| Female bodybuilding has been around longer than you | | | | Committee held its first National competition for female |
| might think. According to competitive physical contests | | | | bodybuilding women. While seeing Laura Combes win, |
| female bodybuilders have been competing since the | | | | this event set a precedent for the sport. |
| 1960s. Some of the early competitions included the | | | | Yet another big name female bodybuilding competition |
| Miss Americana and Miss Physique contests for | | | | was hosted in 19080. The Miss Olympia contest was |
| female bodybuilders. Unfortunately, the early | | | | won by another prominent female bodybuilder by the |
| competitions were more in line with beauty contests. | | | | name of Rachel McLish. The Ms. Olympia contest has |
| Finally, in the late 1970s, the U.S. Women's National | | | | grown to become a very prestigious event. Because |
| Physique Championship highlighted female bodybuilding | | | | of the magnitude of the Miss Olympia contest and with |
| as the genuine sport it was meant to be. | | | | Rachal McLish having taken the honors at the National |
| A few names of recognition in establishing respect for | | | | Physique Committee's USA Championship earlier in |
| the sport of female bodybuilding include Laura | | | | 1980, she was able to more successfully promote the |
| Combes, Rachel McLish, Kike Elomaa and Carla | | | | sport to younger female bodybuilders. |
| Dunlap. On April, 8th 1980, the National Physique | | | | |