women's Championship. Her stature at 5'9" and 150 pounds set a new standard for the field.
This beauty then went on to win 6 consecutive Ms. Olympia contests until 1989. Shortly after she began starring in major blockbuster films including Double Impact (1991) with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Natural Born Killers (1994) and Ballistic (1995). Her role, Kara the bone-crushing assassin, is wonderfully epitomised in this Italian-dubbed version of Double Impact:
Everson has also made a number of TV guest appearances, most notably playing Atlanta on Hercules: The Necessary Journeys.
At a time of the fitness rage, Everson was the original host of the fitness show BodyShaping and the Gotta Sweat on ESPN.
The 1990s: Attempts to 'feminize' the sport
The 1991 Ms Olympia and 1992 Ms International contest were the harbingers for an identity change in the development of the sport as judges, led by Ben Weider, created a series of "femininity" rules for the sport.
They were looking for healthy, feminine contestants who were not "too big". The 1992 Ms Olympia contest winner was Germany's Anja Schreiner, a blue-eyed blonde weighing at a slender 130 pounds at 5'7".
This moment was met with such uproar and booing from the crowd, that one of the audience members, Arnold Schwarzenegger, lept onto the stage yelling "the hell with the judges!"
The Naughties and Now
Ms Olympia continues as the prime body building championship, claimed by muscle-clad Heather Armbrust last year.
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