Top 6 Best Women's Bodybuilders of All Time

In the 1970s, women’s bodybuilding became popular alongside a new wave of feminism and the female powerlifting movement. Bodybuilding requires strength, discipline, and determination; these women have what it takes. Here are the six best women’s bodybuilders of all time. 

Who are the best women’s bodybuilders of all time?

1. Iris Kyle
2. Lenda Murray
3. Andrea Shaw
4. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
5. Monique Jones
6. Melania Keltaniemi

1. Iris Kyle

• Iris Kyle is 5’7” and weighs 150-180 pounds
• 10-time Ms. Olympia Champion
• Seven-time Ms. International Champion

Iris Kyle was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, in 1974 as the youngest of six children. She was always very involved in sports and received a scholarship to Alcorn State University. Kyle was inspired by Lenda Murray and entered the world of bodybuilding in her 20s. She won her first show at the NPC Long Beach Classic in 1994. Kyle began participating in more shows, despite facing a lot of racism and discrimination. Once her role model, Lenda Murray went on to be Kyle’s rival. Murray beat Kyle at Ms. Olympia competitions in 2002 and 2003 but lost in 2004.

2. Lenda Murray

• At 5’5,” Lenda Murray weighs 150-164 pounds
• Went pro at the 1989 North American Championships
• Had a six-year streak of winning the Ms. Olympia competition from 1991-1996

Lenda Murray was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. As a childhood cheerleader and track star, she became the second Black homecoming queen at Western Michigan University. After she was rejected from the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad, Murray hit the gym. Strength training quickly became a lifelong passion. She won 4th place at her first show, the 1985 Michigan State Championships. She made pro at the 1989 North American Championships, where she won first place. Lenda Murray has won the Ms. Olympia competition eight times, making her one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.

3. Andrea Shaw

• Andrea is 5’6” and weighs 170-191 pounds
• Two-time Ms. Olympia Champion (2020, 2021)
• Two-time Pro League WOS Rising Phoenix Women’s Bodybuilding Champion (2020, 2021)

Andrea Shaw was born in 1983 and raised in Detroit, Michigan. As a kid, she practiced gymnastics and cheer until her mom’s trainer encouraged Shaw to try bodybuilding. She had no interest in competing professionally and instead wanted to be a model. She started competing in 2008, then took a hiatus to go to Wayne State University, where she majored in sports and exercise science. After, she became a physique competitor and won 2nd place at the 2019 Nationals. She won the 2020 and 2021 Ms. Olympia competitions. Andrea is also a personal trainer and plans to earn her doctorate.

4. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia

• At 5’8”, Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia weighs in at 160-180 pounds
• Five-time Ms. International Champion
• Oriquen-Garcia is the only Venezuelan woman ever to win the Ms. Olympia competition (2005)

Yaxeni Milagros Oriquen-Garcia is a Venezuelan-American bodybuilder who was born in Cabimas, Venezuela in 1966. She is the youngest of nine children and began her career on stage in the world of modeling and theater. In 1989, she started bodybuilding. She started competing in 1993 and won four amateur contests. Then, she won the Ibero Central American Championships, which marked her entrance into professional bodybuilding. She moved to the United States shortly after. She won the Ms. Olympia competition in 2005, the only Venezuelan to ever do so. She holds five Ms. International titles from 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2012.

5. Monique Jones

• Monique Jones is 5’8” and weighs 190 pounds
• She is ranked the 7th best women’s bodybuilder in the pro league
• Has won first place in 9 separate professional competitions

Born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, in 1979, Monique Jones started strength training with her father’s weights when she was just 13 years old. By the time she was 15, she was training seriously. At age 18, she started entering competitions. Jones couldn’t decide between figure and bodybuilding, so she entered both and won both titles. She decided to compete in figure for a few years, then switched to bodybuilding. She entered the IFBB North American Championships in 2010 and earned first place in heavyweight, officially becoming a pro. Jones is ranked 7th best bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro Women’s Bodybuilding Ranking as of 2022. 

6. Melina Keltaniemi

• Melina Keltaniemi is 5’4” and 120 pounds
• She holds the record for the first-ever IFBB Pro World Bikini Competition
• She is one of the youngest pro women bodybuilders in the league at just 26 years old

Melina was born in 1996 in Finland. As a kid, she loved gymnastics, dancing, skating, and cheerleading. She started training at the gym when she was 17. She started as an amateur bodybuilder in 2016, where she won the Spring Finnish Junior Championships. The following fall, she earned the Over title in the open category and also won the Ben Weider Legacy Cup. She competed in the inaugural IFBB Elite Pro in Finland. She holds the title for the first-ever IFBB Pro World Bikini Champion. Melina values her personal time and ensures to take proper rest between all of her competitions. 

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