10 Best Female Bodybuilders Of All Time

Ever since female bodybuilding was introduced to the world in the late 1970s, many legendary women packed with muscles posed on the stage and lifted prestigious trophies. In this post, we will honor the 10 best female bodybuilders of all time, including the classic legends and modern-day greats.

These bodybuilders are none less than their male counterparts. They have impressive bodies, marvelous style, and the hunger to achieve what the men of the sport can do. Due to their immense efforts to build iconic physiques, the sport of female building has reached new heights in the past few years.

10 Best Female Bodybuilders of All Time:

Bodybuilding is a heavily male-dominated sport with legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, Phil Heath, and others associated with it. However, some female bodybuilders snatch away the viewers’ attention from these men when they pose on the stage and leave the audience with open jaws.

Iris Kyle, Lenda Murray, Cory Everson, and Yaxeni Oriquen are some of the female bodybuilders that ardent fans of the sport know about. But, more ladies have monstrous muscles and charming personas, just like their male counterparts. Let’s move further and check out the list of top 10 female bodybuilders.

1. Iris Kyle:

Iris Kyle, popularly known as “The Female Ronnie Coleman,” is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. The American lady started her professional competitive bodybuilding career at the age of 22 in 1999. She went on to win a record 10 Ms. Olympia titles, which is the most for any man or woman.

She has also won 7 Ms. International titles with the first one coming in 2004 and the ultimate one in 2013. Her first Ms. Olympia victory came in 2004 and then she won the prestigious award consecutive for the nine years between 2006 and 2014. She is an inspiration for any woman trying to barge into professional bodybuilding.

• Nationality: American
• Height: 5 feet 7
• Weight: 130-170 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 10x IFBB Ms. Olympia Winner (2004, 2006-2014)
  • 7x Ms. International Winner (2004, 2006-2007, 2009-2011, 2013)

2. Lenda Murray:

Lenda Murray is known as one of the most legendary female builders in history. She started her career as a cheerleader and then transitioned to become a record-holding sprinter in Detroit, Michigan. In 1984, she discovered professional bodybuilding which soon turned into her passion and profession.

Murray went on to win six straight Ms. Olympia titles from 1990 to 1995. After that, she retired in 1997 due to closely missing out on two consecutive titles. However, she returned in 2002 and claimed two more Ms. Olympia titles. Finally, she hung up her boots after finishing as a runner-up in 2004.

• Nationality: American
• Height: 5 feet 5
• Weight: 150-153 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 8x Ms. Olympia Winner (1990-1995, 2002-2003)
  • 3x Ms. Olympia Runner-Up (1996-1997, 2004)
  • 1989 IFBB North American Championships Winner
  • 1989 NPC Junior Nationals Heavyweight and Overall Winner

3. Andrea Shaw:

Andrea Shaw is a modern-day bodybuilding great hailing from Michigan. She started training at 17 with her mother, who was a former personal trainer. Shaw made her debut in the physique category with quick success but later transitioned to the bodybuilding division upon receiving advice from Lenda Murray.

Following this, Shaw went on to Ms. Olympia and Ms. Rising Phoenix, the two most coveted titles in female bodybuilding, in 2020. She also continued her winning streak to lift the Olympia trophy for the next 3 years. Shaw is one of the best female bodybuilders in the world right now.

• Nationality: American
• Height: 5 feet 5
• Weight: 170-180 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 4x IFBB Ms. Olympia Winner (2020-2023)
  • 3x Rising Phoenix Women’s World Championships Winner (2020-2020)
  • 2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic Winner

4. Cory Everson:

Corinna Everson, famously known as “Cory Everson,” is one of the best female bodybuilders who helped the sport reach new peaks during its golden era. She started competing after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and went on to win the Ms. Mid America title in 1980.

Trainer by her then-husband and professional bodybuilder Jeff Everson, Cory won her first Ms. Olympia title in 1984 and then kept defending her crown till 1989 for six consecutive years. After that, she retired from competitive bodybuilding and explored her career in films.

• Nationality: American
• Height: 5 feet 9
• Weight: 160 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 6x Ms. Olympia Winner(1984-1989)
  • 1980 Ms. Mid America Winner
  • 1982 IFBB North American Championship Winner
  • 1983 Bodybuilding Expo IV Winner
  • 1984 American Women’s Championships Winner
  • 1984 NPC Nationals Winner
  • IFBB Hall of Fame Inductee (1999)
  • Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)

5. Rachel Mclish:

Rachel Mclish is one of the first female bodybuilders and the first-ever Ms. Olympia winner. She started training for competitive bodybuilding in the late 1970s when the sport was budding and then claimed her first title in 1980. Mclish previously worked as a trainer at a local gym after her graduation.

When Rachel Mclish won the inaugural Ms. Olympia, she rose to immense fame and graced more magazine covers in the next five years than anyone else on the planet. The Texan bodybuilder was inducted into the inaugural IFFB Hall of Fame class in January 1999. After retiring from bodybuilding, she turned into an author.

• Nationality: American
• Height: 5 feet 6
• Weight: 125-135 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Winner (1980, 1982)
  • 2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Runner-Up (1981, 1984)
  • 1980 US Bodybuilding Championship Winner
  • 1982 Pro World Championship Winner
  • 1999 IFBB Hall of Fame Inductee

6. Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls:

Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls is another pioneer of female bodybuilding and a highly deserving candidate on our list of the top 10 best female bodybuilders of all time. She made her debut in 1988 after beginning her romantic relationship with her then-future husband, Chad Nicholls, who was a professional bodybuilder.

In 1992, Kim earned her pro card and went on to win the IFBB North American Championship. She then also won the 1996 Ms. Olympia title to end Lenda Murray’s legendary streak. Kim then won four consecutive titles in the most prestigious bodybuilding event before retiring in 1999.

• Nationality: American
• Height: 5 feet 8
• Weight: 121-165Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 4x Ms. Olympia Winner (1996-1999)
  • 2x Ms. International Winner (1993, 1996)
  • 1992 IFBB North American Championships Winner
  • 2008 IFBB Hall of Fame Inductee

7. Yaxeni Oriquen:

Yaxeni Oriquen is the next amazing contender on our list of the top 10 best female bodybuilders of all time. The Venezuelan woman moved to the United States to pursue bodybuilding and achieved her first major victory by winning the 2005 Ms. Olympia. She is the first and only Venezuelan-American winner in history.

Known as the Yaxeneger, Oriquen also won the Ms. International competition five times before her career transition to a successful fitness instructor and influencer. She is highly loved on Instagram with over 50k followers. She also has a gym in Miami where she trains people herself.

• Nationality: Venezuelan-American
• Height: 5 feet 8
• Weight: 160-175 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 2005 IFBB Ms. Olympia Winner
    5x Ms. International Winner (2002-2003, 2005, 2008, 2012)

8. Sarah Villegas:

Sarah Villegas is one of the best female bodybuilders to compete in the women’s physique division. She rose to fame after winning the Ms. Olympia Women’s Physique in 2020 after coming a bit short a year before when she was placed as runner-up. Sarah also won the prestigious title in 2021 and then once more in 2023.

Apart from bodybuilding, Sarah Villegas is also a certified sports nutritionist and personal trainer. She has over 110k followers on Instagram where she regularly posts fitness and bodybuilding-focused content. Villegas is a very strong contender to defend her title this year.

• Nationality: Venezuelan-American
• Height: 5 feet 5
• Weight: 128 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 3x IFBB Ms. Olympia Women’s Physique Winner (2020-2021, 2023)
  • 2019 IFBB Ms. Olympia Women’s Physique Runner-Up

9. Alina Popa:

Alina Popa is the next modern female bodybuilding legend on our list of the best female bodybuilders. The Romanian lady started training when she was just 19 and entered her first contest in 2000 at the age of 22. She turned professional after competing at the 2010 Ms. International contest.

In the next few years, Alina Popa was among the top five in every competition that she participated in. She was the runner-up in the 2013 and 2014 Ms. Olympia and also won the 2018 Rising Phoenix World Championship. Popa is also very famous on Instagram with almost 100k followers.

• Nationality: Romanian
• Height: 5 feet 6
• Weight: 160-165 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 2018 Rising Phoenix World Championship Winner
  • 2x IFBB Ms. Olympia Runner-Up: (2013, 1014)
  • 2018 IFBB Muscle Vodka Tampa Pro Winner
  • 2007 NABBA Miss Universe Winner in Miss Physique Division
  • 2003 IFBB National Championship Winner

10. Nataliya Kuznetsova:

Nataliya Kuznetsova is one of the most famous female bodybuilders in the world right now. The Russian star has more than 1 million followers on Instagram. She started bodybuilding and powerlifting at the age of just 14. She rose to fame after winning the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest.

Kuznetsova is one of the most muscular female bodybuilders of all time. She is a big inspiration for women trying to achieve sheer strength and pure size. Kuznetsova also holds several world records in arm wrestling and powerlifting. She can bench press 710 lbs, squat 680 lbs, and deadlift 778 lbs raw.

• Nationality: Russian
• Height: 5 feet 7
• Weight: 220-225 Pounds
• Major Achievements:
  • 2007, 2008 Baykal Gran Prix bodybuilding champion
  • 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Amateur Winner
  • Several Arm-Wrestling and Powerlifting world records:
    • 2014 World champion and record armlifting in Crimea
    • 2014 World champion and record in the bench press NAP
    • 2014 European champion in bench press and deadlift (WPC)
    • 2014 Champion of Eurasia in bench press, deadlift (GPA), and arm lifting
    • 2015 Champion of the Cup Eastern Europe (GPA) (world record in the deadlift)
    • 2015 Champion of the Cup Eastern Europe (WAA) for traction and rolling axe

Final Words:

These are the top 10 best female bodybuilders of all time who have helped female bodybuilding reach where it is now. Avid bodybuilding fans know how tough it is for women to build muscle and get big enough to attract the audience with their physique. These bodybuilders have defied all the odds and proved themselves.

Female bodybuilding is on an ever-growing rise these days, all thanks to these brilliant women who put their heart and soul into the sport. Here is a quick recap of our list of the best female bodybuilders for people who just want to go through it once again and don’t want to read it whole:

1. Iris Kyle
2. Lenda Murray
3. Andrea Shaw
4. Cory Everson
5. Rachel Mclish
6. Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls
7. Yaxeni Oriquen
8. Sarah Villegas
9. Alina Popa
10. Nataliya Kuznetsova

That’s all for this post. Feel free to share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the best female bodybuilders:

Who is the best female bodybuilder?:

Iris Kyle is widely regarded as the best female bodybuilder of all time as she has won the prestigious Ms. Olympia title a record ten times and has also won the Ms. International crown seven times. Famously known as “The Female Ronnie Coleman,” Kyle has a massive fan base all around the world due to her physique.

Who is the most bulky female bodybuilder?:

Nataliya Kuznetsova is known as the most bulky female bodybuilder. The Russian muscle monster started training for bodybuilding and powerlifting when she was just 14. Her career peaked when she won the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest. She holds several world records in powerlifting and arm wrestling.

Who was the first female bodybuilder?:

Abbye “Pudgy” Stockton is widely known as the first female bodybuilder as she used to compete around the 1950s, an era when the female division of the sport was almost non-existent. She paved the way for women to showcase their power and strength in bodybuilding, and then women like Rachel Mclish and Cory Everson took the baton from her.

Who is the best natural female bodybuilder?:

Stephanie Hammermeister, an American IFBB Pro bodybuilder, is widely popular as the best natural female bodybuilder due to her incredible physique and strength. She is also an ISSA-certified trainer and resolution specialist coach with over 135k followers on Instagram.

Do female bodybuilders take steroids?:

Yes, many female bodybuilders use steroids to build massive physiques and push their bodies beyond their natural limits. Some of the women take oral steroids while others use injectables for more convenience and faster results. Anavar and Winstrol are some of the most common steroids used by female bodybuilders.

Do female bodybuilders take testosterone?:

Yes, female bodybuilders take testosterone injections as they help increase muscle size, boost strength, and aid muscle recovery. The female body produces a lower amount of testosterone naturally as compared to males. Hence, female bodybuilders prefer external sources to meet their requirements.