Ernestine Shepherd
Ernestine Shepherd | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ernestine Shepherd June 16, 1936 |
| Occupation | Competitive body builder |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | Oldest living competitive bodybuilder at one point |
| Website | ernestineshepherd |
Ernestine Shepherd (born June 16, 1936) is an American bodybuilder who is best known for being, at one point, the oldest competitive female bodybuilder in the world, as declared by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 and 2011;[1] as of 2023[update], she is 88 years old and still an active, albeit no longer competitive, bodybuilder.[2]
Life
[edit]Shepherd was a model in Baltimore for years, but at age 56 she and her sister Mildred Blackwell went to try on swimsuits and found their bodies were out of shape; they then started taking aerobics classes.[3] Her sister began competing in bodybuilding shows under the name Velvet, and Ernestine followed under the name Ernie.[3] However, her sister died in the early 1990s following a brain aneurysm.[3] Shepherd carried on her bodybuilding career in part to remember her sister.[3]
Shepherd published a book, Determined, Dedicated, Disciplined To Be Fit, in 2016.[4]
She appeared briefly in “Black Is King” by Beyoncé.[5]
Record broken
[edit]In 2012 at age 77, Edith Connor was declared the oldest competitive female bodybuilder by the Guinness Book of World Records, beating Shepherd’s record.[6][7]
Diet and exercise
[edit]Her diet consists of 1,700 calories a day, mostly from boiled eggs, chicken, vegetables, and a liquid eggs drink, and she runs about 80 miles a week.[8] She is trained by former Mr. Universe Yohnnie Shambourger.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ernestine Shepherd, in shape at age 74". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015.
- ^ "80-year-old body builder proves age is just a number". AOL News. June 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Six-pack abs at age 74: 'Age is nothing but a number,' says Guinness World Record's oldest competitive female bodybuilder – The Washington Post". Washington Post.
- ^ "Home". Ernestine Shepherd. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
- ^ Braun, Lori (August 31, 2020). "84 year old female bodybuilder appears in Beyoncé's "Black is King" video".
- ^ "Oldest Female Bodybuilder, 77-Year-Old Edith Connor, Breaks Guinness World Record". Ibtimes.com. May 29, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ "Nyad's not alone: 7 senior citizens with superhuman strength". TODAY.com. September 3, 2013.
- ^ a b "Don't Mess With Ernestine Shepherd-- Body Building Grandma Benches 150 – ABC News". ABC News.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1936 births
- African-American bodybuilders
- American female bodybuilders
- Living people
- People associated with physical culture
- Sportspeople from Baltimore
- 21st-century African-American people
- 21st-century African-American women
- 20th-century African-American sportspeople
- 20th-century African-American sportswomen
- 20th-century American sportswomen
- 20th-century African-American people