1980's bodybuilding was not ready for the strongest woman in the world, Bev Francis | ABC Australia

[@zootangle]

Bev probably never realized it at the time, but trailblazers like her that fought so hard to do what they did changed society so young people today can follow there dreams. Having just discovered Bev's story makes me feel much better about my physical appearance, so she is still affecting peoples lives in a positive way today. Thank you Bev.

[@Tamaraa2006]

Over 40 years later it’s the same and she is still a role model to both women and men in sport. Absolute legend and inspiration 🙏💜

[@PeekaBooo24]

She is one of the OGs in female bodybuilding. Everyone out now in this field owes Bev her flowers.

[@girardihumanresources9813]

Such a great story! Bev is a legend, so courageous to just keep doing what she wanted to do, despite the resistance. It’s an inspiring story.

[@garyradley5010]

Awesome lady. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting this lovely and softly spoken lady in Perth Western Australia in, I think 1980 or 1981. Not sure if Bev was competing or doing an exhibition but I recall wanting to get a photo with this extraordinary human being. She was so very gracious in agreeing to the photo and I have it still. Bev was chomping on an apple when I approached her for the photo request and she held the apple behind her back for the shot. She was dressed down in trackies and Tshirt. She looked incredible to this wide eyed young man just embarking on his own journey into the magical world of weight training. She was an inspiration way back then and has, for me, continued to be one to this very day. Have only just learned that Bev has recently competed in a masters powerlifting event 36 years after she retired from that sport.And once again she remains undefeated. Way to go Bev! Wishing you the very best of health and happiness always. Gary

[@rob666-rob]

Great PE teacher and a lovely lady.Have so much respect for Bev.

[@jsevakis]

I had the great honor of working on the (now sadly quite OOP) DVD release of Pumping Iron II: The Women, and I found Bev to be an incredibly motivational figure. So great to see her honored like this. Not sure if she still has the gym in Long Island but if she does I hope to visit one day.

[@targetrender9529]

First REALLY muscular female bodybuilder. I remember being in awe of her, reading muscle and fitness over 30 years ago.

[@wingscatchfire915]

Bev Francis is such an amazing woman. She is courageous, strong and true to her heart. An inspiration. She changed my life as a young woman. In my mind she is the greatest female bodybuilder of all time. Certainly, she is a winner and champion for all people who understand what it is like to be marginalized and treated differently based on unjust stereotypes. Go Bev!! Keep growing stronger with each year!

[@stingray4780]

Love Bev Francis! Always has been a beautiful person! Always was ahead of her time! A true TRAILBLAZER!!!!

[@phyllishoss9476]

I love Bev. She is the greatest woman bodybuilder of all time.

[@tameranewhard7112]

You gave courage from the time I was in grade school on! Now ,recovery from breast cancer at 57, you now give me courage to get back into lifting. God bless! Love you and your stamina throughout the years. You are more of a blessing than you realize!

[@leighpeatt3196]

She is awesome! My Heroine!!!!

[@bethmc717]

Bev I totally understand what you're saying ,I get it from ignorant people all the time ,I get mistaken from so many people that I'm a man because I'm androgynous female and muscular and I don't have to explain to them because I'm who I am ,I love power ,strength strong mind in a woman ,I think ,Do I have to wear a frock ,heels ,handbag to be a woman ,No way ,that's not me ,t does hurt at times but people who know me accept me ,I think your an amazing woman ,Admired you for decades,Keep pumpin Bev x

[@Luceq]

What a legend!

[@vonno5050]

Wow Bev, just incredible what you have done for women!

[@brentdundee]

Aussie legend!

[@jamiefitzpatrick8504]

A great roll model for today’s young ladies

[@EllaJay]

*role

[@Jenaye12345]

I love you Bev 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😭

[@MegaFireRat]

Well done Bev you are a legend

[@marcushamner5994]

Bev Francis is my hero. Not only is she my role model growing up, but she’s also my crush too😍🥰😘💍😊

[@bernardroth7200]

Yeah the ifbb did her wrong she had the most talent and the best work effort for that time frame and incidentally probably the best posing routine I've ever seen in a female competition ever ever

[@johnsarab4500]

Bev proved that women can get very muscular.

[@Dykegeeek]

What an amazing woman, not only strong physically but moral, and as human being. So confident, true revolutionary.

[@crocketwallfass9369]

The first realy Wonderwoman!!! I give her my full respect!!! Regards from Germany

[@tudormiller887]

Wow! She's my favourite 80s FBB. Love you Bev. 🇦🇺 "Is it attractive to men" ? Hell yeah! Watching from London UK 🇬🇧

[@marcushamner5994]

Bev is so gorgeous!🤩🥰😘👊🏾💍🌹

[@EllaJay]

@@marcushamner5994 Yep, he is very gorgeous.

[@brentclark8276]

She is a woman before her time. It's unfortunate, but she is right when she said that she would have been more accepted today than back when she was competing.

[@leighpeatt3196]

She is my Heroine and I am blessed to have tried to follow in her footsteps! I pull weights every day and it blows my Bone Specialist away that I am defeating Osteoporosis with Weights!!!

[@somattalistenta]

Good on you Bev, you ignored the stupid critics.

[@jamiewilson5507]

Wow, what an amazing story, what an inspiring woman!! Wish i was as ripped (just quietly) :)

[@sibellakingston52]

Love her! She's awesome!

[@andrewm190E]

A true Aussie Champion and trailblazer.

[@zecnivo]

Hi Bev. I remember how I had to argue with you to get you to do bodybuilding. When you posed at the 1980 Mr Olympia contest you got a huge ovation from the audience. Eventually you left power lifting and had a go at bodybuilding. I curse the IFBB for not letting you win their top female contest. What a shame. I recall how you even lost weight and did more feminine poses to no avail. Still no title. Bodybuilding saw you emigrate to the USA and there you stayed running a great gym you and Steve owned. Way back in 1980 no one imagined what your future would be. I always found you an intelligent, wonderful person with impeccable integrity. Hope to see you again in Melbourne.

[@patriciaperticone410]

I love this! Oh, I was bodybuilding just a Bodybuilding, because it felt so great! Then I started listening to what people had to say about femininity. Big mistake! I now suffer from multiple sclerosis, and lifting weights is the best painkiller there is! I will go as far as my body will physically, go! I will not be limited! Thank Bev, for getting me excited again to keep lifting weights, and not caring what anybody else thinks! God bless you!

[@jamiemcquain5576]

Bev was amazing one of my favorites

[@nunya7319]

The judges were looking for Model Builders instead of Body Builders. If they would have judged the way they were suppose to, then Bev would have won ever comp. she got into.

[@tempestcapital3006]

Going forward in time it would be interesting how she would go in CrossFit. It would have been a whole new dimension in training that I think Bev would have embraced and enjoyed because of the new challenges in her speed, agility and endurance. One would like to think she would have been a champion in that too. Thanks for your time and effort in sport Bev. You were truly before your time.

[@cemonkey1]

"He asked me if I was really a woman. I asked him what parts do you wanna see. I'm more a woman than you'll ever get, luv. And more of a man than you'll ever be." -MESOMORPHIC GIRL

[@clarencefrazier2878]

Queen of Powerlifting ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@machohogan]

Such a classy lady.

[@isaiahwinbrone]

She should've been a professional wrestler

[@daisyguzman9040]

Love Bev Francis was at her powerhouse gym ny, such an awesome gym. Wish she was my coach!

[@gennaroferra]

Bev had amazing stage presence and posed well. Her quote 'How hard is that" ironically to this day we are seeing some of the worst posing and presentations in bodybuilding ever. Practice my friends, study the greats, keep practicing and then make it your own!

[@stevecraig9384]

The best

[@rebelcounty2078]

She looks great today.

[@sothis1448]

She looks like a little old man, what are you talking about.

[@mowthpeece1]

8:00 Seriously, who cares if it's attractive to men? Do you think they give one shit if their enormous bodies are attractive to us? This isn't an ad for Tinder. It's bodybuilding. Hello. Bev will always be the best. She's an amazing human being.

[@tago69mago]

Its like banning Serena Williams from tennis because she has twice the size and strength ofher competition! Wished the IFBB had talked like this about the men bb back in the late 90's and early 00's. Bb might not be in the state its in today.

[@stevejamieson8468]

I agree, the stomachs ruined bodybuilding

[@lucasyanos9723]

Greatest Woman as an athlethic Sports Person….very,very Good at all in Woman heavyweight Sports…and Not at least in beeing a Mom.

[@koalasez1200]

She was before her time when it came to body building..and women are still dealing with that type of misogyny. She would blow the competition away today.

[@bethmc717]

Way to go Bev ❤ Dont ever listen to any shit ,I understand with all those negative comments ive been there , Just ignorant ,Your awesome ❤

[@jeromielee1958]

If bev was competing today,she would compete in physique,and for some of her career,she would have been able to compete in figure.Womens bodybuilding has come so far that todays open female bodybuilders are much bigger and more muscled than bev ever was.

[@stefanosprokopis6974]

Bev is ok

[@Roy_21y]

She still Jacked af! ... 🔥... wt a legend ... n the wife of Big Steve ... the head judge of The Olympia ... I wanna be as healthy n fit like her when I get to that age ...

[@philippa5004]

👏👏👏🌟💚💐

[@haven600]

I love you she hulk

[@MidnightIsolde]

Well one has to also consider the topic of steroids here. When taken by women, they are essentially changing hormone balance to be more masculine and therefore get androgenic effects. So, at a point, saying a very myscular women is masculine is literally correct from a hormone point of view.

[@sharonmcqueentorres2459]

Your always beautiful🌈🙏🇺🇸

[@mikedarrow3809]

❤

[@juliehock6059]

Women can do what men can do. Interesting story.

[@CarolineViolinMusic]

The Female Arnold.

[@davidward5225]

The best