Tamilee Webb
{{Short description|American fitness professional and video maker}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tamilee Webb
| image = Tamilee Webb (July 2022).png
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Rio Dell, California, U.S.
| nationality = American
| occupation = Fitness expert, author
| known_for = Starring in Buns of Steel series, hosting ESPN & Fox Fitness, and writing Workouts for Dummies
| website =
}}
Tamilee Webb is an American fitness professional, best known for revolutionizing home workouts with her popular Buns of Steel and Abs of Steel video series, which have sold more than 14 million copies{{Cite web |date=2022-06-13 |title=Meet Tamilee Webb {{!}} Fitness & Health Expert. Best known for my BUNS OF STEEL VIDEOS SERIES. – SHOUTOUT LA |url=https://shoutoutla.com/meet-tamilee-webb-fitness-health-expert-best-known-for-my-buns-of-steel-videos-series/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |language=en-US}} and for writing Workouts for Dummies. Her videos have appeared on Billboard's video charts{{Cite web |title=Behind the Buns of Steel |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/08/12/behind-buns-steel/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=EW.com |language=en}} and her work is considered a best seller by The New York Times.{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Peter |date=1993-09-03 |title=The mother of fitness tapes offers three more |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1993/09/03/952393.html?pageNumber=79 |work=The New York Times |pages=79}}
Early life and education
Webb grew up in Rio Dell, California. Webb has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and a master's degree in Exercise Science from California State University, Chico's College of Communication and Education in 1996.{{Cite web |title=CSU, Chico Distinguished Alumni – Chico State Alumni Association |url=https://www.csuchico.edu/alumni/distinguished-alumni/basic-page.shtml |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=California State University, Chico |language=en}}
Career
Webb's career skyrocketed in 1988 with the release of Buns of Steel, a fitness video focused on sculpting and strengthening the buttocks.Smithey, Greg. Buns of Steel, Home Video Release, 1987. The concept originated with fitness trainer Greg Smithey, who was only able to sell 114 copies of his videos.{{Cite news |last=Radke |first=Heather |date=2022-12-11 |title=The Odd Fitness Genius Behind Buns of Steel |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/12/buns-of-steel-history-butts-heather-radke.html |access-date=2024-10-03 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}} At the time, Webb was a professional body builder{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Leslie |date=1986-10-25 |title=Pumping rubber for a firmer, fitter you |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/462916578/ |work=The San Francisco Examiner |pages=11}} working at the Golden Door spa and cruise ship as a fitness instructor when she was hired for the lead role. Over the next two decades released over two dozen fitness shows similar to the Buns of Steel, Abs of Steel, and Thighs of Steel series which sold more than 14 million copies. The videos were often able to be ordered direct, allowing one to work out at home.{{Cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Joanne |date=1987-08-16 |title=Home Video Exercise |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/16/arts/home-video-exercise.html |work=The New York Times |pages=26}} In her subsequent series, she designed functional workouts to cork on core muscles.{{Cite web |title=Tamilee Webb Tighter Assets Weight Loss DVD |url=https://www.totalfitnessdvds.com/Tamilee-Webb-Tighter-Assets-Weight-Loss-DVD-p/589.htm |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Total Fitness DVDs |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Braff |first1=Danielle |last2=Newspapers |first2=Tribune |date=2012-08-08 |title=Stepping up your game |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/08/08/stepping-up-your-game-2/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}
In the late 1990s, Webb expanded her business ventures by starting a chain of fitness-focused eateries called Eden in 1996{{Cite journal |last1=Glowka |first1=Wayne |last2=Lester |first2=Brenda K. |last3=Fedeli |first3=Amedeo |last4=Hendrix |first4=Keith |last5=Jackson |first5=LIsa |last6=Scott |first6=Elijah |last7=Sirmans |first7=John M. |last8=Upton |first8=Traci P. |date=1999 |title=Among the New Words |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/455578 |journal=American Speech |volume=74 |issue=2 |pages=203–224 |jstor=455578 |issn=0003-1283}} and authoring Workouts for Dummies.{{Cite news |date=1998-03-03 |title=Giving 'dummies' a leg up |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/478087905/?match=1&terms=tamilee%20webb |work=New York Daily News |pages=45}} In the mid-2010s, her work remained influential in the press as the fitness space continued its rise to prominence.{{Cite news |last=Ellin |first=Abby |date=2007-11-01 |title=I'm Sorry but You're Spinning on My Machine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/fashion/01rituals.html |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |last=Griffith |first=Erin |date=2018-09-06 |title=Silicon Valley Jumps Into the Fitness Business, and It Will Cost You |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/06/technology/tech-workout-machines-price.html |work=The New York Times}} As of 2024, she remains active in the fitness space.{{Cite web |title=Raquel Welch – Now - '80s Fitness Stars: Where Did They End Up? |url=https://www.heraldweekly.com/80s-fitness-stars-where-did-they-end-up/2?xcmg=1&_d=d |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Herald Weekly |language=en}}
Personal life
Webb is known to cycle, play tennis, and play golf.{{Cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=June |date=1995-09-10 |title='Buns' guru carries superhero schedule |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/33714591/?match=1&terms=%22tamilee%20webb%22%20%22paul%20chasan%22 |work=Indiana Gazette |pages=E-5}}{{Cite news |last=Zaslow |first=Jeffrey |date=1995-07-01 |title=Get off your couch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/565801185/ |work=Nappa Valley Register |pages=42}}{{Cite web |last=Landman |first=Beth |date=2017-09-15 |title=Why Hollywood's Top Plastic Surgeons Are Saying "We'll Fix It in Post" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-hollywoods-top-plastic-surgeons-are-saying-well-fix-it-post-1037581/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" |Years ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role |
| 1988–2000
|Buns of Steel |
| 1992–1994
|Abs of Steel |
| 1993
|Thighs of Steel |
| 1994
|Building Tighter Assets |
| 1994
|Fit TV Cable Health Club |Co-host{{Cite news |date=1996-11-12 |title=The rocking ab machine that does so much |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/167523835/?match=1&terms=tamilee%20webb |work=Chicago Tribune |pages=185}}{{Cite news |date=1997-06-15 |title=Fitness, Health and Nutrition 24 Hours a Day |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/178328262/?match=1&terms=tamilee%20webb |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |pages=225}} |
| 1990s
|ESPN Fitness Pros |
| 1990s
|Fox Sports Body Squad |
Webb has also appeared on television shows such as NBC's The Today Show.{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=1994-09-17 |title=Crowning 'Miss America' for 74th Time |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/159237683/ |work=The Los Angeles Times |pages=F10}}
Awards
| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" |Years ! scope="col" |Nomination ! scope="col" |Result |
| 1992
|Self Magazine Award |
| 2008 |
Books
- Original Rubber Band Workout (1985){{Cite book |last1=Webb |first1=Tamilee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cM9XSD4ZHAC |title=Tamilee Webb's Original Rubber Band Workout |last2=Houston |first2=Julie |date=1985-12-12 |publisher=Workman |isbn=978-0-89480-056-6 |language=en}}
- Step Up Fitness Workout (1994)
- Workouts for Dummies (1998){{Cite book |last=Webb |first=Tamilee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5pS8EAAAQBAJ |title=Workouts For Dummies |date=1998-12-28 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-7645-5124-6 |language=en}}
- Defy Gravity Workout (2005){{Cite book |last=Webb |first=Tamilee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQ8JXXIUniMC |title=Tamilee Webb's Defy Gravity Workout |date=2005 |publisher=Fair Winds |isbn=978-1-61059-514-8 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Webb, Tamilee}}
Category:American exercise instructors