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While people typically associate bodybuilding with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, and other men, there is also a long history of successful female bodybuilders.
Female bodybuilding has rapidly gained popularity in recent years, but the sport has existed for decades. In fact, there is a long history of strong, muscular women who have dominated the sport of bodybuilding.
Female bodybuilders in the 80s were the first to be officially recognized in competitions and helped pave the way for the women bodybuilders of today. In this article, we will highlight the top female bodybuilders of the past and present.
Get ready to be impressed as we go over the top 20 best female bodybuilders, discuss their major contest wins, what makes them so inspirational, and what they're up to today.
20 Best Female Bodybuilders of All Time
While male bodybuilding competitions occurred in the 1920s, women in bodybuilding didn't happen until the late 1970s. During the mid-1900s, it was rare to find muscular women. There was an unfortunate (and incorrect) stigma around athletics and exercise hindering women's ability to be mothers.
Thankfully, the landscape for women bodybuilders changed after 1972 when Congress passed Title IX, which required schools to allow equal opportunity for female athletes. This act opened the door for muscular women to explore different sports, including bodybuilding.
The first-ever woman to win a female building competition was Gina LaSpina from Ohio in 1977. By 1980, the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) and the National Physique Committee (NPC) recognized female bodybuilding competitions, including the first Ms. Olympia in 1980.
Since then, there have been tons of inspirational women to champion the sport. It's those women we're about to highlight. So, without further ado, here are the most influential female bodybuilders from then and now!
1) Rachel McLish:
The 1980s was considered the Golden Age of female bodybuilding, as this was when it started to blossom into what it is today. Rachel McLish, who is from Texas, is perhaps the most famous professional female bodybuilder of the Golden Age era.
McLish began to focus heavily on bodybuilding in the late 1970s while working at a local gym after she graduated college. She cemented herself as a legend and pioneer by being the first female bodybuilder to win the inaugural 1980 United States Championship and the first ever IFBB Ms. Olympia the same year. She had more magazine covers over the next five years than any woman.
Although Rachel only competed for four years, she was more dominant than any other 80s female bodybuilder, never finishing worse than third. She claimed her second IFBB Ms. Olympia in 1982, becoming the first-ever two-time champion. She was inducted into the inaugural IFBB Hall of Fame class in January of 1999 and went on to author two books about weight training that were featured on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Career Highlights:
1980 US Bodybuilding Championship: 1st
2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1980, 1982)
1981 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
1982 Pro World Championship: 1st
1984 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
Rachel McLish is now 68, so she isn't as active on social media as younger female bodybuilders. With her amazingly toned body, outgoing personality, and competitive success, we can assume if social media existed in her days, she would have dominated that too.
You can follow her on Instagram at @RachelMclish
2) Cory Everson:
Corinna "Cory" Everson is often considered the best female bodybuilder in history, and plenty of evidence supports those claims. While Rachel McLish set the bar by winning two of the first three Ms. Olympias, Cory took it to another level and elevated the sport during the Golden Age.
Cory was introduced to bodybuilding after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, by her future ex-husband, Jeff Everson, a competitive bodybuilder himself. Jeff coached Cory, which led to her debut victory at the 1980 Ms. Mid America.
She continued to dominate, winning her first IFBB competition at the 1982 North American Championship, and reached the sport's peak by claiming the 1984 Ms. Olympia title in her debut, a title she never lost.
Cory went on to win Ms. Olympia six years in a row from 1984 to 1989 before retiring on top undefeated. Cory went on to have a successful film career and was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 1999. She became the first woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Arnold Classic.
Career Highlights:
6x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1984-1989)
1980 Ms. Mid America: 1st
1982 IFBB North American Championship: 1st
1983 Bodybuilding Expo IV: 1st (MW and overall)
1984 American Women's Championships: 1st (HW and overall)
1984 NPC Nationals: 1st (HW and overall)
You can follow her on Instagram at @theofficialcoryeverson
3) Lenda Murray:
Just as Cory Everson had her historic run of six straight Ms. Olympia's end, another star was paving her way to be the biggest female bodybuilder in history.
Lenda Murray was a cheerleader and record-holding sprinter during her teenage years in Detroit, Michigan. She discovered bodybuilding in 1984 after a professional suggested she compete due to her naturally muscular frame. She gained national attention by winning her first of six straight Ms. Olympia titles from 1990 to 1995.
Lenda briefly retired in 1997 after losing two consecutive Ms. Olympias to Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls before returning in 2002. She claimed two more Ms. Olympias in 2002 and 2003 before finishing runner-up in 2004 to end her career with eight titles.
Considered the second most successful female bodybuilder in history, she was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2010. Lenda remains connected to the sport by continuing to promote events today.
Career Highlights:
8x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1990-1995, 2002-2003)
3x Ms. Olympia Runner-Up: 2nd (1996-1997, 2004)
1989 IFBB North American Championships: 1st
1989 NPC Junior Nationals: 1st (HW and overall)
1988 NPC Michigan: 1st
Follow her on Instagram at @themsolympia
4) Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls:
Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls is regarded as one of the best American female bodybuilders ever. She started bodybuilding in 1988 after starting to date her future husband and bodybuilder, Chad Nicholls.
She earned her pro card in 1992 after winning the IFBB North American Championship and began a long, successful career. After winning the Ms. International, Kim defeated Lenda Murray at the 1996 Ms. Olympia, ending her six-year run on top.
She became the first woman to win both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia in the same year in 1996 and went on to win four consecutive Ms. Olympia titles before retiring in 1999. In 2008, she was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame, recognized as one of the most muscular female bodybuilders in history.
Career Highlights:
4x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1996-1999)
1992 IFBB North American Championships: 1st
2x Ms. International Champion: 1st (1993, 1996)
Follow her on Instagram at @mzolympia
5) Iris Kyle:
All of the amazingly strong and ripped women of the 80s and 90s paved the way for Iris Kyle, the most successful female bodybuilder in history.
Iris Kyle, nicknamed "The Female Ronnie Coleman," began her professional competitive bodybuilding career at 22 in 1999 after years of dominating amateur competitions. In 2001, she won the heavyweight title at Ms. Olympia but came in second in the overall competition. Her first Ms. International title came in 2004, which opened the floodgates.
She then went on to win Ms. Olympia in 2004, narrowly lost in 2005, then won the next nine years in a row from 2006-2014. Kyle finished her career in 2022 with a record ten overall Ms. Olympia wins, the most of any male or female. She also has a record seven overall Ms. International wins. Her massive, symmetrical physique inspired an entire generation of young women bodybuilders.
Iris has been very open about her use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout her career, which she began using after coming in 2nd at the 1994 NPC Iron Maiden Championship. She stresses that steroids alone are not responsible for success, as hard work and genetics are more important.
Career Highlights:
10x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (2004, 2006-2014)
7x Ms. International Champion: 1st (2004, 2006-2007, 2009-2011, 2013)
Follow her on Instagram at @IrisKyle
6) Andrea Shaw:
The dominance and impressive physique of Iris Kyle inspired countless women worldwide to take their bodies to the next level, including Andrea Shaw.
Andrea began training at 17 with the help of her mom, a former personal trainer, and started competing in the physique category, in which competitors performed a choreographed routine to music. Despite her early success in physique, which included a win at the 2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic, Shaw decided to switch classes after advice from a legend.
Hall of Famer and legend Lenda Murray was working as a judge at the 2019 Toronto Pro when she encouraged Andrea to change classes to the bodybuilding division.
This move paid off, as Andrea went on to win two of the most prestigious titles in the 2020 Ms. Olympia and Ms. Rising Phoenix Champion. Since then, she has continued to rise in popularity and rankings, repeating as Ms. Olympia in 2021 and 2022.
Career Highlights:
3x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (2020-2022)
3x Rising Phoenix Women's World Championships: 1st (2020-2020)
2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic: 1st
She is extremely popular on social media, with over 113 thousand followers on Instagram, where she shares a mix of training tips and everyday life activities.
Follow her on Instagram at @mzprettymuscle
7) Melina Keltaniemi:
At only 25 years old, Melina Keltaniemi represents the present and future of women's bodybuilding.
Melina is a bikini fitness model from Finland that has experienced immediate success with a win at the 2018 IFBB Elite Pro World Championship. She followed that up by winning the 2019 Nordic Elite Pro and repeated it at IFBB 2019 Elite Pro World Championships.
Between her early success and shredded body, it's no wonder she has a large following on social media. We look forward to a long and successful career in bikini fitness for Melina.
Career Highlights:
Follow her on Instagram at @melinakatarina
8) Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia:
Yaxeni Oriquen is a legend in women's bodybuilding and is ranked second best only to Iris Kyle on the IFBB best female ranking list.
Born in Venezuela, Yaxeni is an even bigger inspiration worldwide for her success after moving to the United States to pursue bodybuilding. She broke through with a win at the 2005 Ms. Olympia, becoming the first and only Venezuelan-American winner.
She also won the Ms. International competition five times, cementing herself as a legend. With over 20 years of experience, Yaxeni now owns a gym in Miami where she trains clients herself.
Career Highlights:
2005 IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st
5x Ms. International Champion: 1st (2002-2003, 2005, 2008, 2012)
She has nearly 50 thousand followers on Instagram, regularly sharing gym videos and exercise tips.
Follow her on Instagram at @yaxenita
9) Debi Laszewski:
Debi Laszewski is a legend in women's bodybuilding and ranks number three on the IFBB's best female ranking list.
Debi, a track-and-field athlete from Wisconsin, became interested in bodybuilding after seeing Linda Hamilton's character of Sarah Connor in The Terminator. She had an impressive career, finishing in the top three of the Ms. Olympia five times from 2009 to 2014, with her career-best runner-up finish to Iris Kyle in 2012.
She is now a personal trainer in Jupiter, Florida, where she trains several champion bodybuilders.
Career Highlights:
2012 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
2005 NPC Nationals: 2nd (light heavyweight)
2006 NPC Nationals: 1st (light heavyweight)
1994 Wisconsin Natural Bodybuilding Championships: 1st (class winner)
1996 Madison Championships: 1st (overall)
1996 Wisconsin National Qualifier: 1st (overall)
You can follow her on Instagram at @debilaszewski
10) Andrulla Blanchette:
Andrulla Blanchette, a female bodybuilder from London, England, paved the way for British female bodybuilders. Andrulla competed from 1986 to 2002, compiling an impressive resume that has made her the world's most successful British female bodybuilder.
Her career highlight came in 2000 when she won Ms. Olympia Lightweight Champion, which she narrowly lost the following year. While she is not very active on social media and has private accounts, she currently spends most of her time at her gym, where she helps train girls of all ages.
Career Highlights:
2000 IFBB Ms. Olympia Lightweight Champion: 1st
2000 IFBB Ms. International: 2nd (LW)
2001 IFBB Ms. Olympia Lightweight: 2nd
1993 IFBB World Games: 1st
11) Elisa Pecini:
Elisa Pecini is a young Brazilian bodybuilder with one of the most successful careers in the bikini competition.
Elisa is an inspiration to people struggling with eating disorders, as she openly discusses overcoming anorexia nervosa. A hospitalization led her to change her lifestyle, and she earned her professional card at age 19.
Elisa dominated the bikini division and won several major competitions. She reached the pinnacle of the sport by winning first place in the 2019 Ms. Olympia Bikini.
Career Highlights:
2019 IFBB Ms. Olympia Bikini Champion: 1st
2021 IFBB Tampa Pro: 1st
2020 Arnold Sports Festival: 1st
2018 MuscleContest Nacional Pro Bikini: 1st
2018 Pittsburgh Pro Bikini: 1st
2018 MuscleContest Brazil Pro Bikini: 1st
Elisa is constantly spreading positivity across social media and works endlessly to help others conquer their own eating disorders. She has over 600 thousand followers on Instagram and shares various wholesome content.
You can follow her on Instagram at @isapecini
12) Sarah Villegas:
Sarah Villegas is a current IFBB professional that competes in women's physique. Sarah has risen in popularity over the last few years as her career has blossomed.
She attained the sport's peak by winning Ms. Olympia Women's Physique in 2020, one year after finishing runner-up. She is also a personal trainer and certified sports nutritionist, working hard to help others achieve their fitness goals, along with an entire team working for her at ASF Premier Fitness.
Her success, both on stage and in her professional life, is extremely impressive and motivating. She is an inspiration to many, and her competitive career is far from over.
Career Highlights:
2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Women's Physique Champion: 1st (2020-2021)
2019 IFBB Ms. Olympia Women's Physique: 2nd
You can follow Sarah on Instagram at @iamsarahfit
13) Monique Jones:
Monique Jones is a women's bodybuilder ranked seventh on the IFBB best female bodybuilder list.
Monique has amazing genetics that she slowly groomed since starting weight training at age 13. She won her professional card as a heavyweight in 2010 after winning the IFBB North American Championships.
Monique has an impressive large frame, competing at 220 pounds at 5'8" and sitting around 250 pounds in the off-season.
Career Highlights:
2010 IFBB North American Championships: 1st (Heavyweight and overall)
2012 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro-Am Extravaganza: 1st
2013 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro-Am Extravaganza: 1st
2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Pro Women's Bodybuilding: 1st
She has a large social media following, with her last Instagram account, @fitnique, having nearly 100 thousand followers before being shut down.
You can follow her on her new Instagram page, which is @fitnique2
14) Alina Popa:
Alina Popa is a Romanian-born professional bodybuilder ranked number four by the IFBB Pro Women's Rankings list.
Alina began training at age 19 and entered her first contest in 2000 at 22. She began her pro career at the 2010 Ms. International, which is the only competition she has ever entered in which she did not finish in the top five.
Alina finished second in the Ms. Olympia in both 2013 and 2014 to Iris Kyle, who has the record for most Olympia titles.
Her career highlight was winning the 2018 Rising Phoenix World Championships. She is regarded as the best of the Romanian female competitors in history and remains an inspiration to many to this day.
She is currently the vice president of European operations for Wings of Strength, a company that advocates for female bodybuilding.
Career Highlights:
2x Runner-up IFBB Ms. Olympia Bodybuilding Contest: (2013, 1014)
2018 IFBB Muscle Vodka Tampa Pro: 1st
2018 Rising Phoenix World Championships: 1st
2007 NABBA Miss Universe: 1st (Miss Physique class)
2003 IFBB National Championship: 1st (MW)
Alina is very active across social media, with nearly 100 thousand followers on Instagram, posting a combination of fitness content and everyday life.
Follow her on Instagram at @alinapopa1
15) Helle Trevino:
Helle Trevino is a Danish bodybuilder that is one of the most influential figures in women's bodybuilding. After earning her pro card in 2004 at age 27, she competed in her first Olympia contest before suffering several herniated discs in her back.
After eight years of rehab, Helle overcame the odds and returned to bodybuilding, winning the 2011 FIBO Pro Germany. In 2012 she accomplished her dream of moving to Venice Beach, California, to train at the legendary Gold's Gym.
The thing that brings her the most joy is helping others transform their bodies. She hosts several training seminars, including private mental training focusing on strengthening the mind.
Career Highlights:
2011 IFBB FIBO Power Pro Germany: 1st
2015 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro: 1st
2x IFBB Pro League WOS Rising Phoenix Pro Champion: 1st (2017, 2019)
2019 Tampa Pro: 1st
Follow her on Instagram at @HelleTrevino
16) Deepika Chowdhury:
Deepika Chowdhury is the first-ever female IFBB professional bodybuilder from India.
Despite having an impressive education as a molecular biologist, Deepika broke through barriers to become an inspiration for women from India and across the world.
She takes pride in her body and believes fitness is essential for a healthy mind, character, and spirit.
Career Highlights:
She has a large following on social media, with nearly 100 thousand followers on Instagram. She posts a variety of training videos, gym tips, and posts that highlight her Indian culture.
Follow her on Instagram at @deepikapune_ifbbpro
17) Sheila Bleck:
Sheila Bleck is a retired American bodybuilder ranked number six on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding list.
Shelia first became interested in bodybuilding and weightlifting at a young age after watching Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. By age 16, she was competing in powerlifting before earning her IFBB pro card with a win at the 2008 NPC Nationals.
Career Highlights:
2008 NPC Nationals: 1st
2010 IFBB New York Pro: 2nd
2012 IFBB Tampa Pro: 2nd and Best Poser Award
2014 IFBB Tampa Pro: 1st and Best Poser Award
2x IFBB Tampa Pro Champion: 1st (2016-2017)
She is now the owner of Bleck Discount Nutrition and frequently posts vlog-type videos on her Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @ifbbsheilableck
18) Nataliya Kuznetsova:
Nataliya Kuznetsova is a well-known Russian female bodybuilder that has millions of fans across the globe. Her impressive, muscular physique began with powerlifting at age fourteen.
In addition to being a bodybuilder, Nataliya is also incredibly strong and holds several world records for arm wrestling, deadlift, and bench press. Several sources report her to be the most muscular female in the world, and at 5'7" and 220 pounds, it is believable.
While she has incredible strength and various world records, her bodybuilding career took off with a win at the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest. Her unique combination of strength, power, and pure size is genuinely aspirational.
Career Highlights:
2007, 2008 Baykal Gran Prix bodybuilding champion
2014 World champion and record armlifting in Crimea
2014 World champion and record in the bench press NAP
European champion in bench press and deadlift (WPC), champion of Eurasia in bench press, deadlift (GPA), and armliftin
2015 Champion of the Cup Eastern Europe (GPA), world record in the deadlift, and champion of the Cup Eastern Europe (WAA) for traction and rolling axe
2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Amateur: 1st
With over one million followers on Instagram, Nataliya is one of the most recognized female bodybuilders in the world.
Follow her on Instagram at @Nataliya.amazonka
19) Theresa Ivancik:
Theresa Ivancik is an American female currently ranked number seven on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding list.
Theresa began weightlifting at age 19 when she was on house arrest. She came across an old Joe Weider exercise equipment in her parent's basement and instantly became hooked. After moving from figure to bodybuilding, Theresa eventually won the 2016 NPC Nationals Heavyweight to earn her pro card.
Since then, she has had great success in competitions, winning multiple events. She also works with Wings of Strength, which advocates women's bodybuilding.
Career Highlights:
2016 NPC Nationals: 1st (HW)
2019 IFBB Norfolk Pro: 1st
2020 IFBB Chicago Pro: 1st & best poster award
2022 IFBB Indy Pro: 1st
2022 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 7th
She has amassed quite a following on social media, with an impressive 270 thousand followers on Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @tivancik_ifbbpro
20) Shanique Grant:
Shanique Grant is a female bodybuilder born and raised in Chicago. Sadly, like thousands of children, Shanique suffered from bullying, leading to years of struggling with her identity.
After hard partying led to kidney failure, she reinvented herself and began bodybuilding. At just age 23, Shanique reached the pinnacle by winning the Ms. Olympia Physique title in 2018 and then repeated in 2019.
She finished runner-up in 2020 Ms. Olympia before retiring to focus on her Youtube channel.
Career Highlights:
With her successful Youtube channel, Shanique became an influential figure on social media, where she has over 324 thousand followers on Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @therealfitnessbeauty
FAQs About Female Bodybuilders
In this section, we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding female bodybuilding.
How do female bodybuilders get so lean?
Before contests, female bodybuilders undergo extensive dieting combined with intense cardio sessions to maximize weight loss. Most bodybuilders will also take some kind of fat burner, including banned substances such as ephedrine or anabolic steroids. Most will also use a type of diuretic before going on stage to eliminate as much water as possible to achieve a dry, hard look.
What do female bodybuilders eat?
Female bodybuilders typically follow rigorous diets and count their macronutrients to monitor their caloric intake. Their diets tend to be high protein, low carb, and include healthy fats. High protein low fat foods, whole grain complex carbohydrates, and leafy green vegetables are diet staples. Some foods they may eat include chicken, fish, lentils, eggs, avocado, kale, spinach, nuts, and seeds.
Do female bodybuilders take testosterone?
Yes, many female bodybuilders take testosterone to help muscle recovery and increase muscle size. While there are natural female bodybuilders, there are also many female bodybuilders who take testosterone, as it helps increase strength and muscle size, and redistributes body fat to provide more definition.
Do you want the testosterone benefits while staying natural? Check out 5 Ways Women Can Naturally Increase Testosterone Levels.
Do female bodybuilders take steroids?
Yes, many female bodybuilders take steroids. Steroids are very common in the bodybuilding world, and women are no exception. Many women take oral steroids rather than injections because of the convenience and positive results. Women bodybuilders often use steroids like Anavar and Winstrol to help burn fat and be as ripped as possible before a competition.
How do female bodybuilders get so big?
Female bodybuilders get so big because they are very strict and consistent in their exercise routines and diets. Many have trainers or are certified to maximize their training efficiency to build muscle. Eating a clean, well-balanced protein-rich diet is crucial for building muscle mass. Several female bodybuilders also use supplements, including anabolic steroids, to gain as much muscle as possible.
What are the body types in female bodybuilding?
Female bodybuilding has five different categories in competitions with varying weight classes. The different categories are created for the different body types. The five categories are bikini, figure, physique, bodybuilding, and fitness.
How many hours a day do female bodybuilders work out?
Most female bodybuilders will work out between one and three hours a day, or more in some cases. Usually, they will spend roughly an hour or so weight lifting, plus another hour or so for cardio. As it gets closer to competitions, they will increase their cardio to two hours a day or more to be as lean as possible on stage.
How much do female bodybuilders make?
Determining an average income from female bodybuilding is difficult because it depends on several factors. Female bodybuilders who work full-time as bodybuilders can take home anywhere from $20k to $200k a year, depending on contest winnings, social media deals, and other income. The IFBB Olympia competition is the top contest in the sport, with winners of each division taking $50,000, followed by $20,000 for second and $12,000 for third.
The Future Of Female Bodybuilding
Prior to the 1970s, it was considered taboo to be a muscular girl until a group of brave, powerful women burst onto the stage and created female bodybuilding.
Now, thanks to those who paved the way, all of these women have unbelievably strong and lean bodies that show their dedication to the love of bodybuilding. They are all an inspiration for their courage to challenge social norms and dedication to sculpting their bodies.
With the help of social media, women and men alike follow competitive bodybuilders as a source of inspiration and helpful information. As such, female bodybuilders are more common than ever and will continue to grow and spread worldwide thanks to these women.
Looking for more great female fitness inspiration? Check out our article on the Top 25 Female Fitness Models!
Images courtesy of the featured bodybuilders' Instagram accounts
While people typically associate bodybuilding with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, and other men, there is also a long history of successful female bodybuilders.
Female bodybuilding has rapidly gained popularity in recent years, but the sport has existed for decades. In fact, there is a long history of strong, muscular women who have dominated the sport of bodybuilding.
Female bodybuilders in the 80s were the first to be officially recognized in competitions and helped pave the way for the women bodybuilders of today. In this article, we will highlight the top female bodybuilders of the past and present.
Get ready to be impressed as we go over the top 20 best female bodybuilders, discuss their major contest wins, what makes them so inspirational, and what they're up to today.
20 Best Female Bodybuilders of All Time
While male bodybuilding competitions occurred in the 1920s, women in bodybuilding didn't happen until the late 1970s. During the mid-1900s, it was rare to find muscular women. There was an unfortunate (and incorrect) stigma around athletics and exercise hindering women's ability to be mothers.
Thankfully, the landscape for women bodybuilders changed after 1972 when Congress passed Title IX, which required schools to allow equal opportunity for female athletes. This act opened the door for muscular women to explore different sports, including bodybuilding.
The first-ever woman to win a female building competition was Gina LaSpina from Ohio in 1977. By 1980, the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) and the National Physique Committee (NPC) recognized female bodybuilding competitions, including the first Ms. Olympia in 1980.
Since then, there have been tons of inspirational women to champion the sport. It's those women we're about to highlight. So, without further ado, here are the most influential female bodybuilders from then and now!
1) Rachel McLish:
The 1980s was considered the Golden Age of female bodybuilding, as this was when it started to blossom into what it is today. Rachel McLish, who is from Texas, is perhaps the most famous professional female bodybuilder of the Golden Age era.
McLish began to focus heavily on bodybuilding in the late 1970s while working at a local gym after she graduated college. She cemented herself as a legend and pioneer by being the first female bodybuilder to win the inaugural 1980 United States Championship and the first ever IFBB Ms. Olympia the same year. She had more magazine covers over the next five years than any woman.
Although Rachel only competed for four years, she was more dominant than any other 80s female bodybuilder, never finishing worse than third. She claimed her second IFBB Ms. Olympia in 1982, becoming the first-ever two-time champion. She was inducted into the inaugural IFBB Hall of Fame class in January of 1999 and went on to author two books about weight training that were featured on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Career Highlights:
Rachel McLish is now 68, so she isn't as active on social media as younger female bodybuilders. With her amazingly toned body, outgoing personality, and competitive success, we can assume if social media existed in her days, she would have dominated that too.
You can follow her on Instagram at @RachelMclish
2) Cory Everson:
Corinna "Cory" Everson is often considered the best female bodybuilder in history, and plenty of evidence supports those claims. While Rachel McLish set the bar by winning two of the first three Ms. Olympias, Cory took it to another level and elevated the sport during the Golden Age.
Cory was introduced to bodybuilding after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, by her future ex-husband, Jeff Everson, a competitive bodybuilder himself. Jeff coached Cory, which led to her debut victory at the 1980 Ms. Mid America.
She continued to dominate, winning her first IFBB competition at the 1982 North American Championship, and reached the sport's peak by claiming the 1984 Ms. Olympia title in her debut, a title she never lost.
Cory went on to win Ms. Olympia six years in a row from 1984 to 1989 before retiring on top undefeated. Cory went on to have a successful film career and was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 1999. She became the first woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Arnold Classic.
Career Highlights:
You can follow her on Instagram at @theofficialcoryeverson
3) Lenda Murray:
Just as Cory Everson had her historic run of six straight Ms. Olympia's end, another star was paving her way to be the biggest female bodybuilder in history.
Lenda Murray was a cheerleader and record-holding sprinter during her teenage years in Detroit, Michigan. She discovered bodybuilding in 1984 after a professional suggested she compete due to her naturally muscular frame. She gained national attention by winning her first of six straight Ms. Olympia titles from 1990 to 1995.
Lenda briefly retired in 1997 after losing two consecutive Ms. Olympias to Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls before returning in 2002. She claimed two more Ms. Olympias in 2002 and 2003 before finishing runner-up in 2004 to end her career with eight titles.
Considered the second most successful female bodybuilder in history, she was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2010. Lenda remains connected to the sport by continuing to promote events today.
Career Highlights:
Follow her on Instagram at @themsolympia
4) Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls:
Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls is regarded as one of the best American female bodybuilders ever. She started bodybuilding in 1988 after starting to date her future husband and bodybuilder, Chad Nicholls.
She earned her pro card in 1992 after winning the IFBB North American Championship and began a long, successful career. After winning the Ms. International, Kim defeated Lenda Murray at the 1996 Ms. Olympia, ending her six-year run on top.
She became the first woman to win both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia in the same year in 1996 and went on to win four consecutive Ms. Olympia titles before retiring in 1999. In 2008, she was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame, recognized as one of the most muscular female bodybuilders in history.
Career Highlights:
Follow her on Instagram at @mzolympia
5) Iris Kyle:
All of the amazingly strong and ripped women of the 80s and 90s paved the way for Iris Kyle, the most successful female bodybuilder in history.
Iris Kyle, nicknamed "The Female Ronnie Coleman," began her professional competitive bodybuilding career at 22 in 1999 after years of dominating amateur competitions. In 2001, she won the heavyweight title at Ms. Olympia but came in second in the overall competition. Her first Ms. International title came in 2004, which opened the floodgates.
She then went on to win Ms. Olympia in 2004, narrowly lost in 2005, then won the next nine years in a row from 2006-2014. Kyle finished her career in 2022 with a record ten overall Ms. Olympia wins, the most of any male or female. She also has a record seven overall Ms. International wins. Her massive, symmetrical physique inspired an entire generation of young women bodybuilders.
Iris has been very open about her use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout her career, which she began using after coming in 2nd at the 1994 NPC Iron Maiden Championship. She stresses that steroids alone are not responsible for success, as hard work and genetics are more important.
Career Highlights:
Follow her on Instagram at @IrisKyle
6) Andrea Shaw:
The dominance and impressive physique of Iris Kyle inspired countless women worldwide to take their bodies to the next level, including Andrea Shaw.
Andrea began training at 17 with the help of her mom, a former personal trainer, and started competing in the physique category, in which competitors performed a choreographed routine to music. Despite her early success in physique, which included a win at the 2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic, Shaw decided to switch classes after advice from a legend.
Hall of Famer and legend Lenda Murray was working as a judge at the 2019 Toronto Pro when she encouraged Andrea to change classes to the bodybuilding division.
This move paid off, as Andrea went on to win two of the most prestigious titles in the 2020 Ms. Olympia and Ms. Rising Phoenix Champion. Since then, she has continued to rise in popularity and rankings, repeating as Ms. Olympia in 2021 and 2022.
Career Highlights:
She is extremely popular on social media, with over 113 thousand followers on Instagram, where she shares a mix of training tips and everyday life activities.
Follow her on Instagram at @mzprettymuscle
7) Melina Keltaniemi:
At only 25 years old, Melina Keltaniemi represents the present and future of women's bodybuilding.
Melina is a bikini fitness model from Finland that has experienced immediate success with a win at the 2018 IFBB Elite Pro World Championship. She followed that up by winning the 2019 Nordic Elite Pro and repeated it at IFBB 2019 Elite Pro World Championships.
Between her early success and shredded body, it's no wonder she has a large following on social media. We look forward to a long and successful career in bikini fitness for Melina.
Career Highlights:
Follow her on Instagram at @melinakatarina
8) Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia:
Yaxeni Oriquen is a legend in women's bodybuilding and is ranked second best only to Iris Kyle on the IFBB best female ranking list.
Born in Venezuela, Yaxeni is an even bigger inspiration worldwide for her success after moving to the United States to pursue bodybuilding. She broke through with a win at the 2005 Ms. Olympia, becoming the first and only Venezuelan-American winner.
She also won the Ms. International competition five times, cementing herself as a legend. With over 20 years of experience, Yaxeni now owns a gym in Miami where she trains clients herself.
Career Highlights:
She has nearly 50 thousand followers on Instagram, regularly sharing gym videos and exercise tips.
Follow her on Instagram at @yaxenita
9) Debi Laszewski:
Debi Laszewski is a legend in women's bodybuilding and ranks number three on the IFBB's best female ranking list.
Debi, a track-and-field athlete from Wisconsin, became interested in bodybuilding after seeing Linda Hamilton's character of Sarah Connor in The Terminator. She had an impressive career, finishing in the top three of the Ms. Olympia five times from 2009 to 2014, with her career-best runner-up finish to Iris Kyle in 2012.
She is now a personal trainer in Jupiter, Florida, where she trains several champion bodybuilders.
Career Highlights:
You can follow her on Instagram at @debilaszewski
10) Andrulla Blanchette:
Andrulla Blanchette, a female bodybuilder from London, England, paved the way for British female bodybuilders. Andrulla competed from 1986 to 2002, compiling an impressive resume that has made her the world's most successful British female bodybuilder.
Her career highlight came in 2000 when she won Ms. Olympia Lightweight Champion, which she narrowly lost the following year. While she is not very active on social media and has private accounts, she currently spends most of her time at her gym, where she helps train girls of all ages.
Career Highlights:
11) Elisa Pecini:
Elisa Pecini is a young Brazilian bodybuilder with one of the most successful careers in the bikini competition.
Elisa is an inspiration to people struggling with eating disorders, as she openly discusses overcoming anorexia nervosa. A hospitalization led her to change her lifestyle, and she earned her professional card at age 19.
Elisa dominated the bikini division and won several major competitions. She reached the pinnacle of the sport by winning first place in the 2019 Ms. Olympia Bikini.
Career Highlights:
Elisa is constantly spreading positivity across social media and works endlessly to help others conquer their own eating disorders. She has over 600 thousand followers on Instagram and shares various wholesome content.
You can follow her on Instagram at @isapecini
12) Sarah Villegas:
Sarah Villegas is a current IFBB professional that competes in women's physique. Sarah has risen in popularity over the last few years as her career has blossomed.
She attained the sport's peak by winning Ms. Olympia Women's Physique in 2020, one year after finishing runner-up. She is also a personal trainer and certified sports nutritionist, working hard to help others achieve their fitness goals, along with an entire team working for her at ASF Premier Fitness.
Her success, both on stage and in her professional life, is extremely impressive and motivating. She is an inspiration to many, and her competitive career is far from over.
Career Highlights:
You can follow Sarah on Instagram at @iamsarahfit
13) Monique Jones:
Monique Jones is a women's bodybuilder ranked seventh on the IFBB best female bodybuilder list.
Monique has amazing genetics that she slowly groomed since starting weight training at age 13. She won her professional card as a heavyweight in 2010 after winning the IFBB North American Championships.
Monique has an impressive large frame, competing at 220 pounds at 5'8" and sitting around 250 pounds in the off-season.
Career Highlights:
She has a large social media following, with her last Instagram account, @fitnique, having nearly 100 thousand followers before being shut down.
You can follow her on her new Instagram page, which is @fitnique2
14) Alina Popa:
Alina Popa is a Romanian-born professional bodybuilder ranked number four by the IFBB Pro Women's Rankings list.
Alina began training at age 19 and entered her first contest in 2000 at 22. She began her pro career at the 2010 Ms. International, which is the only competition she has ever entered in which she did not finish in the top five.
Alina finished second in the Ms. Olympia in both 2013 and 2014 to Iris Kyle, who has the record for most Olympia titles.
Her career highlight was winning the 2018 Rising Phoenix World Championships. She is regarded as the best of the Romanian female competitors in history and remains an inspiration to many to this day.
She is currently the vice president of European operations for Wings of Strength, a company that advocates for female bodybuilding.
Career Highlights:
Alina is very active across social media, with nearly 100 thousand followers on Instagram, posting a combination of fitness content and everyday life.
Follow her on Instagram at @alinapopa1
15) Helle Trevino:
Helle Trevino is a Danish bodybuilder that is one of the most influential figures in women's bodybuilding. After earning her pro card in 2004 at age 27, she competed in her first Olympia contest before suffering several herniated discs in her back.
After eight years of rehab, Helle overcame the odds and returned to bodybuilding, winning the 2011 FIBO Pro Germany. In 2012 she accomplished her dream of moving to Venice Beach, California, to train at the legendary Gold's Gym.
The thing that brings her the most joy is helping others transform their bodies. She hosts several training seminars, including private mental training focusing on strengthening the mind.
Career Highlights:
Follow her on Instagram at @HelleTrevino
16) Deepika Chowdhury:
Deepika Chowdhury is the first-ever female IFBB professional bodybuilder from India.
Despite having an impressive education as a molecular biologist, Deepika broke through barriers to become an inspiration for women from India and across the world.
She takes pride in her body and believes fitness is essential for a healthy mind, character, and spirit.
Career Highlights:
She has a large following on social media, with nearly 100 thousand followers on Instagram. She posts a variety of training videos, gym tips, and posts that highlight her Indian culture.
Follow her on Instagram at @deepikapune_ifbbpro
17) Sheila Bleck:
Sheila Bleck is a retired American bodybuilder ranked number six on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding list.
Shelia first became interested in bodybuilding and weightlifting at a young age after watching Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. By age 16, she was competing in powerlifting before earning her IFBB pro card with a win at the 2008 NPC Nationals.
Career Highlights:
She is now the owner of Bleck Discount Nutrition and frequently posts vlog-type videos on her Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @ifbbsheilableck
18) Nataliya Kuznetsova:
Nataliya Kuznetsova is a well-known Russian female bodybuilder that has millions of fans across the globe. Her impressive, muscular physique began with powerlifting at age fourteen.
In addition to being a bodybuilder, Nataliya is also incredibly strong and holds several world records for arm wrestling, deadlift, and bench press. Several sources report her to be the most muscular female in the world, and at 5'7" and 220 pounds, it is believable.
While she has incredible strength and various world records, her bodybuilding career took off with a win at the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest. Her unique combination of strength, power, and pure size is genuinely aspirational.
Career Highlights:
With over one million followers on Instagram, Nataliya is one of the most recognized female bodybuilders in the world.
Follow her on Instagram at @Nataliya.amazonka
19) Theresa Ivancik:
Theresa Ivancik is an American female currently ranked number seven on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding list.
Theresa began weightlifting at age 19 when she was on house arrest. She came across an old Joe Weider exercise equipment in her parent's basement and instantly became hooked. After moving from figure to bodybuilding, Theresa eventually won the 2016 NPC Nationals Heavyweight to earn her pro card.
Since then, she has had great success in competitions, winning multiple events. She also works with Wings of Strength, which advocates women's bodybuilding.
Career Highlights:
She has amassed quite a following on social media, with an impressive 270 thousand followers on Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @tivancik_ifbbpro
20) Shanique Grant:
Shanique Grant is a female bodybuilder born and raised in Chicago. Sadly, like thousands of children, Shanique suffered from bullying, leading to years of struggling with her identity.
After hard partying led to kidney failure, she reinvented herself and began bodybuilding. At just age 23, Shanique reached the pinnacle by winning the Ms. Olympia Physique title in 2018 and then repeated in 2019.
She finished runner-up in 2020 Ms. Olympia before retiring to focus on her Youtube channel.
Career Highlights:
With her successful Youtube channel, Shanique became an influential figure on social media, where she has over 324 thousand followers on Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @therealfitnessbeauty
FAQs About Female Bodybuilders
In this section, we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding female bodybuilding.
How do female bodybuilders get so lean?
Before contests, female bodybuilders undergo extensive dieting combined with intense cardio sessions to maximize weight loss. Most bodybuilders will also take some kind of fat burner, including banned substances such as ephedrine or anabolic steroids. Most will also use a type of diuretic before going on stage to eliminate as much water as possible to achieve a dry, hard look.
What do female bodybuilders eat?
Female bodybuilders typically follow rigorous diets and count their macronutrients to monitor their caloric intake. Their diets tend to be high protein, low carb, and include healthy fats. High protein low fat foods, whole grain complex carbohydrates, and leafy green vegetables are diet staples. Some foods they may eat include chicken, fish, lentils, eggs, avocado, kale, spinach, nuts, and seeds.
Do female bodybuilders take testosterone?
Yes, many female bodybuilders take testosterone to help muscle recovery and increase muscle size. While there are natural female bodybuilders, there are also many female bodybuilders who take testosterone, as it helps increase strength and muscle size, and redistributes body fat to provide more definition.
Do you want the testosterone benefits while staying natural? Check out 5 Ways Women Can Naturally Increase Testosterone Levels.
Do female bodybuilders take steroids?
Yes, many female bodybuilders take steroids. Steroids are very common in the bodybuilding world, and women are no exception. Many women take oral steroids rather than injections because of the convenience and positive results. Women bodybuilders often use steroids like Anavar and Winstrol to help burn fat and be as ripped as possible before a competition.
How do female bodybuilders get so big?
Female bodybuilders get so big because they are very strict and consistent in their exercise routines and diets. Many have trainers or are certified to maximize their training efficiency to build muscle. Eating a clean, well-balanced protein-rich diet is crucial for building muscle mass. Several female bodybuilders also use supplements, including anabolic steroids, to gain as much muscle as possible.
What are the body types in female bodybuilding?
Female bodybuilding has five different categories in competitions with varying weight classes. The different categories are created for the different body types. The five categories are bikini, figure, physique, bodybuilding, and fitness.
How many hours a day do female bodybuilders work out?
Most female bodybuilders will work out between one and three hours a day, or more in some cases. Usually, they will spend roughly an hour or so weight lifting, plus another hour or so for cardio. As it gets closer to competitions, they will increase their cardio to two hours a day or more to be as lean as possible on stage.
How much do female bodybuilders make?
Determining an average income from female bodybuilding is difficult because it depends on several factors. Female bodybuilders who work full-time as bodybuilders can take home anywhere from $20k to $200k a year, depending on contest winnings, social media deals, and other income. The IFBB Olympia competition is the top contest in the sport, with winners of each division taking $50,000, followed by $20,000 for second and $12,000 for third.
The Future Of Female Bodybuilding
Prior to the 1970s, it was considered taboo to be a muscular girl until a group of brave, powerful women burst onto the stage and created female bodybuilding.
Now, thanks to those who paved the way, all of these women have unbelievably strong and lean bodies that show their dedication to the love of bodybuilding. They are all an inspiration for their courage to challenge social norms and dedication to sculpting their bodies.
With the help of social media, women and men alike follow competitive bodybuilders as a source of inspiration and helpful information. As such, female bodybuilders are more common than ever and will continue to grow and spread worldwide thanks to these women.
Looking for more great female fitness inspiration? Check out our article on the Top 25 Female Fitness Models!
Images courtesy of the featured bodybuilders' Instagram accounts
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Female bodybuilding has rapidly gained popularity in recent years, but the sport has existed for decades. In fact, there is a long history of strong, muscular women who have dominated the sport of bodybuilding.
Female bodybuilders in the 80s were the first to be officially recognized in competitions and helped pave the way for the women bodybuilders of today. In this article, we will highlight the top female bodybuilders of the past and present.
Get ready to be impressed as we go over the top 20 best female bodybuilders, discuss their major contest wins, what makes them so inspirational, and what they're up to today.
20 Best Female Bodybuilders of All Time
While male bodybuilding competitions occurred in the 1920s, women in bodybuilding didn't happen until the late 1970s. During the mid-1900s, it was rare to find muscular women. There was an unfortunate (and incorrect) stigma around athletics and exercise hindering women's ability to be mothers.
Thankfully, the landscape for women bodybuilders changed after 1972 when Congress passed Title IX, which required schools to allow equal opportunity for female athletes. This act opened the door for muscular women to explore different sports, including bodybuilding.
The first-ever woman to win a female building competition was Gina LaSpina from Ohio in 1977. By 1980, the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) and the National Physique Committee (NPC) recognized female bodybuilding competitions, including the first Ms. Olympia in 1980.
Since then, there have been tons of inspirational women to champion the sport. It's those women we're about to highlight. So, without further ado, here are the most influential female bodybuilders from then and now!
1) Rachel McLish:
The 1980s was considered the Golden Age of female bodybuilding, as this was when it started to blossom into what it is today. Rachel McLish, who is from Texas, is perhaps the most famous professional female bodybuilder of the Golden Age era.
McLish began to focus heavily on bodybuilding in the late 1970s while working at a local gym after she graduated college. She cemented herself as a legend and pioneer by being the first female bodybuilder to win the inaugural 1980 United States Championship and the first ever IFBB Ms. Olympia the same year. She had more magazine covers over the next five years than any woman.
Although Rachel only competed for four years, she was more dominant than any other 80s female bodybuilder, never finishing worse than third. She claimed her second IFBB Ms. Olympia in 1982, becoming the first-ever two-time champion. She was inducted into the inaugural IFBB Hall of Fame class in January of 1999 and went on to author two books about weight training that were featured on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Career Highlights:
1980 US Bodybuilding Championship: 1st
2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1980, 1982)
1981 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
1982 Pro World Championship: 1st
1984 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
Rachel McLish is now 68, so she isn't as active on social media as younger female bodybuilders. With her amazingly toned body, outgoing personality, and competitive success, we can assume if social media existed in her days, she would have dominated that too.
You can follow her on Instagram at @RachelMclish
2) Cory Everson:
Corinna "Cory" Everson is often considered the best female bodybuilder in history, and plenty of evidence supports those claims. While Rachel McLish set the bar by winning two of the first three Ms. Olympias, Cory took it to another level and elevated the sport during the Golden Age.
Cory was introduced to bodybuilding after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, by her future ex-husband, Jeff Everson, a competitive bodybuilder himself. Jeff coached Cory, which led to her debut victory at the 1980 Ms. Mid America.
She continued to dominate, winning her first IFBB competition at the 1982 North American Championship, and reached the sport's peak by claiming the 1984 Ms. Olympia title in her debut, a title she never lost.
Cory went on to win Ms. Olympia six years in a row from 1984 to 1989 before retiring on top undefeated. Cory went on to have a successful film career and was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 1999. She became the first woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Arnold Classic.
Career Highlights:
6x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1984-1989)
1980 Ms. Mid America: 1st
1982 IFBB North American Championship: 1st
1983 Bodybuilding Expo IV: 1st (MW and overall)
1984 American Women's Championships: 1st (HW and overall)
1984 NPC Nationals: 1st (HW and overall)
You can follow her on Instagram at @theofficialcoryeverson
3) Lenda Murray:
Just as Cory Everson had her historic run of six straight Ms. Olympia's end, another star was paving her way to be the biggest female bodybuilder in history.
Lenda Murray was a cheerleader and record-holding sprinter during her teenage years in Detroit, Michigan. She discovered bodybuilding in 1984 after a professional suggested she compete due to her naturally muscular frame. She gained national attention by winning her first of six straight Ms. Olympia titles from 1990 to 1995.
Lenda briefly retired in 1997 after losing two consecutive Ms. Olympias to Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls before returning in 2002. She claimed two more Ms. Olympias in 2002 and 2003 before finishing runner-up in 2004 to end her career with eight titles.
Considered the second most successful female bodybuilder in history, she was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2010. Lenda remains connected to the sport by continuing to promote events today.
Career Highlights:
8x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1990-1995, 2002-2003)
3x Ms. Olympia Runner-Up: 2nd (1996-1997, 2004)
1989 IFBB North American Championships: 1st
1989 NPC Junior Nationals: 1st (HW and overall)
1988 NPC Michigan: 1st
Follow her on Instagram at @themsolympia
4) Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls:
Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls is regarded as one of the best American female bodybuilders ever. She started bodybuilding in 1988 after starting to date her future husband and bodybuilder, Chad Nicholls.
She earned her pro card in 1992 after winning the IFBB North American Championship and began a long, successful career. After winning the Ms. International, Kim defeated Lenda Murray at the 1996 Ms. Olympia, ending her six-year run on top.
She became the first woman to win both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia in the same year in 1996 and went on to win four consecutive Ms. Olympia titles before retiring in 1999. In 2008, she was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame, recognized as one of the most muscular female bodybuilders in history.
Career Highlights:
4x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1996-1999)
1992 IFBB North American Championships: 1st
2x Ms. International Champion: 1st (1993, 1996)
Follow her on Instagram at @mzolympia
5) Iris Kyle:
All of the amazingly strong and ripped women of the 80s and 90s paved the way for Iris Kyle, the most successful female bodybuilder in history.
Iris Kyle, nicknamed "The Female Ronnie Coleman," began her professional competitive bodybuilding career at 22 in 1999 after years of dominating amateur competitions. In 2001, she won the heavyweight title at Ms. Olympia but came in second in the overall competition. Her first Ms. International title came in 2004, which opened the floodgates.
She then went on to win Ms. Olympia in 2004, narrowly lost in 2005, then won the next nine years in a row from 2006-2014. Kyle finished her career in 2022 with a record ten overall Ms. Olympia wins, the most of any male or female. She also has a record seven overall Ms. International wins. Her massive, symmetrical physique inspired an entire generation of young women bodybuilders.
Iris has been very open about her use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout her career, which she began using after coming in 2nd at the 1994 NPC Iron Maiden Championship. She stresses that steroids alone are not responsible for success, as hard work and genetics are more important.
Career Highlights:
10x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (2004, 2006-2014)
7x Ms. International Champion: 1st (2004, 2006-2007, 2009-2011, 2013)
Follow her on Instagram at @IrisKyle
6) Andrea Shaw:
The dominance and impressive physique of Iris Kyle inspired countless women worldwide to take their bodies to the next level, including Andrea Shaw.
Andrea began training at 17 with the help of her mom, a former personal trainer, and started competing in the physique category, in which competitors performed a choreographed routine to music. Despite her early success in physique, which included a win at the 2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic, Shaw decided to switch classes after advice from a legend.
Hall of Famer and legend Lenda Murray was working as a judge at the 2019 Toronto Pro when she encouraged Andrea to change classes to the bodybuilding division.
This move paid off, as Andrea went on to win two of the most prestigious titles in the 2020 Ms. Olympia and Ms. Rising Phoenix Champion. Since then, she has continued to rise in popularity and rankings, repeating as Ms. Olympia in 2021 and 2022.
Career Highlights:
3x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (2020-2022)
3x Rising Phoenix Women's World Championships: 1st (2020-2020)
2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic: 1st
She is extremely popular on social media, with over 113 thousand followers on Instagram, where she shares a mix of training tips and everyday life activities.
Follow her on Instagram at @mzprettymuscle
7) Melina Keltaniemi:
At only 25 years old, Melina Keltaniemi represents the present and future of women's bodybuilding.
Melina is a bikini fitness model from Finland that has experienced immediate success with a win at the 2018 IFBB Elite Pro World Championship. She followed that up by winning the 2019 Nordic Elite Pro and repeated it at IFBB 2019 Elite Pro World Championships.
Between her early success and shredded body, it's no wonder she has a large following on social media. We look forward to a long and successful career in bikini fitness for Melina.
Career Highlights:
Follow her on Instagram at @melinakatarina
8) Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia:
Yaxeni Oriquen is a legend in women's bodybuilding and is ranked second best only to Iris Kyle on the IFBB best female ranking list.
Born in Venezuela, Yaxeni is an even bigger inspiration worldwide for her success after moving to the United States to pursue bodybuilding. She broke through with a win at the 2005 Ms. Olympia, becoming the first and only Venezuelan-American winner.
She also won the Ms. International competition five times, cementing herself as a legend. With over 20 years of experience, Yaxeni now owns a gym in Miami where she trains clients herself.
Career Highlights:
2005 IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st
5x Ms. International Champion: 1st (2002-2003, 2005, 2008, 2012)
She has nearly 50 thousand followers on Instagram, regularly sharing gym videos and exercise tips.
Follow her on Instagram at @yaxenita
9) Debi Laszewski:
Debi Laszewski is a legend in women's bodybuilding and ranks number three on the IFBB's best female ranking list.
Debi, a track-and-field athlete from Wisconsin, became interested in bodybuilding after seeing Linda Hamilton's character of Sarah Connor in The Terminator. She had an impressive career, finishing in the top three of the Ms. Olympia five times from 2009 to 2014, with her career-best runner-up finish to Iris Kyle in 2012.
She is now a personal trainer in Jupiter, Florida, where she trains several champion bodybuilders.
Career Highlights:
2012 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
2005 NPC Nationals: 2nd (light heavyweight)
2006 NPC Nationals: 1st (light heavyweight)
1994 Wisconsin Natural Bodybuilding Championships: 1st (class winner)
1996 Madison Championships: 1st (overall)
1996 Wisconsin National Qualifier: 1st (overall)
You can follow her on Instagram at @debilaszewski
10) Andrulla Blanchette:
Andrulla Blanchette, a female bodybuilder from London, England, paved the way for British female bodybuilders. Andrulla competed from 1986 to 2002, compiling an impressive resume that has made her the world's most successful British female bodybuilder.
Her career highlight came in 2000 when she won Ms. Olympia Lightweight Champion, which she narrowly lost the following year. While she is not very active on social media and has private accounts, she currently spends most of her time at her gym, where she helps train girls of all ages.
Career Highlights:
2000 IFBB Ms. Olympia Lightweight Champion: 1st
2000 IFBB Ms. International: 2nd (LW)
2001 IFBB Ms. Olympia Lightweight: 2nd
1993 IFBB World Games: 1st
11) Elisa Pecini:
Elisa Pecini is a young Brazilian bodybuilder with one of the most successful careers in the bikini competition.
Elisa is an inspiration to people struggling with eating disorders, as she openly discusses overcoming anorexia nervosa. A hospitalization led her to change her lifestyle, and she earned her professional card at age 19.
Elisa dominated the bikini division and won several major competitions. She reached the pinnacle of the sport by winning first place in the 2019 Ms. Olympia Bikini.
Career Highlights:
2019 IFBB Ms. Olympia Bikini Champion: 1st
2021 IFBB Tampa Pro: 1st
2020 Arnold Sports Festival: 1st
2018 MuscleContest Nacional Pro Bikini: 1st
2018 Pittsburgh Pro Bikini: 1st
2018 MuscleContest Brazil Pro Bikini: 1st
Elisa is constantly spreading positivity across social media and works endlessly to help others conquer their own eating disorders. She has over 600 thousand followers on Instagram and shares various wholesome content.
You can follow her on Instagram at @isapecini
12) Sarah Villegas:
Sarah Villegas is a current IFBB professional that competes in women's physique. Sarah has risen in popularity over the last few years as her career has blossomed.
She attained the sport's peak by winning Ms. Olympia Women's Physique in 2020, one year after finishing runner-up. She is also a personal trainer and certified sports nutritionist, working hard to help others achieve their fitness goals, along with an entire team working for her at ASF Premier Fitness.
Her success, both on stage and in her professional life, is extremely impressive and motivating. She is an inspiration to many, and her competitive career is far from over.
Career Highlights:
2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Women's Physique Champion: 1st (2020-2021)
2019 IFBB Ms. Olympia Women's Physique: 2nd
You can follow Sarah on Instagram at @iamsarahfit
13) Monique Jones:
Monique Jones is a women's bodybuilder ranked seventh on the IFBB best female bodybuilder list.
Monique has amazing genetics that she slowly groomed since starting weight training at age 13. She won her professional card as a heavyweight in 2010 after winning the IFBB North American Championships.
Monique has an impressive large frame, competing at 220 pounds at 5'8" and sitting around 250 pounds in the off-season.
Career Highlights:
2010 IFBB North American Championships: 1st (Heavyweight and overall)
2012 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro-Am Extravaganza: 1st
2013 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro-Am Extravaganza: 1st
2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Pro Women's Bodybuilding: 1st
She has a large social media following, with her last Instagram account, @fitnique, having nearly 100 thousand followers before being shut down.
You can follow her on her new Instagram page, which is @fitnique2
14) Alina Popa:
Alina Popa is a Romanian-born professional bodybuilder ranked number four by the IFBB Pro Women's Rankings list.
Alina began training at age 19 and entered her first contest in 2000 at 22. She began her pro career at the 2010 Ms. International, which is the only competition she has ever entered in which she did not finish in the top five.
Alina finished second in the Ms. Olympia in both 2013 and 2014 to Iris Kyle, who has the record for most Olympia titles.
Her career highlight was winning the 2018 Rising Phoenix World Championships. She is regarded as the best of the Romanian female competitors in history and remains an inspiration to many to this day.
She is currently the vice president of European operations for Wings of Strength, a company that advocates for female bodybuilding.
Career Highlights:
2x Runner-up IFBB Ms. Olympia Bodybuilding Contest: (2013, 1014)
2018 IFBB Muscle Vodka Tampa Pro: 1st
2018 Rising Phoenix World Championships: 1st
2007 NABBA Miss Universe: 1st (Miss Physique class)
2003 IFBB National Championship: 1st (MW)
Alina is very active across social media, with nearly 100 thousand followers on Instagram, posting a combination of fitness content and everyday life.
Follow her on Instagram at @alinapopa1
15) Helle Trevino:
Helle Trevino is a Danish bodybuilder that is one of the most influential figures in women's bodybuilding. After earning her pro card in 2004 at age 27, she competed in her first Olympia contest before suffering several herniated discs in her back.
After eight years of rehab, Helle overcame the odds and returned to bodybuilding, winning the 2011 FIBO Pro Germany. In 2012 she accomplished her dream of moving to Venice Beach, California, to train at the legendary Gold's Gym.
The thing that brings her the most joy is helping others transform their bodies. She hosts several training seminars, including private mental training focusing on strengthening the mind.
Career Highlights:
2011 IFBB FIBO Power Pro Germany: 1st
2015 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro: 1st
2x IFBB Pro League WOS Rising Phoenix Pro Champion: 1st (2017, 2019)
2019 Tampa Pro: 1st
Follow her on Instagram at @HelleTrevino
16) Deepika Chowdhury:
Deepika Chowdhury is the first-ever female IFBB professional bodybuilder from India.
Despite having an impressive education as a molecular biologist, Deepika broke through barriers to become an inspiration for women from India and across the world.
She takes pride in her body and believes fitness is essential for a healthy mind, character, and spirit.
Career Highlights:
She has a large following on social media, with nearly 100 thousand followers on Instagram. She posts a variety of training videos, gym tips, and posts that highlight her Indian culture.
Follow her on Instagram at @deepikapune_ifbbpro
17) Sheila Bleck:
Sheila Bleck is a retired American bodybuilder ranked number six on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding list.
Shelia first became interested in bodybuilding and weightlifting at a young age after watching Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. By age 16, she was competing in powerlifting before earning her IFBB pro card with a win at the 2008 NPC Nationals.
Career Highlights:
2008 NPC Nationals: 1st
2010 IFBB New York Pro: 2nd
2012 IFBB Tampa Pro: 2nd and Best Poser Award
2014 IFBB Tampa Pro: 1st and Best Poser Award
2x IFBB Tampa Pro Champion: 1st (2016-2017)
She is now the owner of Bleck Discount Nutrition and frequently posts vlog-type videos on her Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @ifbbsheilableck
18) Nataliya Kuznetsova:
Nataliya Kuznetsova is a well-known Russian female bodybuilder that has millions of fans across the globe. Her impressive, muscular physique began with powerlifting at age fourteen.
In addition to being a bodybuilder, Nataliya is also incredibly strong and holds several world records for arm wrestling, deadlift, and bench press. Several sources report her to be the most muscular female in the world, and at 5'7" and 220 pounds, it is believable.
While she has incredible strength and various world records, her bodybuilding career took off with a win at the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest. Her unique combination of strength, power, and pure size is genuinely aspirational.
Career Highlights:
2007, 2008 Baykal Gran Prix bodybuilding champion
2014 World champion and record armlifting in Crimea
2014 World champion and record in the bench press NAP
European champion in bench press and deadlift (WPC), champion of Eurasia in bench press, deadlift (GPA), and armliftin
2015 Champion of the Cup Eastern Europe (GPA), world record in the deadlift, and champion of the Cup Eastern Europe (WAA) for traction and rolling axe
2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Amateur: 1st
With over one million followers on Instagram, Nataliya is one of the most recognized female bodybuilders in the world.
Follow her on Instagram at @Nataliya.amazonka
19) Theresa Ivancik:
Theresa Ivancik is an American female currently ranked number seven on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding list.
Theresa began weightlifting at age 19 when she was on house arrest. She came across an old Joe Weider exercise equipment in her parent's basement and instantly became hooked. After moving from figure to bodybuilding, Theresa eventually won the 2016 NPC Nationals Heavyweight to earn her pro card.
Since then, she has had great success in competitions, winning multiple events. She also works with Wings of Strength, which advocates women's bodybuilding.
Career Highlights:
2016 NPC Nationals: 1st (HW)
2019 IFBB Norfolk Pro: 1st
2020 IFBB Chicago Pro: 1st & best poster award
2022 IFBB Indy Pro: 1st
2022 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 7th
She has amassed quite a following on social media, with an impressive 270 thousand followers on Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @tivancik_ifbbpro
20) Shanique Grant:
Shanique Grant is a female bodybuilder born and raised in Chicago. Sadly, like thousands of children, Shanique suffered from bullying, leading to years of struggling with her identity.
After hard partying led to kidney failure, she reinvented herself and began bodybuilding. At just age 23, Shanique reached the pinnacle by winning the Ms. Olympia Physique title in 2018 and then repeated in 2019.
She finished runner-up in 2020 Ms. Olympia before retiring to focus on her Youtube channel.
Career Highlights:
With her successful Youtube channel, Shanique became an influential figure on social media, where she has over 324 thousand followers on Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @therealfitnessbeauty
FAQs About Female Bodybuilders
In this section, we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding female bodybuilding.
How do female bodybuilders get so lean?
Before contests, female bodybuilders undergo extensive dieting combined with intense cardio sessions to maximize weight loss. Most bodybuilders will also take some kind of fat burner, including banned substances such as ephedrine or anabolic steroids. Most will also use a type of diuretic before going on stage to eliminate as much water as possible to achieve a dry, hard look.
What do female bodybuilders eat?
Female bodybuilders typically follow rigorous diets and count their macronutrients to monitor their caloric intake. Their diets tend to be high protein, low carb, and include healthy fats. High protein low fat foods, whole grain complex carbohydrates, and leafy green vegetables are diet staples. Some foods they may eat include chicken, fish, lentils, eggs, avocado, kale, spinach, nuts, and seeds.
Do female bodybuilders take testosterone?
Yes, many female bodybuilders take testosterone to help muscle recovery and increase muscle size. While there are natural female bodybuilders, there are also many female bodybuilders who take testosterone, as it helps increase strength and muscle size, and redistributes body fat to provide more definition.
Do you want the testosterone benefits while staying natural? Check out 5 Ways Women Can Naturally Increase Testosterone Levels.
Do female bodybuilders take steroids?
Yes, many female bodybuilders take steroids. Steroids are very common in the bodybuilding world, and women are no exception. Many women take oral steroids rather than injections because of the convenience and positive results. Women bodybuilders often use steroids like Anavar and Winstrol to help burn fat and be as ripped as possible before a competition.
How do female bodybuilders get so big?
Female bodybuilders get so big because they are very strict and consistent in their exercise routines and diets. Many have trainers or are certified to maximize their training efficiency to build muscle. Eating a clean, well-balanced protein-rich diet is crucial for building muscle mass. Several female bodybuilders also use supplements, including anabolic steroids, to gain as much muscle as possible.
What are the body types in female bodybuilding?
Female bodybuilding has five different categories in competitions with varying weight classes. The different categories are created for the different body types. The five categories are bikini, figure, physique, bodybuilding, and fitness.
How many hours a day do female bodybuilders work out?
Most female bodybuilders will work out between one and three hours a day, or more in some cases. Usually, they will spend roughly an hour or so weight lifting, plus another hour or so for cardio. As it gets closer to competitions, they will increase their cardio to two hours a day or more to be as lean as possible on stage.
How much do female bodybuilders make?
Determining an average income from female bodybuilding is difficult because it depends on several factors. Female bodybuilders who work full-time as bodybuilders can take home anywhere from $20k to $200k a year, depending on contest winnings, social media deals, and other income. The IFBB Olympia competition is the top contest in the sport, with winners of each division taking $50,000, followed by $20,000 for second and $12,000 for third.
The Future Of Female Bodybuilding
Prior to the 1970s, it was considered taboo to be a muscular girl until a group of brave, powerful women burst onto the stage and created female bodybuilding.
Now, thanks to those who paved the way, all of these women have unbelievably strong and lean bodies that show their dedication to the love of bodybuilding. They are all an inspiration for their courage to challenge social norms and dedication to sculpting their bodies.
With the help of social media, women and men alike follow competitive bodybuilders as a source of inspiration and helpful information. As such, female bodybuilders are more common than ever and will continue to grow and spread worldwide thanks to these women.
Looking for more great female fitness inspiration? Check out our article on the Top 25 Female Fitness Models!
Images courtesy of the featured bodybuilders' Instagram accounts
While people typically associate bodybuilding with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, and other men, there is also a long history of successful female bodybuilders.
Female bodybuilding has rapidly gained popularity in recent years, but the sport has existed for decades. In fact, there is a long history of strong, muscular women who have dominated the sport of bodybuilding.
Female bodybuilders in the 80s were the first to be officially recognized in competitions and helped pave the way for the women bodybuilders of today. In this article, we will highlight the top female bodybuilders of the past and present.
Get ready to be impressed as we go over the top 20 best female bodybuilders, discuss their major contest wins, what makes them so inspirational, and what they're up to today.
20 Best Female Bodybuilders of All Time
While male bodybuilding competitions occurred in the 1920s, women in bodybuilding didn't happen until the late 1970s. During the mid-1900s, it was rare to find muscular women. There was an unfortunate (and incorrect) stigma around athletics and exercise hindering women's ability to be mothers.
Thankfully, the landscape for women bodybuilders changed after 1972 when Congress passed Title IX, which required schools to allow equal opportunity for female athletes. This act opened the door for muscular women to explore different sports, including bodybuilding.
The first-ever woman to win a female building competition was Gina LaSpina from Ohio in 1977. By 1980, the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) and the National Physique Committee (NPC) recognized female bodybuilding competitions, including the first Ms. Olympia in 1980.
Since then, there have been tons of inspirational women to champion the sport. It's those women we're about to highlight. So, without further ado, here are the most influential female bodybuilders from then and now!
1) Rachel McLish:
The 1980s was considered the Golden Age of female bodybuilding, as this was when it started to blossom into what it is today. Rachel McLish, who is from Texas, is perhaps the most famous professional female bodybuilder of the Golden Age era.
McLish began to focus heavily on bodybuilding in the late 1970s while working at a local gym after she graduated college. She cemented herself as a legend and pioneer by being the first female bodybuilder to win the inaugural 1980 United States Championship and the first ever IFBB Ms. Olympia the same year. She had more magazine covers over the next five years than any woman.
Although Rachel only competed for four years, she was more dominant than any other 80s female bodybuilder, never finishing worse than third. She claimed her second IFBB Ms. Olympia in 1982, becoming the first-ever two-time champion. She was inducted into the inaugural IFBB Hall of Fame class in January of 1999 and went on to author two books about weight training that were featured on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Career Highlights:
- 1980 US Bodybuilding Championship: 1st
- 2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1980, 1982)
- 1981 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
- 1982 Pro World Championship: 1st
- 1984 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
Rachel McLish is now 68, so she isn't as active on social media as younger female bodybuilders. With her amazingly toned body, outgoing personality, and competitive success, we can assume if social media existed in her days, she would have dominated that too.
You can follow her on Instagram at @RachelMclish
2) Cory Everson:
Corinna "Cory" Everson is often considered the best female bodybuilder in history, and plenty of evidence supports those claims. While Rachel McLish set the bar by winning two of the first three Ms. Olympias, Cory took it to another level and elevated the sport during the Golden Age.
Cory was introduced to bodybuilding after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, by her future ex-husband, Jeff Everson, a competitive bodybuilder himself. Jeff coached Cory, which led to her debut victory at the 1980 Ms. Mid America.
She continued to dominate, winning her first IFBB competition at the 1982 North American Championship, and reached the sport's peak by claiming the 1984 Ms. Olympia title in her debut, a title she never lost.
Cory went on to win Ms. Olympia six years in a row from 1984 to 1989 before retiring on top undefeated. Cory went on to have a successful film career and was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 1999. She became the first woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Arnold Classic.
Career Highlights:
- 6x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1984-1989)
- 1980 Ms. Mid America: 1st
- 1982 IFBB North American Championship: 1st
- 1983 Bodybuilding Expo IV: 1st (MW and overall)
- 1984 American Women's Championships: 1st (HW and overall)
- 1984 NPC Nationals: 1st (HW and overall)
You can follow her on Instagram at @theofficialcoryeverson
3) Lenda Murray:
Just as Cory Everson had her historic run of six straight Ms. Olympia's end, another star was paving her way to be the biggest female bodybuilder in history.
Lenda Murray was a cheerleader and record-holding sprinter during her teenage years in Detroit, Michigan. She discovered bodybuilding in 1984 after a professional suggested she compete due to her naturally muscular frame. She gained national attention by winning her first of six straight Ms. Olympia titles from 1990 to 1995.
Lenda briefly retired in 1997 after losing two consecutive Ms. Olympias to Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls before returning in 2002. She claimed two more Ms. Olympias in 2002 and 2003 before finishing runner-up in 2004 to end her career with eight titles.
Considered the second most successful female bodybuilder in history, she was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2010. Lenda remains connected to the sport by continuing to promote events today.
Career Highlights:
- 8x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1990-1995, 2002-2003)
- 3x Ms. Olympia Runner-Up: 2nd (1996-1997, 2004)
- 1989 IFBB North American Championships: 1st
- 1989 NPC Junior Nationals: 1st (HW and overall)
- 1988 NPC Michigan: 1st
Follow her on Instagram at @themsolympia
4) Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls:
Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls is regarded as one of the best American female bodybuilders ever. She started bodybuilding in 1988 after starting to date her future husband and bodybuilder, Chad Nicholls.
She earned her pro card in 1992 after winning the IFBB North American Championship and began a long, successful career. After winning the Ms. International, Kim defeated Lenda Murray at the 1996 Ms. Olympia, ending her six-year run on top.
She became the first woman to win both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia in the same year in 1996 and went on to win four consecutive Ms. Olympia titles before retiring in 1999. In 2008, she was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame, recognized as one of the most muscular female bodybuilders in history.
Career Highlights:
- 4x Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (1996-1999)
- 1992 IFBB North American Championships: 1st
- 2x Ms. International Champion: 1st (1993, 1996)
Follow her on Instagram at @mzolympia
5) Iris Kyle:
All of the amazingly strong and ripped women of the 80s and 90s paved the way for Iris Kyle, the most successful female bodybuilder in history.
Iris Kyle, nicknamed "The Female Ronnie Coleman," began her professional competitive bodybuilding career at 22 in 1999 after years of dominating amateur competitions. In 2001, she won the heavyweight title at Ms. Olympia but came in second in the overall competition. Her first Ms. International title came in 2004, which opened the floodgates.
She then went on to win Ms. Olympia in 2004, narrowly lost in 2005, then won the next nine years in a row from 2006-2014. Kyle finished her career in 2022 with a record ten overall Ms. Olympia wins, the most of any male or female. She also has a record seven overall Ms. International wins. Her massive, symmetrical physique inspired an entire generation of young women bodybuilders.
Iris has been very open about her use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout her career, which she began using after coming in 2nd at the 1994 NPC Iron Maiden Championship. She stresses that steroids alone are not responsible for success, as hard work and genetics are more important.
Career Highlights:
- 10x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (2004, 2006-2014)
- 7x Ms. International Champion: 1st (2004, 2006-2007, 2009-2011, 2013)
Follow her on Instagram at @IrisKyle
6) Andrea Shaw:
The dominance and impressive physique of Iris Kyle inspired countless women worldwide to take their bodies to the next level, including Andrea Shaw.
Andrea began training at 17 with the help of her mom, a former personal trainer, and started competing in the physique category, in which competitors performed a choreographed routine to music. Despite her early success in physique, which included a win at the 2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic, Shaw decided to switch classes after advice from a legend.
Hall of Famer and legend Lenda Murray was working as a judge at the 2019 Toronto Pro when she encouraged Andrea to change classes to the bodybuilding division.
This move paid off, as Andrea went on to win two of the most prestigious titles in the 2020 Ms. Olympia and Ms. Rising Phoenix Champion. Since then, she has continued to rise in popularity and rankings, repeating as Ms. Olympia in 2021 and 2022.
Career Highlights:
- 3x IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st (2020-2022)
- 3x Rising Phoenix Women's World Championships: 1st (2020-2020)
- 2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic: 1st
She is extremely popular on social media, with over 113 thousand followers on Instagram, where she shares a mix of training tips and everyday life activities.
Follow her on Instagram at @mzprettymuscle
7) Melina Keltaniemi:
At only 25 years old, Melina Keltaniemi represents the present and future of women's bodybuilding.
Melina is a bikini fitness model from Finland that has experienced immediate success with a win at the 2018 IFBB Elite Pro World Championship. She followed that up by winning the 2019 Nordic Elite Pro and repeated it at IFBB 2019 Elite Pro World Championships.
Between her early success and shredded body, it's no wonder she has a large following on social media. We look forward to a long and successful career in bikini fitness for Melina.
Career Highlights:
Follow her on Instagram at @melinakatarina
8) Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia:
Yaxeni Oriquen is a legend in women's bodybuilding and is ranked second best only to Iris Kyle on the IFBB best female ranking list.
Born in Venezuela, Yaxeni is an even bigger inspiration worldwide for her success after moving to the United States to pursue bodybuilding. She broke through with a win at the 2005 Ms. Olympia, becoming the first and only Venezuelan-American winner.
She also won the Ms. International competition five times, cementing herself as a legend. With over 20 years of experience, Yaxeni now owns a gym in Miami where she trains clients herself.
Career Highlights:
- 2005 IFBB Ms. Olympia Champion: 1st
- 5x Ms. International Champion: 1st (2002-2003, 2005, 2008, 2012)
She has nearly 50 thousand followers on Instagram, regularly sharing gym videos and exercise tips.
Follow her on Instagram at @yaxenita
9) Debi Laszewski:
Debi Laszewski is a legend in women's bodybuilding and ranks number three on the IFBB's best female ranking list.
Debi, a track-and-field athlete from Wisconsin, became interested in bodybuilding after seeing Linda Hamilton's character of Sarah Connor in The Terminator. She had an impressive career, finishing in the top three of the Ms. Olympia five times from 2009 to 2014, with her career-best runner-up finish to Iris Kyle in 2012.
She is now a personal trainer in Jupiter, Florida, where she trains several champion bodybuilders.
Career Highlights:
- 2012 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 2nd
- 2005 NPC Nationals: 2nd (light heavyweight)
- 2006 NPC Nationals: 1st (light heavyweight)
- 1994 Wisconsin Natural Bodybuilding Championships: 1st (class winner)
- 1996 Madison Championships: 1st (overall)
- 1996 Wisconsin National Qualifier: 1st (overall)
You can follow her on Instagram at @debilaszewski
10) Andrulla Blanchette:
Andrulla Blanchette, a female bodybuilder from London, England, paved the way for British female bodybuilders. Andrulla competed from 1986 to 2002, compiling an impressive resume that has made her the world's most successful British female bodybuilder.
Her career highlight came in 2000 when she won Ms. Olympia Lightweight Champion, which she narrowly lost the following year. While she is not very active on social media and has private accounts, she currently spends most of her time at her gym, where she helps train girls of all ages.
Career Highlights:
- 2000 IFBB Ms. Olympia Lightweight Champion: 1st
- 2000 IFBB Ms. International: 2nd (LW)
- 2001 IFBB Ms. Olympia Lightweight: 2nd
- 1993 IFBB World Games: 1st
11) Elisa Pecini:
Elisa Pecini is a young Brazilian bodybuilder with one of the most successful careers in the bikini competition.
Elisa is an inspiration to people struggling with eating disorders, as she openly discusses overcoming anorexia nervosa. A hospitalization led her to change her lifestyle, and she earned her professional card at age 19.
Elisa dominated the bikini division and won several major competitions. She reached the pinnacle of the sport by winning first place in the 2019 Ms. Olympia Bikini.
Career Highlights:
- 2019 IFBB Ms. Olympia Bikini Champion: 1st
- 2021 IFBB Tampa Pro: 1st
- 2020 Arnold Sports Festival: 1st
- 2018 MuscleContest Nacional Pro Bikini: 1st
- 2018 Pittsburgh Pro Bikini: 1st
- 2018 MuscleContest Brazil Pro Bikini: 1st
Elisa is constantly spreading positivity across social media and works endlessly to help others conquer their own eating disorders. She has over 600 thousand followers on Instagram and shares various wholesome content.
You can follow her on Instagram at @isapecini
12) Sarah Villegas:
Sarah Villegas is a current IFBB professional that competes in women's physique. Sarah has risen in popularity over the last few years as her career has blossomed.
She attained the sport's peak by winning Ms. Olympia Women's Physique in 2020, one year after finishing runner-up. She is also a personal trainer and certified sports nutritionist, working hard to help others achieve their fitness goals, along with an entire team working for her at ASF Premier Fitness.
Her success, both on stage and in her professional life, is extremely impressive and motivating. She is an inspiration to many, and her competitive career is far from over.
Career Highlights:
- 2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Women's Physique Champion: 1st (2020-2021)
- 2019 IFBB Ms. Olympia Women's Physique: 2nd
You can follow Sarah on Instagram at @iamsarahfit
13) Monique Jones:
Monique Jones is a women's bodybuilder ranked seventh on the IFBB best female bodybuilder list.
Monique has amazing genetics that she slowly groomed since starting weight training at age 13. She won her professional card as a heavyweight in 2010 after winning the IFBB North American Championships.
Monique has an impressive large frame, competing at 220 pounds at 5'8" and sitting around 250 pounds in the off-season.
Career Highlights:
- 2010 IFBB North American Championships: 1st (Heavyweight and overall)
- 2012 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro-Am Extravaganza: 1st
- 2013 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro-Am Extravaganza: 1st
- 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Pro Women's Bodybuilding: 1st
She has a large social media following, with her last Instagram account, @fitnique, having nearly 100 thousand followers before being shut down.
You can follow her on her new Instagram page, which is @fitnique2
14) Alina Popa:
Alina Popa is a Romanian-born professional bodybuilder ranked number four by the IFBB Pro Women's Rankings list.
Alina began training at age 19 and entered her first contest in 2000 at 22. She began her pro career at the 2010 Ms. International, which is the only competition she has ever entered in which she did not finish in the top five.
Alina finished second in the Ms. Olympia in both 2013 and 2014 to Iris Kyle, who has the record for most Olympia titles.
Her career highlight was winning the 2018 Rising Phoenix World Championships. She is regarded as the best of the Romanian female competitors in history and remains an inspiration to many to this day.
She is currently the vice president of European operations for Wings of Strength, a company that advocates for female bodybuilding.
Career Highlights:
- 2x Runner-up IFBB Ms. Olympia Bodybuilding Contest: (2013, 1014)
- 2018 IFBB Muscle Vodka Tampa Pro: 1st
- 2018 Rising Phoenix World Championships: 1st
- 2007 NABBA Miss Universe: 1st (Miss Physique class)
- 2003 IFBB National Championship: 1st (MW)
Alina is very active across social media, with nearly 100 thousand followers on Instagram, posting a combination of fitness content and everyday life.
Follow her on Instagram at @alinapopa1
15) Helle Trevino:
Helle Trevino is a Danish bodybuilder that is one of the most influential figures in women's bodybuilding. After earning her pro card in 2004 at age 27, she competed in her first Olympia contest before suffering several herniated discs in her back.
After eight years of rehab, Helle overcame the odds and returned to bodybuilding, winning the 2011 FIBO Pro Germany. In 2012 she accomplished her dream of moving to Venice Beach, California, to train at the legendary Gold's Gym.
The thing that brings her the most joy is helping others transform their bodies. She hosts several training seminars, including private mental training focusing on strengthening the mind.
Career Highlights:
- 2011 IFBB FIBO Power Pro Germany: 1st
- 2015 IFBB WOS Chicago Pro: 1st
- 2x IFBB Pro League WOS Rising Phoenix Pro Champion: 1st (2017, 2019)
- 2019 Tampa Pro: 1st
Follow her on Instagram at @HelleTrevino
16) Deepika Chowdhury:
Deepika Chowdhury is the first-ever female IFBB professional bodybuilder from India.
Despite having an impressive education as a molecular biologist, Deepika broke through barriers to become an inspiration for women from India and across the world.
She takes pride in her body and believes fitness is essential for a healthy mind, character, and spirit.
Career Highlights:
She has a large following on social media, with nearly 100 thousand followers on Instagram. She posts a variety of training videos, gym tips, and posts that highlight her Indian culture.
Follow her on Instagram at @deepikapune_ifbbpro
17) Sheila Bleck:
Sheila Bleck is a retired American bodybuilder ranked number six on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding list.
Shelia first became interested in bodybuilding and weightlifting at a young age after watching Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. By age 16, she was competing in powerlifting before earning her IFBB pro card with a win at the 2008 NPC Nationals.
Career Highlights:
- 2008 NPC Nationals: 1st
- 2010 IFBB New York Pro: 2nd
- 2012 IFBB Tampa Pro: 2nd and Best Poser Award
- 2014 IFBB Tampa Pro: 1st and Best Poser Award
- 2x IFBB Tampa Pro Champion: 1st (2016-2017)
She is now the owner of Bleck Discount Nutrition and frequently posts vlog-type videos on her Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @ifbbsheilableck
18) Nataliya Kuznetsova:
Nataliya Kuznetsova is a well-known Russian female bodybuilder that has millions of fans across the globe. Her impressive, muscular physique began with powerlifting at age fourteen.
In addition to being a bodybuilder, Nataliya is also incredibly strong and holds several world records for arm wrestling, deadlift, and bench press. Several sources report her to be the most muscular female in the world, and at 5'7" and 220 pounds, it is believable.
While she has incredible strength and various world records, her bodybuilding career took off with a win at the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest. Her unique combination of strength, power, and pure size is genuinely aspirational.
Career Highlights:
- 2007, 2008 Baykal Gran Prix bodybuilding champion
- 2014 World champion and record armlifting in Crimea
- 2014 World champion and record in the bench press NAP
- European champion in bench press and deadlift (WPC), champion of Eurasia in bench press, deadlift (GPA), and armliftin
- 2015 Champion of the Cup Eastern Europe (GPA), world record in the deadlift, and champion of the Cup Eastern Europe (WAA) for traction and rolling axe
- 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Amateur: 1st
With over one million followers on Instagram, Nataliya is one of the most recognized female bodybuilders in the world.
Follow her on Instagram at @Nataliya.amazonka
19) Theresa Ivancik:
Theresa Ivancik is an American female currently ranked number seven on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding list.
Theresa began weightlifting at age 19 when she was on house arrest. She came across an old Joe Weider exercise equipment in her parent's basement and instantly became hooked. After moving from figure to bodybuilding, Theresa eventually won the 2016 NPC Nationals Heavyweight to earn her pro card.
Since then, she has had great success in competitions, winning multiple events. She also works with Wings of Strength, which advocates women's bodybuilding.
Career Highlights:
- 2016 NPC Nationals: 1st (HW)
- 2019 IFBB Norfolk Pro: 1st
- 2020 IFBB Chicago Pro: 1st & best poster award
- 2022 IFBB Indy Pro: 1st
- 2022 IFBB Ms. Olympia: 7th
She has amassed quite a following on social media, with an impressive 270 thousand followers on Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @tivancik_ifbbpro
20) Shanique Grant:
Shanique Grant is a female bodybuilder born and raised in Chicago. Sadly, like thousands of children, Shanique suffered from bullying, leading to years of struggling with her identity.
After hard partying led to kidney failure, she reinvented herself and began bodybuilding. At just age 23, Shanique reached the pinnacle by winning the Ms. Olympia Physique title in 2018 and then repeated in 2019.
She finished runner-up in 2020 Ms. Olympia before retiring to focus on her Youtube channel.
Career Highlights:
With her successful Youtube channel, Shanique became an influential figure on social media, where she has over 324 thousand followers on Instagram.
Follow her on Instagram at @therealfitnessbeauty
FAQs About Female Bodybuilders
In this section, we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding female bodybuilding.
How do female bodybuilders get so lean?
Before contests, female bodybuilders undergo extensive dieting combined with intense cardio sessions to maximize weight loss. Most bodybuilders will also take some kind of fat burner, including banned substances such as ephedrine or anabolic steroids. Most will also use a type of diuretic before going on stage to eliminate as much water as possible to achieve a dry, hard look.
What do female bodybuilders eat?
Female bodybuilders typically follow rigorous diets and count their macronutrients to monitor their caloric intake. Their diets tend to be high protein, low carb, and include healthy fats. High protein low fat foods, whole grain complex carbohydrates, and leafy green vegetables are diet staples. Some foods they may eat include chicken, fish, lentils, eggs, avocado, kale, spinach, nuts, and seeds.
Do female bodybuilders take testosterone?
Yes, many female bodybuilders take testosterone to help muscle recovery and increase muscle size. While there are natural female bodybuilders, there are also many female bodybuilders who take testosterone, as it helps increase strength and muscle size, and redistributes body fat to provide more definition.
Do you want the testosterone benefits while staying natural? Check out 5 Ways Women Can Naturally Increase Testosterone Levels.
Do female bodybuilders take steroids?
Yes, many female bodybuilders take steroids. Steroids are very common in the bodybuilding world, and women are no exception. Many women take oral steroids rather than injections because of the convenience and positive results. Women bodybuilders often use steroids like Anavar and Winstrol to help burn fat and be as ripped as possible before a competition.
How do female bodybuilders get so big?
Female bodybuilders get so big because they are very strict and consistent in their exercise routines and diets. Many have trainers or are certified to maximize their training efficiency to build muscle. Eating a clean, well-balanced protein-rich diet is crucial for building muscle mass. Several female bodybuilders also use supplements, including anabolic steroids, to gain as much muscle as possible.
What are the body types in female bodybuilding?
Female bodybuilding has five different categories in competitions with varying weight classes. The different categories are created for the different body types. The five categories are bikini, figure, physique, bodybuilding, and fitness.
How many hours a day do female bodybuilders work out?
Most female bodybuilders will work out between one and three hours a day, or more in some cases. Usually, they will spend roughly an hour or so weight lifting, plus another hour or so for cardio. As it gets closer to competitions, they will increase their cardio to two hours a day or more to be as lean as possible on stage.
How much do female bodybuilders make?
Determining an average income from female bodybuilding is difficult because it depends on several factors. Female bodybuilders who work full-time as bodybuilders can take home anywhere from $20k to $200k a year, depending on contest winnings, social media deals, and other income. The IFBB Olympia competition is the top contest in the sport, with winners of each division taking $50,000, followed by $20,000 for second and $12,000 for third.
The Future Of Female Bodybuilding
Prior to the 1970s, it was considered taboo to be a muscular girl until a group of brave, powerful women burst onto the stage and created female bodybuilding.
Now, thanks to those who paved the way, all of these women have unbelievably strong and lean bodies that show their dedication to the love of bodybuilding. They are all an inspiration for their courage to challenge social norms and dedication to sculpting their bodies.
With the help of social media, women and men alike follow competitive bodybuilders as a source of inspiration and helpful information. As such, female bodybuilders are more common than ever and will continue to grow and spread worldwide thanks to these women.
Looking for more great female fitness inspiration? Check out our article on the Top 25 Female Fitness Models!
Images courtesy of the featured bodybuilders' Instagram accounts
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