Asia's Female Bodybuilders Are Smashing Gender Stereotypes About Body Image

Anna Ho (second from left) participating in the World Championships in Ulaanbaatar this October.

Forbes - “Women want to be capable in every way possible. They don’t want to limit themselves to only the household and their children. They want to be assertive outdoors; kick that football, and lift those barbells,” says Anna Christianne Ho, a 50-year-old bodybuilder from Hong Kong.

Ho is a poster girl for the growing number of female bodybuilders in Asia, fighting to eliminate gender stereotypes in a society obsessed with small framed and soft physiques, inspired by the imagery of its ubiquitous pop culture.

“Looking good goes far beyond skin deep,” says Ho. “All that spending on expensive clothing and make-up, means we pay least attention to the most important element: a fit and able body.”

Ho started focusing on her body after giving birth to her two children in Sydney. Being a health and fitness enthusiast carried her through some of the toughest moments of her life. A victim of domestic violence, incorporating a good workout regime helped her become a “stronger person, inside and out.”

Since the rise of female bodybuilding, gender discrimination has been a concerning issue. Female bodybuilders often experience criticism of their bodies, whilst they build an aesthetic commonly conflated with a masculine identity. > READ MORE

Jayne Lo, in her element at the gym.