Gladys Portugues

Gladys Portugues (born September 30, 1957) is an American former professional female bodybuilder and actress. As a bodybuilder, Gladys placed twice in the top 10 in the Ms. Olympia contest. Gladys is married to Belgian actor and martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Personal life Born of Puerto Rican parents, Gladys has said that she was inspired to start her own bodybuilding and weight training regimen while attending Marymount Manhattan College, when Gladys saw Rachel McLish on television winning the Ms. Olympia title.

In 1987, at the age of 30, Gladys married Belgian martial artist and actor Jean-Claude Van Damme (born Jean-Claude van Varenberg). The couple divorced in 1992, then remarried in 1999. They have two kids: Kristopher van Varenberg (b.1987) and Bianca Brigitte (b.1990).

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1985 Pumping Iron II: The Women Herself Cinecom International Films 1986 The Morning After Bodybuilder 20th Century Fox 1987 It's Alive III: Island of the Alive Waitress Larco Productions Inc.

TV Year Title Episodes Role 2011 Behind Closed Doors 1 season (8 episodes) Herself

Books Hard Bodies Express, Portugues, Dell; Reissue 1988, Hard Bodies, Portugues and Vedral, Dell; Reissue edition 1986,