Lisa Lyon

Born: 1953-06-01

Lisa Lyon (June 1, 1953 - September 8, 2023) studied art at the University of California at Los Angeles. There she became accomplished in the Japanese art of fencing, kendo, but found herself lacking sufficient upper body strength so she began weight training. This eventually led her into bodybuilding. Lyon entered and won the first International Federation of BodyBuilders Women’s World Pro Bodybuilding Championship in Los Angeles on June 16, 1979. This was the only bodybuilding competition of her career. She appeared in many magazines and on television talk shows, promoting bodybuilding for women. She also wrote a book on weight training for women titled Lisa Lyon’s Body Magic, which was published in 1981. Although Lyon is often cited as the first female bodybuilder to appear in Playboy (in October 1980), she was actually predated by stripper and bodybuilder Kellie Everts, who appeared in a May 1977 pictorial called "Humping Iron". Lyon modeled for Helmut Newton, American fine art photographer Robert Mapplethorpe (between 1980 and 1983, Mapplethorpe created over 150 photographs of her, resulting in the 1983 book Lady: Lisa Lyon), and Marcus Leatherdale, who published two pictures of her in his first catalogue book at Molotov. Lyon's work with Mapplethorpe was notable owing to Mapplethorpe's depiction of her body as simultaneously traditionally feminine and strong in a conventionally masculine sense. She was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2000 for being a one-woman media-relations activist on behalf of the sport and Elevating bodybuilding to the level of fine art. Lisa Lyon also had a short acting career.


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Three Crowns of the Sailor

as Matilde the Dancer
Released: 1991-10-04

Shortly after murdering his professor, a young man encounters a sailor who offers him a position...

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Vamp

as Cimmaron
Released: 1986-07-18

Two fraternity pledges go to a sleazy bar in search of a stripper for their college friends,...

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Getting Physical

as Pilar Jones
Released: 1984-03-20

The world of female bodybuilding provides the backdrop for this tale of an aspiring young...

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Hollywood Erotic Film Festival

as Herself (segment "Lisa Lyon: A Portrait of Power")
Released: 1986-01-01

Ten erotic vignettes from eight different directors.

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The Hustler of Muscle Beach

as Self
Released: 1980-05-16

A slick promoter in the bodybuilding subculture of Venice Beach, California, finds what he...

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Lisa Lyon: A Portrait of Power

as Self
Released: 1982-01-01

Lisa Lyon won the first World Women's Bodybuilding Championship in 1980. She was a pioneer in...

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Lisa Lyon: Graphite Woman

as uncredited
Released: 1984-01-01

On January 25, 1984, at Long Beach State Art Gallery, Lisa called this performance Graphite...

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Little House on the Prairie

as uncredited
First aired: 1974-09-11

Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael...

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