The Bikini International is one of seven championship events held during the Arnold Classic weekend in Columbus, OH. Since 2011, the contest has become one of the division’s most prestigious titles.
Nine athletes have won the Bikini International at least once. Eight of them have also won the Bikini Olympia title. The most recent is three-time defending Bikini International champion Lauralie Chapados, who added the Olympia championship to her trophy case in 2024.
The 2025 Bikini International — the contest’s 15th edition — will be held at the 2025 Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH, from Feb. 28 through March 1, 2025. Here is a look back at the previous 14 contest results:
Bikini International Champions
- Nicole Nagrani (2011)
- Sonia Gonzalez (2012)
- India Paulino (2013, 2016)
- Ashley Kaltwasser (2014-15)
- Angelica Teixeira (2017-18)
- Janet Layug (2019)
- Elisa Pecini (2020)
- Jennifer Dorie (2021)
- Lauralie Chapados (2022-24)
[Related: Did Science Just Find the Best Shoulder Exercise for Muscle Growth?]
[Related: What a Week of Workouts For Fitness Coach Marissa McNamara Looks Like]
Nicole Nagrani (2011)
If you are ever asked the trivia question, “Who was the first Bikini International winner?” The answer is Nicole Nagrani at the inaugural contest in 2011. Nagrani beat the first and then reigning Olympia champion, Sonia Gonzalez.
- Nicole Nagrani
- Sonia Gonzalez
- Nathalia Melo
Sonia Gonzalez (2012)
One year later, the roles were reversed. Nagrani entered the 2012 Bikini International as the Olympia champion, and Gonzalez achieved revenge, leaving Columbus as champion. Nagrani would end up in third place.
- Sonia Gonzalez
- India Paulino
- Nicole Nagrani
India Paulino (2013, 2016)
India Paulino was a rising star in the young division. She realized her potential, winning two Bikini International titles in 2013 and 2016. Her latter win made her the first Bikini competitor to regain the International title after losing it.
2013
- India Paulino
- Nathalia Melo
- Nicole Nagrani
2016
- India Paulino
- Justine Munro
- Janet Layug
Ashley Kaltwasser (2014-15)
Ashley Kaltwasser holds the record for most wins by any IFBB Professional League competitor — 50 going into the 2025 season. Two of those wins were on the Arnold Classic stage.
The Ohio native became the first repeat champion in 2014 and 2015. Those two trophies and three Olympia championships sit on her mantle. Kaltwasser is credited as a key figure in elevating the division throughout the decade, and her performances in these two events are major reasons why.
2014
- Ashley Kaltwasser
- Yeshaira Robles
- Amanda Latona
2015
- Ashley Kaltwasser
- Justine Munro
- Janet Layug
Angelica Teixeira (2017-18)
By 2017, many division experts saw the momentum that Angelica Teixeira was building. It was simply a matter of when she would reach the top of her category. 2017 was that year; she won the Bikini International and Bikini Olympia. She repeated in 2018.
2017
- Angelica Teixeira
- Courtney King
- Jennifer Ronzitti
2018
- Angelica Teixeira
- Janet Layug
- Casey Samsel-Torres
Janet Layug (2019)
Few competitors can match Janet Layug’s popularity. She was considered the “best not to win the big one” before the 2019 season. She shook that reputation at that year’s Bikini International contest. Though Layug lost the 2019 Olympia and the 2020 Bikini International title, her Olympia victory came by the end of 2020.
- Janet Layug
- Elisa Pecini
- Ashley Kaltwasser
Elisa Pecini (2020)
Elisa Pecini faced a formidable lineup in the 2020 Arnold Classic. This event was held when the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact the world. Nonetheless, the then-reigning Olympia champ added an Arnold trophy to her mantle by beating runner-up Teixeira and bronze-medalist Layug.
- Elisa Pecini
- Angelica Teixeira
- Janet Layug
Jennifer Dorie (2021)
Jennifer Dorie of Canada rose like a rocket in the Bikini division. 2021 was her year. The Arnold Classic was held two weeks before the Olympia, and Dorie secured wins in both.
- Jennifer Dorie
- Elisa Pecini
- Lauralia Chapados
Lauralie Chapados (2022, 2024)
Lauralie Chapados helped Canada keep the Arnold title by winning the 2022 championship. She has since become the division’s only three-time winner.
Chapados’ 2024 win was by a single point over runner-up Aimee Delgado in what many experts called the best matchup in the contest’s history. Chapados aims to defend in the 2025 contest as the Olympia champ.
2022
- Lauralie Chapados
- Maureen Blanquisco
- Ashley Kaltwasser
2023
- Lauralie Chapados
- Maureen Blanquisco
- Jennifer Dorie
2024
- Lauralie Chapados
- Aimee Delgado
- Vania Auguste
More Bodybuilding Content
- Every Winner of the Arnold Classic Men’s Physique Competition
- Every Winner of the Arnold Classic Physique Competition
- Every Winner of the Wellness International Competition
- Every Winner of the Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair Contest
Featured Image: @lauraliechap on Instagram
