What of Corey Everson? What of the queen of bodybuilding who revolutionized the game and put females on the same stage as men? What of the woman who was perhaps more defined and more toned than her male counterparts? She’s spawned an industry that rivals the male version of the sport in tenacity and ability, but do female bodybuilders make as much as their male counterparts. No way, it’s not even close. There’s no contest really, which is a shame.

Female bodybuilding has been around nearly as long as male bodybuilding. Its technology is certainly as advanced. Female bodybuilders are as dedicated as their male counterparts are. They are as ripped, as shredded, often times better cut per pound than the men, then why aren’t they fully appreciated like the men? Where is the female Charles Atlas, where is the lady mayor/film star that began her career sweating like a famous Austrian we all know, who made his bones while eating pittance and gruel and outworking everyone else to become the best bodybuilder he could possibly be? A man who would go on to become a superstar, an icon, a world shaper? Why couldn’t a female bodybuilder do that?

Can you tell me that female bodybuilders are that much worse than their male counterparts, honestly? Of course not, so then the problem must be what exactly?

First thought would be that the bodybuilding industry is biased against female bodybuilders, but that would be a stupid guess. Why would the bodybuilding industry want to sabotage female bodybuilding, to sabotage its own ability to make money, its own ability to make a payday? They’ll take any dollar they can get. That makes no sense, no, none at all. The IBF or IBA or any existing bodybuilding promotion are in business to make cash, no matter how big or small they are, so that doesn’t fly.

The answer is simple. There are far too few female bodybuilding fans. As wonderful as the bodybuilding men look in tights, they don’t attract too many female fans. They exist, but not in enough of a number to make female bodybuilding thrive. Males are narcissistic that way. They want to look so good for the opposite sex and they have so little imagination, they need to see examples of what they should strive to be. Females don’t need a map; they pick a path and make it happen. It is high time that bodybuilding began to market to the female fan. Obviously their competitors care enough to devote their lives to getting in shape. Obviously female bodybuilders face an uphill battle from day one and they struggle to claim their place. Why shouldn’t they be rewarded with film work and a tour of duty as mayor? Why shouldn’t they get the same recognition, adulation, and money as their male counterparts?

Female bodybuilders have worked hard to stake their claim in a male dominated world. It’s high time they get some support from the bodybuilding world. Female bodybuilders are positive role models for any child, or for any adult for that matter. It would be nice for some positive role models to get some acclaim for a change.