| Everyone has either heard of or is familiar with the | | | | women bodybuilding competitions, coverage on major |
| sport of competitive bodybuilding. The female | | | | television networks and despite some controversies |
| component, which is known as women bodybuilding, | | | | along the way, women bodybuilding has more than |
| began in the late 1970s as women began to participate | | | | proven it's ability to remain in the ranks of this popular |
| in competitions. Now, more than three decades later, | | | | sport. As further proof, the IFBB established a Hall of |
| women bodybuilding is a large part of the sport and | | | | Fame in 1999, which would honor bodybuilding's top |
| has begun to garner the respect that it has strived for | | | | athletes. To date, 14 women bodybuilding competitors |
| since it's inception. | | | | have been inducted. Among them, Carla Dunlap, Cory |
| Although physique contests for women can actually | | | | Everson and Rachel McLish, Bev Francis, Lisa Lyon |
| be documented in the 1960s, they were little more than | | | | and Abbye Stockton, Kay Baxter, Diana Dennis, Kike |
| bikini contests. The first true women bodybuilding | | | | Elomaa, Laura Combes, Lynn Conkwright, Ellen Van |
| competition is regarded as the one held in Canton, Ohio | | | | Maris, Stacy Bentley and Claudia Wilbourn. |
| in 1978. Promoted by Henry McGhee, the first United | | | | In late 2004, the IFBB introduced a new rule that |
| States Women's National Physique Championship was | | | | required women bodybuilding participants decrease |
| the first competition where the entrants were judged | | | | their amount of muscularity by 20%, which is now |
| solely on their muscularity as opposed to how well | | | | referred to simply as the ‘20% rule.' The rule |
| they looked in swimsuits. | | | | applies to those whose physique requires the |
| By 1979, more women bodybuilding competitions were | | | | decrease. In 2005, another rule was introduced that |
| being held. The sport, however, did not possess a | | | | would abolish the weight class system beginning with |
| sanctioning body until 1980. Known as the National | | | | the 2005 Ms. Olympia. |
| Physique Committee, this organization hosted the first | | | | In addition to women bodybuilding, there are two |
| women's nationals and became the top amateur level | | | | additional categories that are closely related and often |
| competition for women bodybuilding in the United | | | | held as part of the same event. The fitness |
| States. Additionally, 1980 marked the first Ms. Olympia | | | | competition includes a swimsuit round, along with a |
| competition, which is the most honored competition for | | | | round that has the entrants judged on their |
| women bodybuilding professionals. | | | | performance in aerobics, dance or gymnastics. The |
| As the sport continued to grow and increase in overall | | | | second category is a figure competition, which is a |
| popularity, competitors found themselves needing to | | | | newer format, and has the participants being judged |
| train harder and improve their overall muscular | | | | exclusively on their symmetry and muscle tone. This |
| physique. By the 1980s, women bodybuilding was no | | | | category focuses less on muscle size than does |
| longer a bikini contest or seeing who could pose in the | | | | women bodybuilding. |
| highest heels. Now, it was becoming a popular sport | | | | Although women bodybuilding has continued to grow in |
| with championship titles and increasing fan attendance. | | | | popularity, the prize money remains significantly less |
| With films that have been produced in honor of | | | | than is awarded to male bodybuilders. |