How 80s bodybuilder Lisa Lyon changed beauty standards forever
Lisa Robin Lyon is a legend in the bodybuilding industry. She won the first ever Women's World Pro Bodybuilding Championship, released her own workout book, and carried the icon Arnold Schwarzenegger on her shoulders.
Footage of Lisa Lyon by Joel Fletcher, 1979
But Lisa Lyon was more than a bodybuilder. She was a dancer, actress and a performance artist intent on communicating through her body.
She modelled for photographers such as Helmut Newton, Marcia Resnick, Marcus Leatherdale, Joel Peter Witkin, and Robert Mapplethorpe.
She appeared in Playboy magazine, and movies such as Three Crowns of a Sailor, and the low-budget cult horror VAMP alongside Grace Jones.
Lisa’s body was the inspiration for Marvel’s comic book character Elektra, which highlighted that her beauty and muscles defied the beauty standards of her time, which championed thin and petite women. Lisa’s reign did not last past the 80s, but her impact has, despite her death in September 2023.
In my first YouTube deep dive I try to bring Lisa’s impact on beauty standards to life, by chatting to her friend, Oscar-nominated makeup artist Gigi Williams, and reading two books she was involved in. The first was her own book Body Magic, which focused on her fitness ethos, and the second was Lady, a collaboration with the most controversial photographer ever, Robert Mapplethorpe. I also owe a huge debt to John Hunt, director of Lisa Lyon: A Portrait of Power, for allowing us to use his footage in this video.
I’d love to know if you already knew of Lisa, or if she’s inspired you in some way after listening to, or watching this episode. Don’t forget to hit the like and subscribe buttons if you’re watching on Youtube and if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts do please leave a review or a rating. If you have something to say, drop a comment below if you’re watching or find me in the DMs on Instagram @charisse_kenion or find me on Threads @charisse_kenion. Thanks for being here, I’ll see you next time.