Black women have significantly contributed to various fields, including arts, literature, science, and politics in the United States of America. In sports, Black women have also made their mark, though their achievements are sometimes overlooked, particularly in bodybuilding.
Women’s history attempts in fill in gaps, which were left out of the historical narrative. When bodybuilding is mentioned in sports history, women are omitted. When bodybuilding is mentioned in sports history, women are omitted.
Pioneers Who Broke Barriers
American sports were for a longtime racially segregated. Baseball, football, and tennis needed African American athletes to break the color barrier. Bodybuilding was no different. Becoming the first black Ms. Olympia was not her only accomplishment.
Carla Dunlap's addition was an obvious choice. What Kevin Greene forgets to mention was that Carla was the first African American Ms. Olympia. That is a significant detail that cannot be omitted. She one of the few to compete in the three decades of women’s bodybuilding existence. Carla Dunlap’s contest history was between the years of 1979 to 1993.
Lenda Murray took the women’s bodybuilding division into a whole new stratosphere with her ungodly muscle mass and definition. Lenda Murray was dominating the Ms. Olympia between 1990 and 1996. Then made a return winning both the 2002 and 2003 Ms. Olympia. Lenda Murray set the standard for the Ms. Olympia physique.
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With 10 Ms. Olympia title wins, Iris Kyle is the winningest pro female bodybuilder of all time. No other bodybuilder, male or female, has ever managed to match or beat Kyle’s Olympia win record. It means she won more Olympias than her male counterparts. To date, no Mr. Olympia has won ten contests.
The Impressive Physiques and Strength of Black Female Bodybuilders
Kevin Greene calls the physiques of the athletes insane for a reason. This is not a pejorative , rather an expression of their impressive physicality. Kevin Greene stated the women’s physiques are “so insane they make you look feeble.” Based on the lifting statistics this is fact.
Vickie Gates competed much longer. Vickie’s first contest was in 1984 and she retired from competition in 2003. At her largest she was a 160 lbs of physical might. Vickie Gates was able to bench press 285 lbs. Iris Kyle is stronger benching 375 lbs.
Dayana Cadeau’s competitive longevity was just as impressive. Dayana first competed in 1992 and retired after competing in physique in 2012. Her biceps were her best body parts. This development could be attributed to her upper body workout routines. Dayana Cadeau at the height of her strength could bench press 352 lbs.
Lesa Lewis is often overlooked. Considering her size and muscularity Lesa should have won one Ms. Olympia contest. Her nickname was “Amazon” by her fans. That nickname was well earned. Lesa Lewis was 5 feet and 10 inches and weighed 193 lbs. Lesa was a real life She-Hulk.
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Heather Foster’s physique was not just amazing. Her body possessed an immense amount of strength. Heather Foster bench pressed 315 lbs. According to some strength standard charts, she would in an advanced male range. Other charts was place Heather on class II range. Heather Foster would be stronger than all the beginner, novice, and intermediate men base on particular strength standards.
Rene Toney did not compete as much, yet her body was a fortress of strength. Rene has the biggest biceps of any woman in the world according to measurements in 2006. Rene only competed in four bodybuilding contests. She should have competed more with a physique like that incredible. Lenda Murray’s biceps were 16 inches. Rene Toney had bigger biceps than a Ms. Olympia champion. Rene Toney was 210 lbs.
Alana Shipp did have a great physique. A lightweight competitor, but Alana looked massive. At first she was going into the fitness category. However, her body responded so well Alana got too big for it. When Alana made it to the Ms. Olympia, she placed came in 4th place. That was incredible considering it was her Olympia debut. That was in 2014. Alana Shipp’s last contest was in 2016.
New Generation of African American Bodybuilders
A new generation of athletes emerged during the late 2010s to early 2020s. Andrea Shaw would become Ms. Olympia in 2020 and has remained so ever since. She wants to break Lenda and Iris’ records. That would mean winning until 2031.
Jada Beverly must be mentioned for being a physique and bodybuilder competitor. She took a brief hiatus and then returned competing in physique. Now, Jada wants to compete in wellness. Switching classes is not that easy. Jada made it look simple. Jada and Andrea owe much to those athletes before them. The new group of athletes are adding to the sport, just like past competitors.
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Andrea Shaw winning the 2020 Ms. Olympia was a turning point. Iris Kyle was going to compete, but dropped out due to getting ill before competition. The torch was past. Kevin Greene’s fan list of favorite athletes needs to be updated. Over the next few years many African American women and other from the diaspora are going to become prominent.
These women are formidable bodybuilders. Yolanda Hughes was the quintessential mass monster of the 1990s. At her most immense Yolanda competed at 159 to 164 lbs. Yvetta Bova did not have a long competition history compared to other athletes. Compared to other athletes on the Greene’s list her record is the weakest. Nancy Lewis made a name for herself as a middleweight. Nancy made her competition debut in 1985 and made her last stage appearance in 2012. Nancy Lewis was another athlete that was ignored by the judges.
Laura Creavalle has the distinction of being the most successful Guyanese bodybuilders. Laura was born in British Guiana, but emigrated to Canada. Her ancestry and nationality show the reach of the African Diaspora. Those of African descent also contributed to Latin America. Laura Creavalle was mostly in the top three in the 1991 to 1999 for the Ms. Olympia contest.
Overcoming Challenges and Gaining Recognition
Women have to work harder due to physiological differences, limited data on women’s athletic training, and lack of promotion by sports organizations.
The African American struggle has been one of fighting enslavement, discrimination, and racism. Violence was a large part of America’s history with lynching, race riots, and police brutality. When thought of from this context, it made no sense to integrate into a huma rights abusing country.
The problem is the athletes are not given coverage. When it comes to sports it appears the mainstream media focuses on Europe and North America. The United States tends to focus on there athletes above all other. A narrow view point suggests American exceptionalism and a more chauvinistic attitude. African Americans are not exempt from that ideology. The arrogance of the idea that America is the greatest nation in the world exposes a supremacist and prejudiced mindset.
African American athletes need to be conscious of this. Maybe it is better to wave a Pan-African flag than an American one. It cannot be ignored that Africans might consider African Americans “real” Africans. The act of separation can also be seen in North Africa.
Photography Series Documenting Black Female Bodybuilders
Nicole Stauss stands on the mid-landing of a staircase in six-inch heels with a vacuum cleaner. Clad simply in a sparkly bikini, her biceps bulge and shine as she works the vacuum, staring at the camera with a hint of a smile on her face, her firm abs glowing under the light. In another photograph, Lauren Gripp stares at the camera, standing in the bathroom, as if caught mid-moment before applying gloss on her lips.
These photographs are part of a series documenting black female bodybuilders in NYC, by the photographer Sophia Wilson, which were exhibited at Strada World in September. For the past few years, much of Wilson’s work has been filmed in personal spaces and homes.
This series wasn’t photographed in Stauss and Gripp’s homes, but instead in a house Wilson had previously scouted and adored - this worldbuilding, she added, allows her more creative control. “It felt fitting,” she said, “To showcase something as extreme as bodybuilding in an area so intimate like a home.”
Wilson recalled hitting upon the idea three years ago, in a conversation with her boyfriend, who is also the founder of Strada World.For her, entering fashion as a teenager came with its own pressures. “I always felt like I have so much to say, and people will undervalue me just by looking at me,” Wilson noted “So I try to include the most of me as possible in my work.”
“Since I started competing, I view my body as a temple,” Gripp expressed - rest, recovery and nourishing food are offerings to the altar. Every single ounce of hard work matters on stage. “It felt fitting,” she said, “To showcase something as extreme as bodybuilding in an area so intimate like a home.”
“Their home life is extremely normal,” added Wilson, “They were talking about how they go home and just chill with their boyfriends - one of them is a mom, I think. They both have full-time jobs in addition to being bodybuilders.”
