A popular bodybuilder in the mid 90’s, British pro Andrulla Blanchette is now retired and according to Wikipedia seeking to become a chess master. Bodybuilding to chess – not a typical transition to say the least.

Watch her flex….

Click through to read Andrulla’s contest record

Contest history

* 1986 – IFBB Junior Worlds – 4th
* 1986 – Place Junior British Championship – 1st
* 1986 – EFBB Qualifier (for the under 21s) – 1st
* 1986 – Miss Capital City – 1st
* 1988 – IFBB Women’s World Championship, Puerto Rico) – 10th
* 1992 – IFBB Women’s World Championship (Rimini) – 3rd
* 1992 – World Amateur Championships – 3rd
* 1993 – IFBB European Championships, Hungary – 1st
* 1993 – IFBB World Games, Holland – 1st
* 1995 – Jan Tana Classic – 6th
* 1996 – IFBB Grand Prix Prague – 3rd
* 1996 – IFBB Grand Prix Slovakia – 3rd
* 1996 – Ms. International – 11th
* 1996 – IFBB Ms. Olympia – 8th
* 1997 – IFBB Ms. Olympia – 7th
* 1998 – Ms. International – 6th
* 1998 – IFBB Ms. Olympia – 6th
* 1999 – Ms. International – 5th
* 1999 – IFBB Ms. Olympia – 7th
* 2000 – Ms. International – 2nd (LW)
* 2000 – IFBB Ms. Olympia – 1st (LW)
* 2001 – IFBB Ms. Olympia – 2nd (LW)
* 2002 – Ms. International – withdrew (LW)

Many say Sally was abused and was defending herself, while others say she murdered Ray in out of jealousy.

Prior to her incarceration, Sally was known to wrestle. Below is a brief retro clip of her:

In her career, King won 39 grand slam titles and is widely known for the “The Battle of the Sexes” in 1973, in which she defeated Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon men’s champion – a game which is easily one of the most memorable games of tennis to be played.

Off the court, she is regarded as a trailblazer for women’s rights in tennis, fighting for equal prize money and more.

Click through to watch a video of King recieving the award

Rachel was the first ever Ms Olympia, and looking at her physique you can see a momentous difference from the female bodybuilders of today. Is this good or bad? Depends who you ask, many say that female bodybuilding has progressing for the better with increased muscularity and conditioning – but it seems more say the “progress” harmed female bodybuilding.

Which side are you on?

Kim Chizevsky is unique in the IFBB having competed in three divisions professionally; bodybuilding, fitness and figure making her [to the best of my knowledge] the only person to do so.

A 4 time Ms Olympia Champion, she switched to fitness in 2001, and then to figure in 2003. She never experienced the same success in fitness and figure as she did with bodybuilding, but her variation must be admired.

The photo posted above shows her in her bodybuilding heyday, and the two below [click to enlarge] show her competing in figure at the 2004 IFBB Show of Strength Pro Championship where she placed 7th.

Is a thong practical workout gear? I think not, but with a booty like Monica’s you can get away with it…

A wallpaper of an this Iron belle legend from Muscleandbrawn.com:

And present day:

Click here for a photo gallery of Yaxeni at the 2008 Ms International where she placed 1st.[Older photos via Yaxeni's website]

Click here for a photo gallery of Lenda at the 2003 Olympia
Click here for a photo gallery of Lenda at the 2002 Olympia

Wikpedia says of this photo…

In April 1957, her bosom was the feature of a notorious publicity stunt intended to deflect attention from Sophia Loren during a dinner party in the Italian star’s honor. Photographs of the encounter were published around the world. The most famous image showed Loren raising an eyebrow at the American actress who, sitting between Loren and her dinner companion, Clifton Webb, had leaned over the table, allowing her breasts to spill over her low neckline and exposing one nipple.

Below is a screenshot I just took from the video documentary Taboo that I just posted. I am 99% sure it’s an older photo of Betty Pariso – the video seems to be quite clear on that.

What a transition…

Can’t fault the passion I guess. Watch her train below…

She started weight training to build her upper body up to be a firefighter, and went on to become one of the best bodybuilders of her era, and retired from competition in 1993.

Debbie Dobbins was born in Olongapo, Philippines, of half Irish and half Filipino descent and moved to the USA when she was 3 yrs old. She moved to California at age twenty-four to pursue a career in the fitness industry, and worked as a cheerleader for the Portland Breakers of the USFL and Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL.

She appeared in magazines including Musclemag International and Iron Man, and competed in the Ms. Fitness USA competition and Ms. Galaxy contests.

She died at only 30 years old in 1993 in a house fire.

Above is a retro photo of Mia Finnegan, the first ever IFBB Fitness Olympia Champion.Click here to check out some of FM’s older coverage – a 1980’s female muscle gallery. Big hair, high waisted jeans…80’s style in full effect!

Well before her time, screen legend Marilyn Monroe was reported to have always maintained a regime of weightlifting and regular exercise. Visitors reported finding gym equipment in the corner of her living room. At a time before running was a popular for exercise, let alone for women, Marilyn is said to have regularly partaken in early morning jogs through the back streets of Beverly Hills. Marilyn Monroe was 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed 128 pounds.

Going back a number of years now, this photo comprised one of my favorite magazine covers of all time. It features [now retired] IFBB fitness pros Milamar Flores-Sarcev and Madonna Grimes.

Milamar is a Canadian of Filipino ancestry and now lives in California with her husband IFBB pro Milos Sarcev. Madonna is a former Miss Fitness America and is well known for workout DVD’s showcasing her dance and choreography work.

Few more photos of both these ladies, click to enlarge:

I’m not too knowledgeable on old style clothing, but are these boxers wearing ‘petticoats’?

According to wikipedia women’s boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1904. For most of the 20th century it was banned in most nations.

Final Placings of 1994 Ms Olympia
1 Lenda Murray
2 Laura Creavalle
3 Debbie Muggli
4 Marie Mahabir
5 Audrey Harris-White
6 Sue Price
7 Drorit Kernes
8 Yolanda Hughes
9 Muriane Nicolas
10 Diana Dennis
11 Laura Binetti
12 Christa Bauch
13 Eva Sukupova
14 Sabine Froschauer
15 Gabriella Spuhn
16 Fredrique Auchart
16 Veronique Gady
16 Sharon Bruneau
16 Nuria Sala

She had first become popular after competing in the 1984 Olympics, not so much for winning two silver medals – but more due to her unique style. Flamboyant to the touch, she wore her hair out, super long nails and her signature colorful one legged suits.

CHECK OUT OUR TANYA HARDING GALLERY – SHE’S BOXING!

Today in 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed in the knee by Shane Stant at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit. Figure skating fans (and curious onlookers) around the world were shocked, and went all the way to appalled when it was revealed that the attack may have been planned by fellow skater Tonya Harding.

Kerrigan was unable to compete in the Olympic trials due to her injury, but was granted a spot on the Olympic team. She went on to win the silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer and ride on a float in a Disney parade, during which her microphone picked up some rather snarky comments that were assumed to be about the parade. Kerrigan claimed she was complaining not about the parade but about wearing her medal during the parade, which she said made her feel silly.

Harding, on the other hand, was banned from participating in United States Figure Skating Association events for the rest of her life and stripped of her title. She pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation of the attack, which also involved her ex-husband and one of his friends, but continues to maintain her innocence in regards to having planned it.

- Teresa Santoski

The 2nd placer at the first Ms O was Auby Paulick, who seemed to fade off the scene after that. Auby was from Michigan, and won the Michigan State Title just before the Olympia and was invited to turn pro after that win. Despite her great placing, the 1980 Ms Olympia appears to be both Auby’s first and last pro contest.

image via fitnessandstrength

A look back at one of the original ladies of fitness; Betty Weider [nee Brosmer]. Now in her 70’s, Betty started modeling at age 13 and won over 50 beauty pageants, appeared on over 100 magazine covers and once appeared on over 17 covers in a single month.

She married Joe Weider and began her second career in the health and fitness genre and appeared on the covers of muscle mags with top bodybuilders including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Lou Ferrigno, Dave Draper and the first ever Mr Olympia Larry Scott.

She is a feature editor and monthly columnist for Muscle & Fitness, a book author and a member of the Olympic Committee on Physical Fitness.

Known for her tiny wasp waist, most reports have it measuring 21″.

One of the original erotic models Bettie Page, who was known as the “Queen of Pinups” died on Thursday. Her seductive photographs and posters both excited and outraged the American public decades ago in the 1950s, and she emerged as a pivotal figure of the sexual revolution. In her heyday she was one of the world’s most photographed women.

Although the photographs seem tame by present day standards, they weren’t back then, and American senators started an investigatation into claims that they were pornographic and Bettie Page was subpoenaed to appear before a senate committee investigating obscenity.

By 1958, at the peak of her fame, Bettie Page vanished from public view and became a born-again Christian. She wanted to serve as a missionary but was rejected because she was divorced. She struggled with personal problems, three divorces and in 1992 she left a California mental hospital having been diagnosed a paranoid schizophrenic.

She was 85 years old, and leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten.

She started her competitive carreer in 1979, entering the “Best in the World” bodybuilding contest where she placed fifth among 45 entrants. She won the NPC Nationals in 1981, 1982 before embarking on her pro career. In January, 1999, Dunlap was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame.

Away from the contest stage, Carla appeared in the bodybuilding documentaries Women Of Iron and Pumping Iron II: The Women, was a regular on ESPN’s BodyShaping series and along with Rachel McLish and Cory Everson, was the first female inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame.

She won six Olympias from 1984 – 1989.

Here’s a clip showing her both posing and training:

Gladys said she saw Rachel McLish on television winning the Ms. Olympia title and was inspired to start her own bodybuilding and weight training regimen. Her best placings were 7th in the 1984 IFBB Ms. Olympia, and 8th the following year at the Olympia.

The show was won by Rachel McLish, who is still an iconic figure to the day.

Top 5 of 1980 Ms Olympia
1. Rachel McLish
2. Auby Paulick
3. Lynn Conkwright
4. Corinne Machado
5. Stacey Bentley

Rachel:

It was later discovered that Tonya had used stand-in when she was chosen for a random drug test at the 1988 Ms. Olympia contest.

After IFBB officials presented strong evidence against her, Knight admitted that she sent a surrogate to take the drug test, and in another strange twist to the tale, the surrogate was a former girlfriend of IFBB pro Mike Quinn.

She was disqualified from both the Arnold and Olympia, and had to forfeit both sets of prize money and was stripped of the Ms. International title, and was also suspended from the IFBB for two years.

Tonya came back post-suspension to win the Ms. International title in 1991.

Sally shot and killed her pro bodybuilder husband Ray McNeil on Valentines Day in 1995 and was convicted of second-degree murder in 1996. She is currently in prison where reports say she is still training and working out.

Many say Sally was abused and was defending herself, while others say she murdered Ray in out of jealousy.

Read more about the Sally McNeil case here and here

Stop by for a free chat, and then go private if you dare.

Brian Moss, our Shemuscle colleague, has published an amazing photographic retrospective of his wildly famous, popular, and groundbreaking New York City Gym at betterbodies1982.com

Pam: “I was born and raised in Texas. I grew up around Corpus Christi, TX, which is where I first started working out seriously. My favorite body part to workout is back. I am married with two children. My husband, Darrell, has always helped me with my training. My children are competitive athletes. My son attends college and my daughter is an honor student and Fitness competitor.”

Here is a link to how bodybuilding.about.com looked at the time: CLICK HERE

WPW-Fitness Video 11 Strong & Shapely Fitness Contest

Two of these contests were held in the early 90’s. For this 1992 event, the promoters invited the best fitness women to compete against each other in a regular fitness event (stage routines) combined with one strength event (curling barbell for reps). Those competing included many of your former favorites- Debbie Kruck, April Johnson/Roseberry, Patty Sanchez, Sherilyn Godreau, Denise Paglia, Patti Regan, Holly Hart and others. Bikini and evening gown rounds also included. This was a ‘pro’ event for prize money, and an amateur event is also included here. Fitness Video/DVD 11 runs 2 1/2 hours.