The sport of bodybuilding has grown over several decades, but the 2010s may have seen the most expansion thus far. More athletes made the jump to start competing, more pro cards were being awarded than ever before, and two new divisions were created—men’s Physique and Women’s Physique.
The Women’s Physique division came into existence because of the belief that the Women’s bodybuilding athletes were too big and not as marketable as in the past. In 2013, the division was popular enough that the IFBB Pro League felt it deserved to be a part of the Olympia.
Women’s Physique Olympia Champions
- 2013: Dana Linn Bailey
- 2014-2017: Juliana Malacarne
- 2018-2019: Shanique Grant
- 2020-2021, 2023: Sarah Villegas
- 2022: Natalia Abraham Coelho
The division has had nine competitions so far with four champions being named in that time. The first champion, Dana Linn Bailey, is the only one to have one title. The other three champions all have at least two to their credits. Juliana Malacarne is the only one so far to have ended her career as the champion. Here’s a brief look back at the history of this contest, as documented by NPC News Online.
2013: Dana Linn Bailey
The inaugural Women’s Physique Olympia Showdown took place at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Fans weren’t sure what criteria the athletes were trying to meet exactly. It appeared as if it was either a bigger version of the Figure division or a smaller version of the Ms. Olympia bodybuilding requirements.
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What the fans did know were the initials “DLB.” Dana Linn Bailey was one of the most popular athletes in the fitness industry, and she was the biggest name in the lineup. According to the judges, she also had the best physique and left Las Vegas as the first-ever Ms. Physique Olympia champion.
2013 Olympia
- Dana Linn Bailey
- Tycie Coppett
- Sara Hurrie
- Toni West
- Patricia Mello
- Jillian Revelle
- Juliana Malacarne
- Karina Nascimento
- Tamee Marie
- Karin Hobbs
- Mikalia Soto
- Jamie Pinder
- Sabrina Taylor
- Valerie Gangi
- Venus Nguyen
2014-2017: Juliana Malacarne
Going into the 2014 Olympia, Bailey was considered the favorite to defend her title, but there was a contender hot on her heels. Juliana Malacarne finished in seventh place the previous year, but she improved significantly over the 12-month period following that contest. When the two athletes stood side by side, Malacarne was bigger, leaner, and had better shape. The judges gave her the nod and she became the second champion in the division’s second year. Bailey finished as the runner-up. After finishing second to Malacarne in the 2015 Arnold Classic, Bailey moved on to start training for powerlifting.
Meanwhile, Malacarne established herself as the most dominant competitor in the division’s history by winning the next three titles as well. Among the contenders she held off were Kira Neuman, Danielle Reardon, and Jennifer Taylor. After her most convincing victory at the 2017 Olympia, Malacarne announced her retirement from competition as the only four-time champion in this division.
2014 Olympia
- Juliana Malacarne
- Dana Linn Bailey
- Tycie Coppett
- Karina Nascimento
- Sabrina Taylor
- Mindi O’Brien
- La’Drissa Bonivel
- Jillian Reville
- Jennifer Robinson
- Frances Mendez
- Karin Hobbs
- Jacklyn Abrams
- Patricia Mello
- Heather Grace
- Tamee Marie
2015 Olympia
- Juliana Malacarne
- Kira Neuman
- Tycie Coppett
- Danielle Reardon
- Autumn Swanson
- Mindi O’Brien
- Gloria Faulls
- Erica Blockman
- Teresita Morales
- Jacklyn Abrams
- Heather Grace
- Karina Nascimento
- Leah Johnson
- Ayanna Carroll
- Tamee Marie
2016 Olympia
- Juliana Malacarne
- Danielle Reardon
- Heather Grace
- Kira Neuman
- Jamie Nicole Pinder
- Sheronica Henton
- Mindi O’Brien
- Autumn Swansen
- Asha Hadley
- Frances Mendez
- Gloria Faulls
- Rosanna Harte
- Tamee Marie
- Dianne Brown
- Susan Marie Smith
2017 Olympia
- Juliana Malacarne
- Jennifer Taylor
- Heather Grace
- Kira Neuman
- Sheronica Henton
- Danielle Reardon
- Daniely Castilho
- Autumn Swansen
- Eleonora Dobrinina
- Penpraghai Tiangngok
- Jamie Nicole Pinder
- Rosela Joseph
- Melissa Pearo
- Jodi Boam
- Candrea Judd-Adams
2018-2019: Shanique Grant
With Malacarne and Bailey both out of the division, the Women’s Physique Olympia received an infusion of new blood. Two women, Natalia Abraham Coelho and Shanique Grant both burst onto the scene and were considered future champions in the making. Neither athlete was patient, and they emerged as the last two ladies standing at the 2018 Olympia. Grant’s muscularity and confidence swayed the judges in her favor, and she was awarded first place. Coelho finished in second.
The rematch between champion and runner-up was one of the most anticipated showdowns going into the 2019 Olympia. However, Sarah Villegas spoiled the party by coming in as ripped as the champion. Because of that, Coelho got knocked down to third place. However, she didn’t have the size to knock out the champ, and Grant became the second multiple-time winner of the Women’s Physique Olympia.
2018 Olympia
- Shanique Grant
- Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Daniely Castilho
- Jennifer Taylor
- Heather Grace
- Michaela Aycock
- Tomefafa Ameko
- Penpraghai Tiangngok
- Autumn Swansen
- Sarah Villegas
- Margita Zamolova
- Sheronica Henton
- Valentina Mishina
- Mayla Ash
- Antoinette Downie
2019
- Shanique Grant
- Sarah Villegas
- Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Daniely Castilho
- Laura Pintado Chinchilla
- Valentina Mishina
- Jennifer Taylor
- Margita Zamolova
- Tomefafa Ameko
- Sheikha Nguyen
- Mayla Ash
- Heather Grace
- Brittany Watts
- Laura Hays
- Ivie Rhein
2020-2021: Sarah Villegas
What was previously considered a two-woman race was now a three-way dance heading into the 2020 Olympia. Then, the pandemic affected the world, and changes had to be made. The Olympia was moved from September to December, then it had to be moved from Las Vegas to Orlando, FL.
Nonetheless, Villegas understood the assignment and did plenty of homework. The result was a bigger, leaner, and better version of the 2019 runner-up. It helped that Grant wasn’t her all-time best at that contest. For the second time in the division’s history, the champion lost the title onstage, and Villegas was named the new champion. Grant finished in second for the first time in her career. Coelho placed third for the second straight year.
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Not long after the 2020 Olympia, Grant announced her retirement. Villegas even tried to offer incentives for Grant to come back and attempt to regain the title, but Grant declined. The 2021 Olympia would be between Villegas and Coelho. Coelho may have looked the best she ever had in Orlando, but Villegas improved as well. The champ retained the title with Coelho taking second place for the second time. The surprise of the contest was newcomer Brooke Walker, who finished in third place.
2020 Olympia
- Sarah Villegas
- Shanique Grant
- Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Barbara Menage
- Ivie Rhein
- Daniely Castilho
- Rachel Daniels
- Anne-Lorraine Mohn
- Valentina Mishina
- Brittany Watts
- Ruiying Bian
- Laura Richards
- Laura Pintado Chinchilla
- Trish Wood
- Tanya Chartrand
2021 Olympia
- Sarah Villegas
- Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Brooke Walker
- Barbara Menage
- Ana Harias
- Melissa Teich
- Ivie Rhein
- Christelle Zarovska
- Patricia Gosselin
- Anna-Lorraine Mohn
- Laura Pintado Chinchilla
- Elizabeth Bradshaw
- Lenka Ferencukova
- Alyssa Kiessling
- Tanya Chartrand
Who Will Win in 2022?
The tenth Women’s Physique Olympia contest will take place Dec. 16-18, 2022 as a part of the 2022 Olympia weekend, which will return to Las Vegas, NV. Villegas will look to be the second woman to win at least three titles, while Coelho hopes to win her first title. Then there’s Walker, who is being considered a major threat to both Villegas and Coelho. This may be one of the most competitive divisions of the 11 world title contests to take place at Planet Hollywood.
Featured Images: @danalinnbailey, @iamsarahfit on Instagram
