From a 2004 Flex Magazine article written by Steve Wennerstrom:

"Bergmann's 2001 lightweight and overall Ms. Olympia wins after a 12-year layoff will stand as one of the most impressive accomplishments in the history of the sport, and the feat places her in the same stratosphere of fame as Murray, Cory Everson and Kim Chizevsky. "

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Gallery click here Born 1953 Los Angeles, California, USA Lisa Lyon competed only once in her brief bodybuilding career, but what she lacked in competitive longevity, she more than made up for in helping the women’s side of the sport gain initial media attention. Lyon studied art at the University of California at Los Angeles, and became accomplished in kendo, the Japanese art of fencing. It was her need of added upper-body strength for kendo that brought her to weight training and, eventually, bodybuilding. After winning the first IFBB Women’s World Pro Bodybuilding Championships in Los Angeles on June 16, 1979, Lyon immediately became a one-woman media-relations activist on behalf of the sport. She appeared in all the bodybuilding publications of the time and was featured in many magazines outside the world of fitness and muscle. She made the rounds on the television talk shows and wrote a book on weight training for women titled Lisa Lyon’s Body Magic, which was published in 1981. Although Lyon briefly served as unofficial chairperson for women’s bodybuilding in its infancy, her fondest desire was to explore bodybuilding as an artistic medium. Elevating bodybuilding to the level of fine art, Lyon was photographed by the likes of Helmut Newton and Robert Mapplethorpe, and was the first female bodybuilder to appear in Playboy (October 1980).

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Carla's website

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sweetmuscle 

Born October 22, 1954
Newark, New Jersey, USA 

Coming to bodybuilding in 1979 by way of synchronized swimming, Carla placed 5^th in the 1979 Best in the World contest held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

By 1981, Dunlap had won the American Women’s Championships, and she successfully defended the title in 1982; that same year she lost the IFBB Ms. Olympia title by just two points to Rachel McLish. In 1983, Dunlap experienced a unique triple-winning run.

She won the IFBB Pro Worlds, followed that up with a stunning win at the IFBB Ms. Olympia and, in December, completed the hat-trick by winning the Caesar’s World Cup.

A leading spokeswoman for bodybuilding over the years, Carla went on to compete in a total of seven IFBB Ms. Olympia contests and, to this day, is the only woman to have competed in the decades of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Carla’s last contest was the 1993 IFBB Ms. International. She remains one of the sport’s most highly respected individuals.

Carla Dunlap, perhaps more than any other, embodied the spirit of what women could accomplish in a sport previously thought of as an exclusively male domain.
IFBB.com

Shelley Beattie paved the way for all of the female bodybuilders of today. She was a hero to me. The world of women’s bodybuilding is mourning the loss of Shelley Beattie, one of the top female pros of the 1990s. Shelley died on February 16, 2008, in Salem, Oregon. She was just 39 years-old.

Shelley, who was partially deaf, was probably best known as “Siren” on American Gladiators in the 1990s. I cannot belive that this beautiful person took her own life. Tragic end for a wonderful woman and amazing athlete. We love you Shelley.

John Romano, Shelley’s ex-husband, says she embodied “the last of the Cory era”. Shelley was also known for her spectacular posing routines, even though she had difficulty hearing her posing music.

Shelley's gallery click here.

American Gladiator "Siren" photo gallery click

SIREN SAYS
By John Romano

Where do bodybuilders go when they don't bodybuild anymore? Why do they quit? Who knows? We hardly ever see them after they do; most just kind of fade away. Few, though, persevere and end up doing something special. This is an interview with one such former bodybuilder. 

  Shelley Beattie hasn't stepped on a bodybuilding stage since 1993. Since then she has parlayed her athletic ability into a small fortune as "Siren" on the popular TV show The American Gladiators. During all of 1995, Shelley was a crew member of America Cubed--the first female team in 143 years to chase sailing's most prestigious prize--the Americas Cup. She has maintained an endorsement relationship with TWINLAB; done TV shows, movies, commercials, public service announcements, speaking engagements, and charity work.

For her, bodybuilding as a stepping stone is a drastic understatement. Versatile, courageous, sexy, strong, outspoken--a true role model in a world where there are few, Shelley and her indomitable spirit are something which bodybuilding should be eternally proud to call its own.

JR: Shelley, you were at your best in 1992 when you took third in the Ms. Olympia. Subsequent seventh and ninth placings at the Ms. International and the Ms. Olympia, respectively, seem to have been a turning point for you. Do you also think it was a turning point for bodybuilding?

SB: Nothing against Laura and Lenda, but, yes, I do. If I had won the O in '92, a much different standard would have been set. I had a much different physique than everybody else. I even heard comments like "they didn't know what to do with me." Getting third was definitely a complement to me, to how I trained... naturally. My beliefs in bodybuilding are very free, but, (sigh) it only lasted that one show. It kind of did a 180 the other way, and that's where things are right now.

JR: I assume you're talking about rampant drug use and what it's done to the girls, but you openly admitted to using drugs to turn pro in 1990.

SB: Sure.

JR: Okay, and since then you haven't used drugs. You certainly didn't use them when I worked with you...

SB: No way.

JR: For the naysayers, the proof of that is of course the fact that you were drug-tested, repeatedly. Certainly not by the IFBB, but by virtue of your employment by the American Gladiators.

SB: And the kids' show, G2000, we were drug-tested for that too.

JR: So, even though the IFBB failed to uphold its responsibility, a higher power did, and you were in fact drug free for the entire duration of your pro career. How do you feel about that--knowing that out of all the competitors out there, and taking into consideration the state of the sport right now, knowing that you were abiding by the rules--you were following the rules to the letter--you were drug-free, you were third in the world--don't you think that by virtue of all that bodybuilding could have taken a stand right then and there?

SB: Hell yeah! I think about that but I can't let it bog my head. You know, it's... bodybuilding was everything to me, it just totally consumed me in every way. And when you get way up there, and I was doing everything right, doing what I believed was right, and feeling very confidant--probably more confidant than I've ever felt about any goals that I've ever accomplished, and then getting a slap in the face...

JR: What was the slap in the face?

Click to read more ...

Information about Shelley's past:

Height: 5'7" Weight: 150-155 lbs

Notable Athletic Accomplishments: * 1988/1989 co-ed and women handcar world champion and two new world records (still unbeaten) * 1989 unofficial world record bench press: at body wt. 163 lbs benched 315 lbs. * 1990 USA

Bodybuilding Champion * 1991 Ms. International: 3rd place * 1991 Ms. Olympia: 6th place * 1992 Ms. Olympia: 3rd place * 1994-95 Grinder on America3 America's Cup team. Placed 2nd in World Championships Occupation: *

American Gladiator (Siren) * 1992-1997 athelete contract with Twin Labratories, the largest sport supplement company in the world * Contributing Editor of Muscular Development magazine * Public speaker on motivation, nutrition and overcoming adversity * Athletic model Favorite activities: Rock climbing (5.11), Olympic Kayaking, Modern, Jazz, Funk and Hip Hop dancing, Weightlifting/bodybuilding, rollerblading, gymnastics, biking, equestrian, football, swimming, track & field, national level heptathalete, riding her Harlely Davison, acting/dance theater, in-line skating, and jogging in deep sand

Hearing Loss: Started at age 3. By sixth grade, her right ear was so far gone she needed a hearing aid. The left ear followed shortly afterwards. College:Western Oregon State -- although receiving many scholarship offers due to her proficiency in track, she realized that she would need to quit track and concentrate on learning in order to make up for the education she missed due to her hearing loss Favorite quotes:

* Never doubt your abilities * Don't let others define who you are * God only gives us what we can take and what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger * Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Speech

Shelley Beattie is pretty much a complete embodyment of what I admire about female bodybulders. Shelley has managed to turn her life around from a suicidal teenager who couldn't come to grips with her hearing loss and found no support from her family to a very successful and popular athlete. She feels now that she has come to the point in her life where people see past her hearing loss. Although Shelley learned to sign in American Sign Language (ASL) she enjoys speaking. She has now learned to accept her hearing loss and states that she wants specifically to adopt a deaf child someday. Although her relationship with her real parents is improving now, her hearing loss (and her denial) caused many severe problems during her childhood and she was eventually placed into a foster home -- 3 foster homes.

Being stripped from her family took it's emotional toll on young Shelley and she began lifting weights about age 14 mostly out of frustration and loneliness. Although, the America Gladiators were relectant to hire Shelley because of her hearing loss, she has now become one of the most popular stars of the show. She also shares a column in Muscular Development magazine with husband John Romano. After a successful career as one of the top female bodybuilders, Shelley decided to leave bodybuilding to persue other interests.

1. bill wick, on March 11th, 2008 at 10:53 pm Said:

   Shelley Beattie Committed Suicide After Suffering from Bipolar Disorder
   Posted on 13:00 March 11th, 2008 by Millard Baker
   ……………………………………………………
   The Salem Statesman-Journal reports the cause of death of former IFBB pro bodybuilder Shelley Beattie (”Farewell to one who beat so many obstacles,” March 10):

   Shelley Beattie was an inspiration to the deaf community, overcoming her disability to become a professional bodybuilder, a television personality and a competitive sailor.

   “The only thing I can’t do is hear,” she used to say.

   Last month she discovered one other thing she couldn’t do: live with bipolar disorder. While under a doctor’s care during a six-week stay at a psychiatric hospital, she took her own life.

   Shelley was extremely popular as a person, a female bodybuilder, an athlete, and an American Gladiator as can be seen by the comments to the original announcment of her death.

   Our condolences to her parents, Jack Beattie and Laura Mitchell, and her life partner, Julie Moisa.

   Bill Wick

   Join the discusion 

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Some funny outtakes from Femalemuscle photo shoots. Tons of broken links. Please ignore them and enjoy the photos. I am working on the mess that I have created.