226:, where she continued her pursuit of both track and gymnastics. That same year during a gymnastics training session, a local bodybuilder and wrestler Hillbillie Jim, best known for his matches with the World Federation Wrestling, approached her and solicited her participation in a local women's bodybuilding competition that he was promoting. She was at first hesitant since her first love was track and gymnastics, she had not seen herself competing in the realm of women's bodybuilding. After further conversation with Jim, she soon realized that she had the potential to be on the forefront in forging a direction for women in this sport, worldwide. There was yet another concern, the upcoming competition was only four weeks away. She was rewarded with a 2nd-place finish.
245:. She was about the only African American amongst the community. Needless to say she was quick to adapt to the appropriate attire and customs which helped her in being welcomed throughout the community. She brought many contributions to the community including the introduction of aerobics in the gym environment. She earned her pro card by winning the World Amateur championship in 1992.
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finally earned the right to compete in a national qualifier in women's bodybuilding. She began her rigorous training at the San
Clemente Gym where she received substantial support and encouragement from the gym regulars. Her first time out brought a third-place finish and a wealth of knowledge and experience that she would later use in placing 2nd in 1991 at the USA Nationals.
233:. She walked onto the track team and after exhibiting her skill level received a partial scholarship in pursuit of her education. In the meantime, she continued her interest in both women's bodybuilding and gymnastics, spending most of her free time in the gym training in pursuit of her athletic goals.
236:
In 1984, after finding that her scholarship had run out and with the pressures of additional family commitments
Yolanda faced a tough decision to leave her pursuit of academics and focus on her athletic abilities. That same year, because of her achieved status through local competition, she had
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While training at the San
Clemente Gym, Yolanda had little time for much else in her life, until she met and eventually married Thomas Heying, who was visiting the United States from Germany. Thomas later would return to Germany followed by her a few months later. She resided with Thomas in
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By her senior year in high school, Yolanda had competed at both the local and state level in track achieving various titles, mastering the 110 hurtles, 100 meters, long jump, and the 440 relay. Although her primary interest at the time was track, gymnastics allowed her to develop a sense of
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on
October 30, 1963. She was raised by her grandmother and was one of five children. Her grandmother wanted her to pursue her interest in gymnastics. As a youngster, she spent much of her time at the local youth center exploring her interests in sports and physical fitness. While attending
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well-being through an inner-focus and clear determination to succeed. She pursued gymnastics by training and competing both in local and state competitions. Eventually, she aspired to compete at the national level in hopes of her ultimate dream of becoming a world-class
Olympic gymnast.
440:, Hughes trained with a pole-dancing fitness instructor, who was a Ms. World Pole Fit champion who won the best contortionist category. In 2005, she opened a special training studio called Fitness Exotica in which she offers training and lessons to customers, such as in fitness and
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contests, placing second to Kim
Chizevsky-Nicholls at the 1998 Ms. Olympia. She would be featured in covers and stories in such publications as Muscle And Fitness, Flex, Female Bodybuilding, and Muscular Development.
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In 1997 and 1998, Yolanda placed 1st in the Ms. International competition. She competed in six
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After coming in third place at the 1999 Ms. International, Yolanda retired from bodybuilding.
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In 1981, after graduating high school, Yolanda was accepted with full scholarship to
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In 1982, Yolanda went to
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570:. The Bellingham Business Journal. p. 1. Archived from
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Yolanda Hughes-Heying (born
Yolanda Hughes) was born in
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1988 NPC Orange County
Classic - 1st (HW & overall)
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180:(born October 30, 1963) is an American professional
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432:. In 2001, she took up pole-dancing classes in
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282:1988 NPC Los Angeles Championship - 2nd (HW)
687:American expatriate sportspeople in Germany
102:Off-Season: 155–164 lb (70–74 kg)
100:In Season: 140–145 lb (64–66 kg)
782:20th-century African-American sportspeople
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737:Sportspeople from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
717:Sportspeople from Bellingham, Washington
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568:"Fitness Exotica Owner: Yolanda Hughes"
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452:Yolanda made a cameo in the 2002 film
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772:21st-century African-American people
300:1991 NPC USA Championship - 2nd (HW)
294:1990 NPC USA Championship - 4th (HW)
291:1989 NPC USA Championship - 5th (HW)
288:1988 NPC USA Championship - 6th (HW)
787:20th-century African-American women
777:21st-century African-American women
762:Western Kentucky University alumni
732:Sportspeople from Detmold (region)
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727:People from Gütersloh (district)
612:Yolanda Hughes Fitness Exotica
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702:African-American bodybuilders
303:1991 NPC Nationals - 3rd (HW)
297:1990 NPC Nationals - 3rd (HW)
752:Sportspeople from California
707:American female bodybuilders
757:Sportspeople from Tennessee
428:Yolanda currently lives in
224:Western Kentucky University
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792:Sportspeople from Kentucky
692:African-American actresses
747:Saddleback College alumni
742:Professional bodybuilders
555:ALL ABOUT YOLANDA HUGHES!
448:Motion picture appearance
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566:Schiller, Heidi (2005).
317:World Amateur - 1st (HW)
310:World Amateur - 2nd (HW)
203:Murfreesboro High School
178:Yolanda R. Hughes-Heying
434:Los Angeles, California
198:Murfreesboro, Tennessee
65:Murfreesboro, Tennessee
633:Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls
430:Bellingham, Washington
152:Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls
92: in (1.69 m)
722:People from Gütersloh
592:Yolanda Hughes-Heying
438:Vancouver, Washington
279:Ironmaiden - 2nd (HW)
22:Yolanda Hughes-Heying
767:American sportswomen
16:American bodybuilder
243:Guetersloh, Germany
213:Bodybuilding career
107:Professional career
697:American actresses
480:Yolanda R H Heying
231:Saddleback College
182:female bodybuilder
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622:Ms. International
417:Ms. International
400:Ms. International
383:Ms. International
376:Ms. International
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332:Ms. International
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59:October 30, 1963
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270:Contest history
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638:First (1997)
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36:Personal info
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664:Vickie Gates
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650:Preceded by:
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629:Preceded by:
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576:. Retrieved
572:the original
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249:Professional
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171:Retired 1999
162:Vickie Gates
682:1963 births
410:Ms. Olympia
393:Ms. Olympia
369:Ms. Olympia
359:Ms. Olympia
342:Ms. Olympia
325:Ms. Olympia
255:Ms. Olympia
148:Predecessor
119:Ms. Olympia
29:Bodybuilder
676:Categories
578:2007-09-28
462:References
455:Rollerball
262:Retirement
78:5 ft
55:1963-10-30
442:stripping
192:Biography
184:from the
158:Successor
112:Pro-debut
130:Best win
41:Nickname
653:Herself
644:Herself
218:Amateur
87:⁄
371:- 10th
344:- 11th
168:Active
97:Weight
75:Height
436:. In
419:- 3rd
415:1999
412:- 2nd
405:1998
402:- 1st
398:1998
395:- 3rd
388:1997
385:- 1st
381:1997
378:- 4th
374:1996
364:1995
361:- 8th
354:1994
351:- 3rd
347:1994
337:1993
334:- 5th
330:1993
327:- 8th
320:1992
313:1992
306:1991
275:1984
135:IFBB
117:IFBB
407:IFBB
390:IFBB
366:IFBB
356:IFBB
339:IFBB
322:IFBB
315:IFBB
308:IFBB
123:1992
49:Born
44:Goyo
510:Bio
277:NPC
678::
516:^
486:^
470:^
458:.
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188:.
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