Lenda Murray facts for kids

Lenda Murray (born February 22, 1962) is a famous American professional bodybuilder. She is known for winning the Ms. Olympia title many times. She is one of the most successful female bodybuilders ever.

Early Life and Education

Lenda Murray was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. She started playing sports when she was 15 years old. At Henry Ford High School, she was a fast sprinter and a cheerleader.

She later went to Western Michigan University. There, she studied political science and planned to become a lawyer. She continued cheerleading in college. In 1982, she became the second African American to be chosen as the university’s homecoming queen.

After college, she was a cheerleader for the Michigan Panthers football team. She also tried out for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.

Bodybuilding Career

Starting as an Amateur

In 1984, Lenda Murray joined a gym in Highland Park, Michigan. A bodybuilder named Ron Love told her she had a great body for the sport. After training for about a year, she decided to compete.

In 1985, she entered the Ms. Michigan Championships and placed fourth. She loved the sport right away. Her father did not come to her first competition, but he later supported her. Lenda quickly became very good, winning many state and regional contests. In 1989, she became a professional bodybuilder at the IFBB North American Championships.

Becoming a Professional Champion

Winning Ms. Olympia Titles (1990–1995)

Lenda Murray quickly became famous in bodybuilding magazines. Photographers like Bill Dobbins often featured her. In 1990, she won the Ms. Olympia title, taking over from six-time champion Cory Everson. She beat Bev Francis to win.

Lenda held the Ms. Olympia title for six years, from 1990 to 1995. She appeared in popular magazines like Sports Illustrated and Vanity Fair. Her body shape became a standard for female bodybuilders. She had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with a strong lower body. In 1991, she won Ms. Olympia by a very close score against Bev Francis. She continued to win in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995.

First Retirement

In 1996, Lenda Murray lost her Ms. Olympia title to Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls. She placed second again in 1997. After that, she decided to retire from competing.

Returning to Win More (2002–2004)

After four years away, Lenda decided to compete again. She returned to the Ms. Olympia stage in 2002. She won two more Ms. Olympia titles in 2002 and 2003. Her coach during this time was Chad Nicholls.

Second Retirement

In 2004, Lenda Murray finished second in the heavyweight class to Iris Kyle. After this competition, she retired from bodybuilding again.

Lenda Murray's Legacy

Lenda Murray has won eight overall Ms. Olympia titles. She is the second most successful female bodybuilder ever, right after Iris Kyle. For a time in 2003, she was ranked number one in professional female bodybuilding.

Lenda also worked as a commentator for bodybuilding events on ESPN from 1993 to 1996. She was honored in the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2015, she joined the International Sports Hall of Fame. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave her an award when she joined the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2011. Each year, there is a competition called the Lenda Murray Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships. Lenda helps organize this event.

She is also a spokesperson for Wings of Strength and owns a company called Crystal Planet Nutrition.

Competition History

• 1985 NPC Michigan State - 4th
• 1985 NPC Eastern Michigan - 1st
• 1986 NPC Michigan - 3rd
• 1986 NPC Ironwoman Michigan - 3rd
• 1987 NPC Michigan - 3rd
• 1987 NPC North Coast - 2nd
• 1988 NPC Michigan - 1st
• 1989 NPC Junior Nationals - 1st (Heavyweight and overall)
• 1989 IFBB North American Championships - 1st (Heavyweight and overall)
• 1990 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1991 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1992 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1993 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1994 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1995 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1996 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd
• 1997 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd
• 2002 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st (Heavyweight and overall)
• 2003 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st (Heavyweight and overall)
• 2004 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd (Heavyweight)

Best Statistics

• Biceps - 16 inches (41 cm)
• Chest - 39 inches (99 cm)
• Height - 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
• On season weight - 151+1⁄2–153 lb (68.7–69.4 kg)

Personal Life

Lenda Murray lives in Los Angeles, California with her cats. She is a Christian. She is also a grandmother and a stepmother.

Lenda has made many videos to help people with their fitness goals. She has worked as a professional cheerleader and a fitness trainer. She has also trained professional wrestlers and athletes. In 1997, she even tried out to become a professional wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation.

In 1990, she started her own company, Lenda Murray Inc. From 1999 to 2005, she owned a gym in Virginia Beach, Virginia called The Fitness Firm.

Television and Movie Appearances

Lenda Murray has appeared on several TV talk shows. These include Geraldo, The Montel Williams Show, and The Jerry Springer Show. She was also interviewed for the Killer Sally series, which talked about female bodybuilding in the 1980s and 1990s.

In 2015, Lenda Murray appeared in the movie The Ridiculous 6 with Adam Sandler. She played the mother of Chico, a character played by Terry Crews.

See also

In Spanish: Lenda Murray para niños

• Andrea Shaw