When Ms. Olympia was disbanded in 2014 amid discontent among fans, competitors, and judges, it seemed likely that women’s bodybuilding would surely follow suit.
For six years Ms. Olympia lay dormant and directionless, before Wings of Strength promotor Jake Wood bought the Olympia Weekender and breathed new life into the title.
New beginnings paved the way for a new star to emerge in the women’s bodybuilding circuit: Andrea Shaw.
Securing first place upon Ms. Olympia’s return in 2020, Shaw was the newfound star the competition needed to announce itself back onto the big stage; the phoenix rising from the ashes.
She has since gone on to strengthen her grip on the coveted title, securing three more consecutive victories while eying her own slice of history.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Michigan-born star, from her early encounter with a bodybuilding great to her massive PRs.
IFBB & Olympia Career
As is the case with so many bodybuilders, Shaw was a keen sportswoman in her early years. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, she took part in gymnastics and cheerleading.
Shaw’s first encounter with the bronzed and buffed world of lifting came when she met the legendary Lenda Murray.
Her mother was training in the same gym, and the chance encounter with the eight-time Ms Olympia great undoubtedly planted the seed for her later exploits.
After a brief flirtation with life as a fashion model, Shaw started to focus her attention on bodybuilding and earned her IFBB Pro League status at the 2018 NPC National Championships, where she placed second in the Women’s Physique Class C category.
Shaw’s pro debut came a year later at the 2019 Toronto Pro Supershow. She placed 11th in the Women’s Physique category, prompting a switch to Women’s Bodybuilding.
That decision proved a fruitful one, with Shaw coming 2nd at the Chicago Pro and 7th at the Rising Phoenix World Championship before starting her domination of Ms. Olympia.
Here is her entire pro-contest history, courtesy of NPC News Online.
2019
- Toronto Pro Supershow (Women’s Physique) —11th place
- Chicago Pro — 2nd place
- Rising Phoenix World Championship — 7th place
2020
- Omaha Pro — 1st place
- Rising Phoenix World Championship — 1st place
- Ms. Olympia — 1st place
2021
- Rising Phoenix World Championship — 1st place
- Ms. Olympia — 1st place
2022
- Rising Phoenix World Championship — 1st place
- Ms. Olympia — 1st place
2023
- Rising Phoenix World Championship — 1st place
- Ms. Olympia — 1st place
Andrea Shaw Height
Andrea Shaw is 1.65m tall, which equates to 5’5″.
Andrea Shaw Age
Shaw started her bodybuilding journey when she was just 17 years old. Now aged 40, she still has plenty left in the tank, and a lot more titles in her cross-hairs.
Andrea Shaw Weight
Bodybuilding greats like Lenda Murray who paved the way for today’s current crop of athletes used to compete at around 145lbs.
Shaw likes to do things a little differently. In fact, many are left surprised when they discover Shaw goes into shows much heavier, usually weighing around 180lbs or 82kgs.
It goes without saying that Shaw packs on more mass during the off-season, and has been known to weigh in as high as 209lbs, or 95kgs.
Andrea Shaw’s Off-Season Training
Nowadays, bodybuilders tend to train less than the old school. Most stick to the reliable principle of low reps and high weight. There are a few, however, who buck the trend.
Ronnie Coleman used to slam heavy weights for huge rep ranges and said he trained his body to cope with the insane workload over time.
Andrea Shaw is very much part of the Coleman elk in the sense she has her own unique methods for building muscle, especially in the off-season.
“I want to build as much solid muscle mass as I can,” she told Muscle & Fitness. “And that means working with heavy weight all the time.
“But I want shapely muscle, not the kind of slab muscle you see with a powerlifter. So, I have always kept the reps high. My goal is 20 rep sets with heavy weight. But I never settle for fewer than 12 to 15 reps at minimum.”
Thanks to her intense methods, which will often see her in the gym six or seven days a week, Andrea is the perfect blend of size, definition, and symmetry, which seems to have gone down well with the judges at Ms Olympia thus far.
Shaw is also a big believer in keeping up with her cardio and has been known to walk on a treadmill or ride an elliptical after winning contests so she stays in the shape she feels she needs to be.
Andrea Shaw’s Husband
Shaw isn’t married, but it’s widely reported that she’s in a long-term relationship with her trainer, former IFBB Pro John Simmons, who is 24 years her senior.
Andrea Shaw’s Best Stats
Andrea Shaw’s elite genetics and tireless work rate mean she can lift an insane amount of weight. Here are some of her PRs and insane stats:
Bench Press – 250lbs (110kg)
Thighs – 27in (69cm)
Biceps – 18in (46cm)
Check out Andrea’s IG to learn more about her amazing career.
Next, check out this post: Everything You Should Know About Emma Hartley
