Lenda Murray

Bodybuilding career

Amateur career In 1984, Murray joined a gym, the Powerhouse Gym, in Highland Park, Michigan. Within the first two days of joining the gym, Ron Love, an NPC Nationals contender told her that she had the physique to be a bodybuilder. After about a year of training to just stay in shape, Murray decided to compete in the 1985 Ms. Michigan Championships. After placing fourth, she was hooked on the sport. Murray's father did not show up for her first bodybuilding competition, but eventually did for others.

Professional career

1990–1997 Murray soon became a regular presence in bodybuilding magazines and a favorite subject of photographer Bill Dobbins who focused extensively on her in his books The Women and Modern Amazons.

First retirement Murray lost the Ms. Olympia title to Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls in 1996, and went into retirement after finishing second to Chizevsky-Nicholls again in December 1997. After four years of retirement, Lenda returned to the Ms. Olympia stage, and won two more Ms. Olympia titles in 2002 and 2003.

Second retirement Murray finished second in the heavyweight class to Iris Kyle in 2004, and again retired from competition.

Murray has previously done commentary for bodybuilding events on ESPN from 1993 to 1996. She was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2010 and the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. In March 2011, she became a member of the National Fitness Hall of Fame and received the award from Arnold Schwarzenegger. Every year there is an NPC competition, held at Norfolk State University, called the Lenda Murray Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships, which she is a promoter and organizer for.

Murray is also spokesperson for Wings of Strength and she owns a nutritional products company 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 (HW and overall) 1989 IFBB North American Championships - 1st (HW 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 (HW and overall) 2003 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st (HW and overall) 2004 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 2nd (HW) Chest -

Movie appearances In 2015, Murray appeared in Adam Sandler's The Ridiculous 6 where she played (Terry Crews's character) Chico's mother.