Rachel McLish & Me
Rachel McLish & Me
Up Close with the First Lady of Bodybuilding
The growing appeal of the Women’s Physique Division denotes a mushrooming incidence that dumbbell-swinging females are gaining ground in the style of yesteryear’s Nancy Podgorski. Who was Nancy Podgorski? Shame on you, Nancy was Miss Poland …… 1953.
Any resume of female bodybuilding standouts since the commencement of the sport in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s begins and ends with its first superstar Rachel McLish. During that period the sport of women’s bodybuilding took off like Shawn Ray hearing Denny’s were giving away free breakfasts. The mainstream media fastened on to this new phenomenon and suddenly images of the softer sex working out to be a harder sex were everywhere. To maximize and fully exploit such attention what women’s bodybuilding really needed was a beautiful, effervescent, striking looking female who was PR savvy. An individual with that most nebulous of talents --charisma. An “It” girl who would inspire and assume the mantle of role model. Someone whom the camera loved, which in turn bequeathed an ability to generate magazine sales, and put bums on seats. In short, the distaff side of the sport needed their Arnold: someone who would eventually be instantly identifiable by first name only. Cue Rachel McLish.
DeLish, as bodybuilding scribe Rick Wayne dubbed her, duly won the inaugural Ms. Olympia in 1980, took a second title in 1982 and then bowed out as runner-up to Cory Everson in 1984. But she left a mark that still shines and is still regarded by many as the ultimate personification of female muscle.
THE ELUSIVE RACHEL
My one and only interview with Rachel McLish occurred in July 1985, in London during the staging of the World Games. She attended the event accompanying her then boyfriend Matt Mendenhall who was the heavyweight representative for the USA. At the time I was editor of Britain’s Muscle & Co and I first saw the two-time Ms. Olympia in the contest hotel foyer 48 hours prior to Mendenhall’s prejudging appointment. I introduced myself, and spotting my press badge DeLish blurted out, “I’m not doing any
interviews – I don’t to make a big thing of being here.” Now Rachel going unnoticed at a bodybuilding contest – or indeed anywhere – is a bit like Shaquille O’Neal trying to remain incognito among the Munchkins chorus line from The Wizard of Oz. I responded that I was not soliciting an interview but merely wanted to welcome her to our nation’s capital. It’s not just for the fluorescent hue of my neon nugget that Chris Cormier dubbed moi The Silver Fox.
Over the next couple of days our paths crossed several times and although I never asked, she kept reminding me that she wasn’t doing any interviews. On Sunday morning in the hotel restaurant I walked past her breakfast table and exchanged pleasantries. As I was about to leave to attend a meeting of the English Bodybuilding Federation she said, “Okay, if you want the interview we can do it now.” Thus I was faced with the dilemma of either debating items such as should contest judges receive a fish ‘n’ chips as part of their per diem, or chin-wagging with the first “drop dead gorgeous” lady of bodybuilding? After an agonizing millisecond I chose the latter – the fish ‘n’ chips would have to fend for themselves. (P.S. I never did learn why Rachel volunteered to do the interview … although the word “pity” strangely springs to mind.)
FACE-TO-FACE
As I sat down she warned, “I can smell bulls**t a mile away.” Checking my shoes and assuring her I had not visited a cattle farm in some time the interview commenced. She spoke with a passion and directness that was impressive. On the subject of her glamorous image not always jiving with the attributes of a true athlete she replied
rather sharply, “I’m really dedicated in the gym. I lift as heavily and intensely as I can. And yes, I do sweat. Anyone who doubts my hardcore approach in the gym would have a different view after a two hour workout with me.”
At the time of that interview she hadn’t announced her retirement and she outlined her criteria for bodybuilding. “Whether you’re female or male your goal should be to develop an aesthetic physique – that means aesthetics that are appropriate for your gender. But irrespective of whether you want to compete, I believe all women should workout. It’s a great way to develop your body, stay healthy and fit, and ward off the aging process.”
Given the level of muscularity of that era she was insistent that, “Blanket drug testing is required to clear the sport of suspicion. “Only when we can prove our women are not a bunch of druggies will we get the respect we deserve.”
In previous months Rachel had been very vocal about her Christian beliefs and I floated the thought that some of her more daring photo spreads were maybe at odds with her spiritual beliefs. Reminding me that she had turned down a photo shoot for Playboy, she disclosed that she was surprised that her photos were often seen as pushing the envelope, but admitted that when viewing some of them she was surprised by the end result. “I look and think, is that really me?” She glared at me, “Am I really that sexy?”
So, dear reader, there I was in all my innocence hearing that “Am I really that sexy?” question whispered by those lusciously full red lips in a sultry and chromosome-disturbing Texas accent, with those seductive dark brown eyes – only two feet away -- boring into mine in laser like style and I tell you it took your humble reporter all his ingrained British phlegm to not …… well, never mind, no judge in the land would have convicted me.
THE MATT FINISH
After twenty-five minutes the interview was over and she departed to help Matt with his contest preparations. Later that day she was backstage in a stunningly tight fitting blue dress applying tan to her beau. As Mendenhall took on the color of a Californian surfer (from the tan of course) all the other males assembled turned a distinct shade of green at the sight of Rachel executing her Matt finish. At the 1985 World Games Matt finished second to Berry DeMey. The Flexing Dutchman may have left London with a pro card, but Matt left London with Rachel.
TODAY
Rachel currently lives near Palm Springs in Southern California and still keeps in touch with her bodybuilding roots. She loves snowboarding in the winter, hiking in summer and works out three times a week. She remains stunningly attractive, incredibly fit and weighs around 126 pounds. Although she is now 59 and it’s three decades since she last flexed in competitive mode Rachel McLish remains, in every way, the first lady of bodybuilding.