33-year-old female bodybuilder Nataliya Kuznetsova, a world champion in arm lifting, bench press, and deadlift, is dubbed the world’s most muscular woman.
This Russian “she-Hulk” was once a skinny teenager. What’s most, she used to be bullied because of it. At the age of 14, she only weighted 40kg.
Her father believed that hitting the gym could help her boost her self-confidence, and that’s when her journey in the world of bodybuilding started.
“I was a timid little mouse when I was growing up,” she recalls.
These days, the world’s most muscular woman weighs between 246 and 275 pounds.
At 15, Nataliya became a champion in bodybuilding in her region of Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia.
“Just like everyone else I first went to the gym without a goal but after three months my trainer asked me if I wanted to take part in a bodybuilding competition.’’
That marked the start of her powerlifting career.
As per The Famous People, Nataliya won the 2014 Cup of Eurasia in Vologda, Russia, and was crowned the Cup Eastern Europe (GPA) Champion in 2015.
She has been setting records in powerlifting, deadlifting, and the NAP bench press.
“It’s not about being perfect—it’s about showing up, putting in the effort and getting the work done to get you were to envision yourself to be. Everyday is another opportunity to move forward a little more,” she wrote on her Facebook account.
Besides being the world’s most muscular woman, Nataliya has a degree from Moscow State Academy of Physical Culture. She has also taken part in the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia’s performance of Manon Lescaut.
This Russian “giant” is married to former bodybuilder Vladislav Kuznetsov, whom she calls her greatest support.
“Our love story is quite modern. We met on the Internet, more precisely, on Odnoklassniki (a social network service in Russia). For a while, we only talked as friends,” she said in 2019.
Speaking to the LedBible, she said, “People definitely recognise me. An athletic body can be seen under clothes. Many people recognise me, ask to take a photo with them. Many people even know my name.”
Nataliya struggled to find sponsors in the past, but since her powerlifting career took off, many companies offered to work with her. Currently, she’s working with nutrition companies like Oxytropin and RPS Nutrition, among the rest.