Xuenou > Fashion > ‘I’m 86 and the world’s oldest female bodybuilder – age is just a number’
‘I’m 86 and the world’s oldest female bodybuilder – age is just a number’
'I'm 86 and the world's oldest female bodybuilder - age is just a number',Ernestine Sheperd is the world's oldest female bodybuilder at 86-years-old. She declared that 'age is just a number' after revealing her strict fitness regime

‘I’m 86 and the world’s oldest female bodybuilder – age is just a number’

The world's oldest female bodybuilder exposed her secret to staying fit at 86.

Ernestine Sheperd, from the US, decided to start her fitness journey a little later in life.

At the age of 56, the ripped pensioner started to work out and eat healthy.

READ MORE: Tattoo addict mum 'banned' from ink parlours as artists won't touch 'lost cause' face

For the next 15 years, Ernestine trained hard until she built up enough strength and confidence in herself and her body.

This encouraged her to begin competing and entered her first bodybuilding competition at the age of 71.

Through her hard work and determination to lead a fitness and health focused lifestyle, Ernestine was named the world's oldest competitive female bodybuilder by Guinness World Records in 2010 and 2011.

Ernestine Shepard
Ernestine Sheperd is world's oldest living female bodybuilder (Image: @shepherdernestine/Instagram)

As well as going to the gym three times a week with an early start, Ernestine insisted that a fitness journey can be started off with a daily half hour walk – and then build from there.

“Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I’m at the gym at 7 o’clock in the morning," she shared.

“I have done eleven marathons and three weeks ago I did a half marathon.

"I don’t feel like I’m 85 – age is absolutely just a number.”

With plenty of marathons to her name – and even a gold bodybuilding medal – Ernestine is showing that it is never too late to start living a healthy life.

Ernestine Sheperd
The bodybuilder even runs exercise classes on top of her own workout (Image: shepherdernestine / Instagram)

“A lot of people think well I’m in my fifties and I’ve never worked out," presenter Hoda Kotb said.

"You just do think it’s actually to be in the cards for you.

"But yet somehow you started there and wound up getting the gold medal prize at that bodybuilding event.”

Although Ernestine no longer competes, she is still active and can still bench press 50kg.

She lives off a diet of nuts, eggs, chicken, and vegetables to aid her mega physique.

Ernestine lost her title to bodybuilder Edith Conner in 2012 – who was six years her senior at 77.

But Edith passed away in 2020, making Ernestine the oldest living competitive female bodybuilder once again.

READ NEXT:

  • 'I relied on food banks to feed son for three years – but OnlyFans changed our lives'

  • 'Trolls never bothered me when they called me fat – but it hurts now I'm a mum'

  • Woman with lazy eye passes driving test – but trolls warn 'stay off the road'

  • 'I'm called "posh Karen" at work – but haters zip mouths when I take off suit'

  • Model was so 'poo shy' she held it in for two weeks – then passed out on the job

  • For more lifestyle stories, sign up to the free Hot Topics newsletter here