Who are the 12 ranked top female bodybuilders currently?

Who are the 12 ranked top female bodybuilders currently?

Kevin Omuya
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:23 PM

Women who compete in bodybuilding are some of the most dedicated athletes in the world. Female bodybuilders of all ages and weight classes train their bodies to the same extremes as their male counterparts. Top female bodybuilders are found on Instagram, where exceptional female bodybuilders shape amazing physiques and smash records.

Famous female bodybuilders
Who are currently the 12 ranked top female bodybuilders of all time? Photo: @melinakatarina, @therealfitnessbeauty, @misscarriejune (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Lenda Murray is widely and repeatedly considered one of the greatest female competitive bodybuilders of all time. She is a record-holder, eight-time champion, and is the reason many other women to take up weightlifting and bodybuilding. She has inspired many of the ladies in this list of famous female bodybuilders.

Top 12 female bodybuilders

Female athletes compete in bodybuilding in several different classes and divisions, including figure, female physique, and female bodybuilding. These are the top female bodybuilders in 2023 with their Instagram links and a short bio.

12. Beatriz Biscaia

Top female bodybuilders 2023
Who are the 12 ranked top female bodybuilders currently? Photo: @biscaiapro on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

As the youngest IFBB Pro ever, Beatriz's accolades include victories at the Diamond Cup Thorn, the Rui Ferreira Contest, and the Portugal Classic. At the European Pro, the MuscleContest Japan Pro, and the Vancouver Pro, the young female bodybuilder also won silver.

Beatriz works out anywhere from five to six times a week, always focusing on a different muscle area to prevent her body from adjusting to her workouts. She has 69,000 followers on her Instagram profile as of 25 January 2023.

11. Carriejune Bowlby

top female bodybuilders of all time
Carriejune has over 2 million followers on Instagram. Photo: @misscarriejune on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Carriejune Anne Bowlby, an American fitness model and bodybuilder went from skinny to buff over several years. Her transformation from frail to formidable has attracted the attention of over 2 million Instagram followers at the time of writing in January 2023.

This female bodybuilder has gained a global fan base on her Instagram because she is an inspiration. Carriejune started doing sports like track and field, gymnastics and cheerleading in school, and she began lifting weights when she entered her first year of high school. Carriejune exercises six days a week and posts about it on her social media and websites to inspire her followers.

10. Stefi Cohen

Female bodybuilders
Steffi Cohen, holder of the world record in powerlifting, is also a pro boxer. Photo: @steficohen on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Dr. Stefi Cohen is an Olympic weightlifting champion, world-famous physical therapist, and an Instagram celebrity who holds numerous world records. Both the squat and deadlift records are held by Cohen at this time, with her respective numbers being 202.5 kg and 205 kg.

She is one of the most influential people in the fitness industry thanks to her roles as a podcast host and general fitness inspiration, in addition to her status as possibly the biggest female bodybuilder in the world. Cohen is one of the top female bodybuilders on Instagram, with 1 million followers as of 25 January 2023.

9. Shanique Grant

Female bodybuilders
Shanique Grant. Photo: @therealfitnessbeauty on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

American IFBB bodybuilding pro and virtual trainer Shanique Grant only competed for four months when she earned her pro card and won the 2018 and 2019 Women's Physique Olympia titles.

Since she was bullied as a teen, Shanique has struggled with low self-esteem and confidence. She nearly died of kidney failure in her adolescence because she used alcohol as a coping strategy. After finding solace in exercise, Shanique found a new lease on life at the age of 19.

She took first place at the East Coast Championships. Soon after, at the 2016 New York Pro, Shanique took first place in the IFBB Pro Women Physique division. During the Olympia competition of 2020, Shanique finished in second place.

On her YouTube channel, Shanique declared that 2020 was her last year competing in bodybuilding competitions. As of January 2023, Shanique Grant has accumulated 328,000 followers on her Instagram.

8. Sarah Villegas

Miss Olympia bodybuilders
Sarah has won Miss Olympia twice. Photo: @iamsarahfit on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Sarah Villegas is a three-time IFBB Pro Olympian who has won both silver and gold. She is also a personal trainer and a qualified sports nutritionist. Her career as one of the most successful female bodybuilders is just beginning, as she also placed second in the 2019 Olympia Women's Physique competition.

The ripped female bodybuilder won the 2017 Universe Championships and became a professional, competing in and ultimately winning the Chicago Pro. Sarah is an expert in nutrition and personal training and works with hundreds of clients at AFS Premier Fitness to help them achieve their fitness goals.

As of January 2023, on her Instagram profile, Villegas has reached a fanbase of 88,200 followers.

7. Elisa Pecini

Top female bodybuilders of all time
Elisa Pecini competes on September 25, 2021, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH. Photo: Frank Jansky
Source: Getty Images

The 24-year-old Brazilian Pecini swept the 2018 MuscleContest Nacional Pro, 2018 Pittsburgh Pro, 2018 MuscleContest Brazil Pro, and 2019 Olympia titles at 2019, Mr. Olympia. It has not been a smooth road for her. Anorexia nervosa, which she suffered from between the ages of 13 and 15, resulted in her weight loss from 122 to 81 pounds at the height of 5 feet, four inches.

Pecini claims she progressed after a month of treatment because she wanted to "go back to a healthy weight in a safe, progressive, and nonharmful method." After eight months of working out and changing her diet, she felt strong and confident in her new body. In 2015, Pecini debuted in Rio de Janeiro as a bodybuilder. She has 627,000 followers on her official Instagram account.

6. Theresa Ivancik

Famous female bodybuilders
Theresa Ivancik is an entrepreneur and coach. Photo: @tivancik_ifbbpro on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Theresa Ivancik is a qualified personal trainer and professional female bodybuilder for the IFBB Pro League. At the 2019 Rising Phoenix World Championships, she placed sixth. As of 25 January 2023, she has gained 258,000 followers on her Instagram account.

She also showed dominance at the IFBB Chicago competition, where she was named "Best Poser" for her female bodybuilder stances and poses. This toned bodybuilder is also affiliated with Wings of Strength, an encouraging organization that promotes women in the sport. "Wings of Strength allows us women the opportunities to be who we want to be and show the world that we are female bodybuilding," Ivancik added.

5. Yaxeni Oriquen

Female bodybuilders
Yaxeni is a personal trainer and online coach in Miami. She is in a relationship with Jose Invernizzi. Photo: @yaxenita (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Yaxeni Milagros Oriquen-Garcia Perez is a Venezuelan-American professional bodybuilder who has won multiple titles and is now ranked second in the world by the International Federation of Bodybuilders and Fitness Competitors (IFBB).

In 2005, Yaxeni became the first and only Venezuelan-American to win the Ms. Olympia title, making her one of the most successful female bodybuilders. With over 20 years of experience in nutrition, weight training and body sculpting, Yaxeni has won five Ms. International titles (in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2012).

Yaxeni Oriquen has 45,500 followers on her Instagram account as of January 2023.

4. Andrulla Blanchette

Top female bodybuilders of all time
2000 Ms. Olympia, 1st Dan Judo Black Belt, Elite Personal Trainer. Photo: @andrullablanchette on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Andrulla Blanchette is one of the most awarded British female bodybuilders. She competed in many competitions between 1986 and 2002. She won the World Games (1993) and the Ms. Olympia title. She competed in many IFBB events in 2000.

These victories are not the only ones on this ripped woman's resume; she was also placed third in the IFBB Grand Prix three times in a row and placed second in Ms. Olympia's (2001) and Ms. International's (2000, both) competitions.

This well-known British bodybuilder now runs her training facility, where she mentors the next crop of British female competitors. A verified Instagram page for Andrulla could not be found at the time of writing.

3. Monique Jones

Female bodybuilders
Monique Jones (born March 12, 1979) is an American professional female bodybuilder. Photo: @fitnique on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

American Bodybuilding veteran and current No. 7 on the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding Ranking List, Monique Jones, inspire female athletes of all ages. At 13, after her father purchased a set of weights, Monique began training because she was a natural athlete.

Following her victory in the 2010 IFBB North American Championships as a heavyweight, Monique was granted her IFBB Pro card. The North American Championships and the Wings of Strength Chicago Pro-Am Extravaganza saw her take first-place finishes.

Winner of the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Pro and the 2019 Rising Phoenix World Championships, Monique is a formidable competitor in the women's bodybuilding division. As of January 2023, she has gained 93,700 followers on her Instagram profile.

2. Melina Keltaniemi

Female bodybuilders
In 2019, Melina defended her title as an IFBB Elite Pro World Champion. Photo: @melinakatarina on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Melina Keltaniemi is just starting, but she is off to a great start despite being only 25 years of age. This buff female bodybuilder placed second at the 2018 Nordic Elite Pro, third at the 2018 IFBB Elite Pro Russia, and first at the 2018 IFBB Elite Pro World Championship. She has the mentality of a champion athlete and the determination to become the best.

Melina is a smart competitor who would rather maximize her potential as an athlete by learning her weaknesses and working to overcome them than focus solely on victory. She strikes a balance between training hard and taking time off to relax and recharge in the offseason. She plans to compete in the upcoming IFBB Elite Pro World Championship. As of January 2023, she has accumulated 25,100 followers on her Instagram page.

1. Andrea Shaw

Female bodybuilderes
Andrea Shaw (born December 18, 1983) is an American professional bodybuilding champion and physique and figure competitor. Photo: @mzprettymuscle on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Bodybuilder Andrea Shaw is an American woman. At the encouragement of her mother, a nurse, and former personal trainer, Shaw began weight training and bodybuilding when she was 17 years old. This muscular lady competed in five shows in 2018 and earned her pro card at the NPC Nationals. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sports Science.

Starting with a bang, Andrea placed second at the 2018 Nationals and first in the 2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic in the women's physique category. She is currently the top among female bodybuilders of all time. As of January 2023, Shaw has a following of 104,000 on her Instagram account.

Top female bodybuilders are introducing more talented athletes every year and setting new milestones to achieve. The above bio summaries and Instagram links of some of the world's best female bodybuilders will motivate you to pursue your fitness goals or at least get you started on the path to success.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.