Stacey Bentley
Born 1958
Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia
Bentley was a diver in high school and attended Franconia College in New Hampshire before drifting into the fledgling sport of women’s bodybuilding in the late 70’s and moving to Los Angeles . Bentley placed fourth at the very first Women’s Bodybuilding Championships in 1979 sponsored by Gold’s Gym. She later recalled, “At first, I was a little embarrassed about my physique. I’d tell a lot of people I was a gymnast or a swimmer, not a bodybuilder.”
That attitude was reflective of how she perceived her position in the sport – admiring other women’s more extreme development without aspiring for that level herself. That attitude gained more positive responses from average housewives and secretaries who considered Bentley the ideal for their own goals of fitness.
During her contest participation, Bentley won the inaugural Robby Robinson Classic in 1979 and the Frank Zane Invitational in 1980. She also paired up with Chris Dickerson in 1980 to top the field at the World Couples Championships. Several years later, Dickerson would sing at Bentley’s wedding. Bentley, Lisa Lyon and Claudia Wilbourn formed the triad upon which the early women’s bodybuilding movement was built.
Hall of Fame Inductees for 2005 |
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