Ernestine Shepherd
{{short description|American bodybuilder (born 1936)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ernestine Shepherd
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Ernestine Shepherd
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|06|16}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = Competitive body builder
| years_active = 1995–present
| known_for = Oldest living competitive bodybuilder at one point
| notable_works =
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
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;{{cite news |title=Ernestine Shepherd, in shape at age 74 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721130240/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/ernestine-shepherd-in-shape-at-age-74/2011/05/24/AGWRuqCH_gallery.html |archive-date=2015-07-21 |url-status=live |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/ernestine-shepherd-in-shape-at-age-74/2011/05/24/AGWRuqCH_gallery.html}} {{As of|2025|lc=y}}, she is {{age|1936|06|16}} years old and still an active, albeit no longer competitive, bodybuilder.{{cite web|url=http://www.aol.com/article/2016/06/21/80-year-old-body-builder-proves-age-is-just-a-number/21399482/|title=80-year-old body builder proves age is just a number|work=AOL News|author=|date=21 June 2016}}
Life
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/six-pack-abs-at-age-74-age-is-nothing-but-a-number-says-guinness-world-records-oldest-competitive-female-bodybuilder/2011/03/16/AG5lGvCH_story_1.html|title=Six-pack abs at age 74: 'Age is nothing but a number,' says Guinness World Record's oldest competitive female bodybuilder – The Washington Post|newspaper=Washington Post}} Her sister began competing in bodybuilding shows under the name Velvet, and Ernestine followed under the name Ernie. However, her sister died in the early 1990s following a brain aneurysm. Shepherd carried on her bodybuilding career in part to remember her sister.
Shepherd published a book, Determined, Dedicated, Disciplined To Be Fit, in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://agelessjourneybook.com/|title=Home|work=Ernestine Shepherd|access-date=2016-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604183655/http://agelessjourneybook.com/|archive-date=2016-06-04|url-status=dead}}
She appeared briefly in “Black Is King” by Beyoncé.{{Cite web|url=https://femalemuscle.com/athletes/84-year-old-female-bodybuilder-appears-in-beyonces-black-is-king-video/|title=84 year old female bodybuilder appears in Beyoncé's "Black is King" video|first=Lori|last=Braun|date=31 August 2020 }}
Record broken
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/oldest-female-bodybuilder-77-year-old-edith-connor-breaks-guinness-world-record-700529 |title=Oldest Female Bodybuilder, 77-Year-Old Edith Connor, Breaks Guinness World Record |publisher=Ibtimes.com |date= 29 May 2012|accessdate=2014-02-08}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.today.com/news/nyads-not-alone-7-senior-citizens-superhuman-strength-8C11067716|title=Nyad's not alone: 7 senior citizens with superhuman strength|website=TODAY.com|date=3 September 2013 }}
Diet and exercise
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.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/mess-ernestine-shepherd-body-building-grandma-benches-150/story?id=10480184|title=Don't Mess With Ernestine Shepherd-- Body Building Grandma Benches 150 – ABC News|work=ABC News}} She is trained by former Mr. Universe Yohnnie Shambourger.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-girls-lift-spring-into-fitness-with-ernestine-shepherd-10am-12pm-tickets-43161965601 Report with picture]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shepherd, Ernestine}}
Category:African-American bodybuilders
Category:American female bodybuilders
Category:People associated with physical culture
Category:Sportspeople from Baltimore
Category:21st-century African-American people
Category:21st-century African-American women
Category:20th-century African-American sportswomen