The Mr. Olympia competition has come a long way since its inception in 1965. Although the spotlight was initially on the mass monsters of the Men’s Open division, Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend has evolved over the years. In 2013, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) added two new divisions to the most prestigious fitness showcase. These divisions were the Men’s Physique and Women’s Physique classes.
The addition of the new divisions created a lot of excitement in the community. It made way for more female athletes to participate in Olympia. The IFBB recognized the potential of the Women’s Physique category and incorporated it into the biggest show of bodybuilding.
Fitness sensation Dana Linn Bailey made history by winning the inaugural Women’s Physique Olympia in 2013. In the 10 Women’s Physique Olympia shows so far, five champions have been crowned. Juliana Malacarne and Sarah Villegas have each secured an impressive four titles, showcasing their dominance in the sport. Villegas is also the reigning champion.
This article goes over the history of the Women’s Physique Olympia contest, the notable moments, rivalries, and the five champions who have held the throne over the past decade.
All Women’s Physique Olympia Winners
Given below is the list of all Women’s Physique Olympia champs since 2013:
| Name | Years | Wins |
| Dana Linn Bailey | 2013 | 1 |
| Juliana Malacarne | 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 | 4 |
| Shanique Grant | 2018 and 2019 | 2 |
| Sarah Villegas | 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024 | 4 |
| Natalia Abraham Coelho | 2022 | 1 |
2013: Dana Linn Bailey
There was a lot of anticipation going into the debut season of the Women’s Physique Olympia contest. Fans were excited to check out the new talent and how it would separate itself from the other categories.
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It would be safe to say that Linn Bailey set the gold standard for the Women’s Physique division. Although she was well-known before the show, Bailey’s popularity skyrocketed after she became the first Women’s Physique Olympia champion in 2013.
2013: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Dana Linn Bailey
- Second: Tycie Coppett
- Third: Sara Hurrie
Bailey would be the only victor to settle with one trophy, as each of the three following champions won at least two shows.
2014-2017: Juliana Malacarne
After Bailey was crowned the first Women’s Physique Olympia winner, other participants got a better understanding of what the judges wanted. Runner-up Tycie Coppett was considered the top contender alongside Bailey, who entered the 2014 Women’s Physique Olympia as the favorite.
However, Juliana Malacarne turned out to be the dark horse at the show. Determined to improve her seventh-place finish from the previous year, she made the most notable progress of any athlete. She stood out as the clear winner and won her first Olympia trophy. Bailey came in second, while Coppett dropped down to the third spot.
2014: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Juliana Malacarne
- Second: Dana Linn Bailey
- Third: Tycie Coppett
Bailey would not return to the Super Bowl of bodybuilding again. She decided to step away from professional bodybuilding competitions in favor of powerlifting after placing second at the 2015 Arnold Classic Women’s Physique behind Malacarne. That same year at the Olympia, Malacarne became the first Women’s Physique athlete to defend her throne successfully.
2015: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Juliana Malacarne
- Second: Kira Neuman
- Third: Tycie Coppett
Malacarne managed to ward off budding prospects, including Heather Grace, Kira Neuman, and Jennifer Taylor to win another two Olympia trophies.
2016: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Juliana Malacarne
- Second: Danielle Reardon
- Third: Heather Grace
2017: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Juliana Malacarne
- Second: Jennifer Taylor
- Third: Heather Grace
Following her Olympia win in 2017, Malacarne announced her retirement from the competition. With four trophies to her name, Malacarne leads the list of the most wins in Women’s Physique Olympia history.
2018-2019: Shanique Grant
Malacarne did not return to the 2018 Olympia to defend her title, leaving room for a new victor to emerge.
Grace was a frontrunner for the title but faced stiff competition from rising sensations Shanique Grant and Natalia Abraham Coelho, a former Olympia Figure competitor who switched to the Women’s Physique division.
Grant came out on top after a hard-fought battle with fellow debutant Coelho to win her maiden Olympia trophy.
Meanwhile, Grace placed fifth behind Grant, Coelho, Daniely Castilho, and the ever-consistent Jennifer Taylor.
2018: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Shanique Grant
- Second: Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Third: Daniely Castilho
The rivalry between Grant and Coelho got more intense after the close result in 2018. Coelho was Grant’s top challenger at the 2019 Olympia. While many expected Coelho and Grant to battle it out for the top prize, Sarah Villegas turned out to be the wild card at the 2019 Women’s Physique Olympia.
Grant faced serious heat from Villegas on the 2019 Olympia stage. However, she secured her second win and became the second champion to win multiple Olympia trophies. Coelho could not retain her runner-up place and dropped down to the third spot behind Villegas.
2019: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Shanique Grant
- Second: Sarah Villegas
- Third: Natalia Abraham Coelho
2020, 2021, 2023
& 2024: Sarah Villegas
Having narrowly missed out on the win, Villegas got to work in the off-season to make necessary improvements. She was determined not to leave any room for errors at the 2020 Olympia showdown.
It was the year when COVID-19 changed the world and pandemic-related restrictions made it tougher for everyone, including the Olympia organizers and athletes. The contest was pushed to December from September and was moved to Orlando, FL, from its longtime home in Las Vegas.
Despite the challenges, Villegas left no stone unturned in her preparation for the 2020 Women’s Physique Olympia and made significant improvements in muscle size and definition. Grant missed the mark at the show and Villegas capitalized on her mistake to become the fourth Women’s Physique Olympia champ.
Grant finished runner-up and announced her retirement shortly after. Coelho finished third for the second consecutive year.
2020: Orlando, FL
- First: Sarah Villegas
- Second: Shanique Grant
- Third: Natalia Abraham Coelho
With Grant out of the way, Coelho served as the main opponent for Villegas at the 2021 Women’s Physique Olympia. Coelho had established herself as one of the most consistent athletes, switching between the second and third spot for the last three years. While Coelho brought an improved package for the show, Villegas edged her out again with an even better physique to win her second Women’s Physique contest.
Besides the two seasoned pros, Brooke Walker put in an impressive performance in her debut to get third place. Coelho fell short of Villegas and finished on the podium for the fourth year in a row.
2021: Orlando, FL
- First: Sarah Villegas
- Second: Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Third: Brooke Walker
2023: Orlando, FL
- First: Sarah Villegas
- Second: Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Third: Zana Benta
The 2023 Women’s Physique Olympia was among the most firey contests at the Olympia Weekend, with Villegas throwing down the gauntlet at the then-reigning champ Coelho in the Olympia presser. Villegas backed herself with a razor-sharp physique, snatching back her title in a stunning victory. This win also made her the first bodybuilder to win back the title after losing it.
2024: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Sarah Villegas
- Second: Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Third: Sheronica Henton
The Villegas and Coelho rivalry is shaping up to be among the most fierce in the division’s history. While Coelho showcased significant improvements at the 2024 Olympia, Villegas proved unstoppable, securing her fourth title and equaling Juliana Malacarne’s record.
2022: Natalia Abraham Coelho
After four years in the top three, Coelho finally tore through her competition at the 2022 Mr. O to win her maiden Women’s Physique Olympia title.
Many experts were backing Coelho to upset Villegas at the 2022 O, and the Brazilian-American bodybuilder didn’t let her fans down by showing up with the perfect package. She bested the reigning champ with her aesthetics, conditioning, and shape.
2022: Las Vegas, NV
- First: Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Second: Sarah Villegas
- Third: Brooke Walker
The winners of the other divisions:
- Every 212 Olympia Winner Since 2008 (and History of the Division)
- Every Wellness Olympia Winner Since 2021
- Every Classic Physique Olympia Winner Since 2016
- Every Bikini Olympia Winner Since 2010
- Every Fitness Olympia Winner Since 1995
- Every Wheelchair Olympia Winner Since 2018
- Every Mr. Olympia (Men’s Open Division) Winner Since 1965
- Every Figure Olympia Winner Since 2003
- Every Men’s Physique Olympia Winner Since 2013
- Every Ms. Olympia Winner Since 1980 (and History of the Division)
*Images courtesy of Juliana Malacarne Instagram, Sarah Villegas Instagram, Shanique Grant from @therealfitnessbeauty Instagram and Dana Linn Bailey Instagram
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