Ms. International

The Ms. International female bodybuilding contest was considered to be the second-most prestigious competition for female bodybuilders (second only to the Ms. Olympia competition), from its inception in 1986 through 2013. It was first held in 1986 by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB.). In 1987, the IFBB allowed the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to sanction the Ms. International as an amateur event. In 1988, the contest was again sanctioned by the IFBB. From 1989 on, the contest was part of the Arnold Sports Festival.

The top all-time winners are Iris Kyle with seven titles and followed by Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia with five titles. The only amateur to win the overall title was Kathy Segal.

In 2013, it was announced that IFBB would drop Ms. International from the 2014 IFBB Pro Schedule.[1]

History

1986–1988

The first Ms. International was held in 1986, and was sanctioned by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (I.F.B.B.). The contest was held in conjunction with the men's event, which was called the IFBB Pro World Championship. Ben Weider proclaimed that the top six finishers would qualify for IFBB pro status, and be invited to compete at the 1986 IFBB Pro World in Toronto. The 1986 and 1988 Ms. Internationals were designated as pro-am contests, and top amateurs were also invited to compete. In 1987, Ms. International was an amateur event sanctioned by the AAU. In 1988, Jim Lorimer and Arnold Schwarzenegger felt the women's competition should become a regular event along with the men's.[2]

1989–1999

Since 1989, the men's Pro World Championship was renamed the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic and the Ms. International become part of The Arnold Classic Weekend. That same year Tonya Knight had to forfeit both her placing and prize money from the 1988 and 1989 Ms. International when it was found out that she used someone else to take her drug test at the 1989 Ms. Olympia. The first narrow victory came in 1991 when Tonya Knight topped Anja Schreiner by a score of 30 to 32.[2] There has been some controversy at the 1992 Ms. International. Anja Schreiner and Paula Bircumshaw both had the same body height, however, Paula had much more muscle and weight (162 lbs). The judges regulated her to eighth place and the judges did not, as custom, called out the top ten competitors on stage before announcing the winners. However this time, they only announced the top six competitors on stage in order to prevent Paula back on stage. The audience rioted over this decision and changed Paula's name. Paula did come back on stage only to give the judges the middle finger. Because of this, she was given a year's suspension. In 1996, Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls became the first to win both Ms. International and Ms. Olympia in the same year.

2000–2005

The 2000 contest saw the introduction of weight classes, with a posedown between the two class winners to decide the overall championship. In 2004, Iris Kyle won her first heavyweight and overall Ms. Intentional. In 2005, Iris skipped the Ms. International, and focused defending her Olympia title, allowing Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia to win.

2006–2013

The contest reverted to the single, open-class format in 2006. In 2006 and 2007, Iris won both Ms. Internationals. In 2007, the NPC Arnold Amateur was created as part of the Arnold Classic Weekend, which contained amateur women's bodybuilding. The Arnold Amateur Ms. International, unlike Arnold Classic Ms. International, contains weight classes. From 2007 to 2010 the Arnold Amateur Ms. International contained three weight classes, lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight. The overall winner of the Amateur Ms. International wins an IFBB pro card. In 2011, the middleweight was removed.

There was a bit of a controversy in the 2008 Ms. International. Iris was placed 7th due to "bumps" on her gluts which according to head IFBB judge, Sandy Ranalli, “distortions in her physique.”,[3] The second most narrowest victory in Ms. International history came at the 2008 Ms. International, when Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia edged runner-up Dayana Cadeau, by the score of 30 to 32.[2] Iris Kyle rebounded at the 2009 Ms. International, which she won. Iris went on to win both the 2010 and 2011 Ms. International. Due to a leg injury, Iris could not compete in the 2012 Ms. International, which was won by Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia. In 2013, Iris Kyle won back her Ms. International title.

On June 7, 2013, event promoter of the Arnold Sports Festival, Jim Lorimer, announced that in 2014, the Arnold Classic 212 professional men's bodybuilding division would replace the Ms. International women's bodybuilding competition at the 2014 Arnold Sports Festival. Lorimer, in a statement, said “The Arnold Sports Festival was proud to support women’s bodybuilding through the Ms. International for the past quarter-century, but in keeping with demands of our fans, the time has come to introduce the Arnold Classic 212 beginning in 2014. We are excited to create a professional competitive platform for some of the IFBB Pro League’s most popular competitors.”[4]

2018

On January 5, 2018, Beth Mandyck, a female bodybuilder, filed a sex discrimination lawsuit with the city of Columbus, Ohio over the IFBB canceling the Ms. International from the Arnold Sports Festival. She has also started a change.org petition. Her complaint has been backed by Iris Kyle, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, former Olympic gold medalist and the CEO of Champion Women, an advocacy group for women in sports, and Women's Sports Foundation.[5]

Winners

Ms. International Overall Winner, by Year

YearOverall Champion
1986 Erika Geisen
1987 Kathy Segal
1988 Cathey Palyo
1989 Jackie Paisley
1990 Laura Creavalle
1991 Tonya Knight
1992 Anja Schreiner
1993 Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls
1994 Laura Creavalle
1995 Laura Creavalle
1996 Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls
1997 Yolanda Hughes-Heying
1998 Yolanda Hughes-Heying
1999 Ondrea Gates
2000 Ondrea Gates
2001 Ondrea Gates
2002 Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
2003 Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
2004 Iris Kyle
2005 Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
2006 Iris Kyle
2007 Iris Kyle
2008 Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
2009 Iris Kyle
2010 Iris Kyle
2011 Iris Kyle
2012 Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
2013 Iris Kyle

Professional Bodybuilding (IFBB)

YearOverallHeavyweightLightweightVenue
1986 Erika Geisen
1988 Cathey Palyo
1989 Jackie Paisley1Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1990 Laura CreavalleGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1991 Tonya KnightGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1992 Anja SchreinerGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1993 Kim Chizevsky-NichollsGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1994 Laura CreavalleGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1995 Laura CreavalleGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1996 Kim Chizevsky-NichollsGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1997 Yolanda Hughes-HeyingGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1998 Yolanda Hughes-HeyingGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1999 Ondrea GatesGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2000 Ondrea Gates Ondrea Gates Brenda RaganotGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2001 Ondrea Gates Ondrea Gates Dayana CadeauGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2002 Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Valentina ChepigaGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2003 Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Catherine LeFrançoisGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2004 Iris Kyle Iris Kyle Dayana CadeauGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2005 Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Brenda RaganotGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2006 Iris KyleHeavyweight category not held.Lightweight category not held.Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2007 Iris KyleGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2008 Yaxeni Oriquen-GarciaGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2009 Iris KyleGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2010 Iris KyleGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2011 Iris KyleGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2012 Yaxeni Oriquen-GarciaGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2013 Iris KyleGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

Notes:

  • 1 Tonya Knight had to forfeit both her placing and prize money when it was found out that she used someone else to take her drug test at the 1988 Ms. Olympia.

Amateur Bodybuilding (AAU)

YearOverallTallMediumShortMasters 35+ MiddleWeightMasters 45+Venue
1987 Kathy Segal Kathy SegalMelissa CroftTrump Castle Casino and Hotel
Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1988 Cathy Butler Jodi Osborne Cathy ButlerLisa MorroneJosette GishCarol VerronoGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

Amateur Bodybuilding (NPC)

YearOverallLightweightMiddleweightHeavyweightVenue
2007 Dianne Brown Dianne Brown Shar Courtney Marcia FergusonGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2008 Maria Segura Joanne Stewart Holly Nicholson Maria SeguraGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2009 Elena Shportun-Willemer Johanna Dejager Elena Shportun-Willemer Maria Rita BelloGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2010 Maria Rito Bello Lisa Aranda Marina Lemenovskaya Maria Rito BelloGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2011 Alevtina Goroshinskaya Marina LemenovskayaMiddleweight category not held. Alevtina GoroshinskayaGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2012 Olga Puzanova Lo Kit Ming Olga PuzanovaGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
2013 Branka Njegovec Branka Njegovec Kashma Siana MaharajGreater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

Ranking of Ms. International Champions

Ranking Ms. International champion Year(s) Number of wins
Overall Heavyweight Lightweight
1st Iris Kyle 2004 (heavyweight & overall), 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013 7 1 0
2nd Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia 2002 (heavyweight & overall), 2003 (heavyweight & overall), 2005 (heavyweight & overall), 2008, and 2012 5 3 0
3rd Ondrea Gates 1999, 2000 (heavyweight & overall), and 2001 (heavyweight & overall) 3 2 0
4th Laura Creavalle 1990, 1994, and 1995 3 0 0
5th Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls 1993 and 1996 2 0 0
5th Yolanda Hughes-Heying 1997 and 1998 2 0 0
6th Erika Geisen 1986 1 0 0
6th Kathy Segal 1987 1 0 0
6th Cathey Palyo 1988 1 0 0
6th Jackie Paisley 1989 1 0 0
6th Tonya Knight 1991 1 0 0
6th Anja Schreiner 1992 1 0 0
7th Brenda Raganot 2000 (lightweight) and 2005 (lightweight) 0 0 2
7th Dayana Cadeau 2001 (lightweight) and 2004 (lightweight) 0 0 2
8th Valentina Chepiga 2002 (lightweight) 0 0 1
8th Catherine LeFrançois 2003 (lightweight) 0 0 1

See also

References

  1. "2014 IFBB Pro Schedule" (PDF). musculardevelopment. November 27, 2013. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2013.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "The Ms. International" (PDF). Archived from the original on May 27, 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. "Iris Kyle Discusses Ms International Results with Pro Bodybuilding Weekly". MESO-Rx. Archived from the original on 2014-01-08.
  4. "Ms. International Dropped from 2014 Arnold Sports Festival". Hard Body News. June 7, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-06-07. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  5. Female bodybuilder alleges gender discrimination at Arnold Sports Festival
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