Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls

In 1988, she began dating Chad Nicholls. At the time, she was an aerobics instructor, but Nicholls directed her towards bodybuilding. After three months under Chad's instructions, Chizevsky-Nicholls, weighing 121 pounds (55 kg) at 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m), placed second in the lightheavyweight class in the 1989 NPC Jr. Tri State. With the exception of the 1989 NPC Jr. Tri State and 1989 AAU Central USA, Chizevsky-Nicholls would place 1st in every amateur bodybuilding competition she attended. Chizevsky-Nicholls earned her pro card by winning the 1992 IFBB North American Championship, competing at 147 pounds (67 kg).[1]

In her 1993 pro debut, Chizevsky-Nicholls attended her first pro competition, the Ms. International, which she won. In November 1993, she attended her first Ms. Olympia, where she placed fifth. At the 1994 Ms. International, she would place fifth. In 1995, she placed second at the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia.[1]

In 1996, Chizevsky-Nicholls would win the Ms. International and dethroned the Ms. International champion, Laura Creavalle. Also in 1996, she would unseat six-time Ms. Olympia defending champion, Lenda Murray. This was the first time a pro female bodybuilder would win both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia in the same year. She would retain her Ms. Olympia title in 1997 against Lenda Murry, who retired afterwards. At the 1997 Ms. Olympia, she competed at 157 pounds (71 kg). In 1998 and 1999, she would win both Ms. Olympia competitions.[1]

Chizevsky-Nicholls decided to retire from bodybuilding after winning the 1999 Ms. Olympia. According to Bill Dobbins, she retired due gender discrimination guidelines set up by the IFBB that advocated for more "femininity" and less "muscularity" in the sport.[1][4]

Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls is regarded as one of the greatest and most muscular female bodybuilders of all time. She was the first female bodybuilder to win both the Ms. International and Olympia in the same year in 1996. She ranks as the best female bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding Ranking List until October 22, 2000.[5][6] In January 2008, Chizevsky was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame.[1][7]

• 1989 Tri-State Bodybuilding (Illinois) - 2nd (LHW)
• 1989 AAU Illinois - 1st (Tall)
• 1989 AAU Central USA - 2nd (Tall)
• 1990 NPC Tri-State - 1st (HW)
• 1990 AAU Southern Illinois - 1st (Tall)
• 1990 AAU Illinois - 1st (Overall)
• 1990 AAU Central USA - 1st (Overall)
• 1991 NPC Continental USA - 1st (Overall)
• 1991 MPC Midwest Grand Prix - 1st (Overall)
• 1992 NPC Junior Nationals - 1st (HW and overall)
• 1992 IFBB North American Championship - 1st (HW and overall)
• 1993 IFBB Ms. International - 1st
• 1993 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 5th
• 1994 IFBB Ms. International - 5th
• 1995 IFBB Ms. International - 2nd
• 1995 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd
• 1996 IFBB Ms. International - 1st
• 1996 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1997 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1998 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1999 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st[8]

• 2001 IFBB Fitness International - 6th
• 2002 Southwest Pro Fitness - 4th[8]

• 2003 IFBB Show of Strength Pro Championship - 9th
• 2004 IFBB Show of Strength Pro Championship - 7th[8]

In July 1995, Chizevsky-Nicholls appeared on Geraldo, along with Bill Dobbins, Lenda Murray, Debbie Muggli, Sharon Bruneau, Debbie Kruck, Sha-ri Pendleton, and Nikki Fuller.[9]

The 2000 documentary Bodybuilders dealing with female bodybuilding and specifically concentrates on Ms. Olympia and the rapid changes that happened to the sport from 1980 to 2000, with Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls being featured and interviewed in the film.

In 2000, Chizevsky-Nicholls appeared in The Cell, which starred Jennifer Lopez. In the film she is depicted topless, but according to director Tarsem Singh's DVD audio commentary it reveals that she was actually wearing fake breasts over her own.[10]