--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Female bodybuilding started out as a…" description: "\"Female bodybuilding started out as a circus attraction, and I guess it still feels unnatural to some people, especially in a place that's more conserva..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-cir_3218472.jpg" --- # Female bodybuilding started out as a circus attraction… ![“Female bodybuilding started out as a circus attraction, and I guess it still feels unnatural to some people, especially in a place that's more conservative.” quote by Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-cir_3218472.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-cir_3218472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-cir_3218472.jpg) > “Female bodybuilding started out as a circus attraction, and I guess it still feels unnatural to some people, especially in a place that's more conservative.” [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Female bodybuilding is often seen as a novelty and can feel out of place in conservative cultures. **In simple terms:** It’s viewed as odd in traditional settings. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes and promote inclusivity. Themes gender sports culture stereotypes acceptance Mood defensive hopeful Type social cultural When to use this quote - gym classes - community events - media campaigns - policy discussions Key Concepts body image social norms media representation Questions to Reflect On - How can we normalize diverse body types? - What role does media play in shaping perceptions? A Different Perspective Some may argue the sport’s popularity is limited by cultural bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bodybuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding/) [Circus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circus/) [Female body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-body/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [It's very unnatural to be someone for so many people. But of course it's very nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora/it-s-very-unnatural-to-be-someone-for-so-many-people-but-of-course-it/) [Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora/) > [“Within our own races we distinguish between the natural" and "unnatural" people. But what if none of that really makes a difference? What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-between-the-natural-and-unnatural/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [I could stifle my voice, or strip it. I know that I could, because we can do anything we put our minds to. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-could-stifle-my-voice-or-strip-it-i-know-that-i-could-because-we/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [It just feels unnatural to me to broadcast anything other than the character I've created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/it-just-feels-unnatural-to-me-to-broadcast-anything-other-than-the/) [Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/) > [There are a lot of times that if a detail in a scene or a beat, feels unnatural, they'll allow me to explore another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eads/there-are-a-lot-of-times-that-if-a-detail-in-a-scene-or-a-beat-feels/) [George Eads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eads/) > [When I was growing up, there was always this feeling of, 'You can't do these things.' It was nothing that my parents instilled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/when-i-was-growing-up-there-was-always-this-feeling-of-you-can-t-do/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Eighties bodybuilding was the time for bodybuilding. It was so freakish and unheard of for a woman to do that then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-bodybuilding-it-was-so/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I think in the '80s I probably could have held my own, but modern bodybuilding is a whole other beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-think-in-the-80s-i-probably-could-have-held-my-own-but-modern/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I went to a gym and I never, in a million years, would have considered bodybuilding. But they showed me there's lots of different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-went-to-a-gym-and-i-never-in-a-million-years-would-have-considered/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [“In the 1970s, while researching in the Library of Congress, I found an obscure history of religious architecture that assumed a fact as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/in-the-1970s-while-researching-in-the-library-of-congress-i-found-an/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Alienation between the content and form happens frequently in my poems because I obstinately carry on dismantling my body, an act you can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hyesoon/alienation-between-the-content-and-form-happens-frequently-in-my/) [Kim Hyesoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hyesoon/) > [The man takes a body that is not his, claims it, sows his so-called seed, reaps a harvest - he colonizes a female body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/the-man-takes-a-body-that-is-not-his-claims-it-sows-his-so-called/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [Alber Elbaz really understands the female body and his designs are so flattering to the female form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/alber-elbaz-really-understands-the-female-body-and-his-designs-are-so/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I was trying to develop a completely new, nonvoyeuristic approach to the female body as something other than a visual object. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valie-export/i-was-trying-to-develop-a-completely-new-nonvoyeuristic-approach-to/) [Valie Export](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valie-export/) > [Once you stop talking about the female body empowering itself vis-à-vis male forays or invasions or male demands or the necessity to respond to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/once-you-stop-talking-about-the-female-body-empowering-itself-vis-vis/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) ## More by Katy O'Brian > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Hollywood has made a big push to be more supportive of female writers and directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/hollywood-has-made-a-big-push-to-be-more-supportive-of-female-writers/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [You really want to make everybody as three-dimensional as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/you-really-want-to-make-everybody-as-three-dimensional-as-possible/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I've always had a fascination with Catwoman. I think Catwoman is so much fun. I've been obsessed with Xena since I was a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-ve-always-had-a-fascination-with-catwoman-i-think-catwoman-is-so/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [As an actor, you have to go with the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-an-actor-you-have-to-go-with-the-flow/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's a way to experience worlds that I might not otherwise get to and to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a-way-to-experience-worlds/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I found figure competitions... I got stronger. I was very confident with how I looked. It felt great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-found-figure-competitions-i-got-stronger-i-was-very-confident-with/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [It's crazy to me that people still need to feel better than other people because of something as simple as skin colour or sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/it-s-crazy-to-me-that-people-still-need-to-feel-better-than-other/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [When I got my diagnosis, the first thing I did was look up actors and martial artists who had Crohn's. I needed to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/when-i-got-my-diagnosis-the-first-thing-i-did-was-look-up-actors-and/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I think a lot of people hopefully would agree, if you are getting cast, that's a good thing. And if you are getting work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-think-a-lot-of-people-hopefully-would-agree-if-you-are-getting-cast/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Genetics play a huge part in just how big you can get it in general for everybody, but it's something that could be done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/genetics-play-a-huge-part-in-just-how-big-you-can-get-it-in-general/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I don't know any woman that hasn't been harassed at a gym or maybe touched inappropriately, or something like that. That builds up inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-don-t-know-any-woman-that-hasn-t-been-harassed-at-a-gym-or-maybe/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I always did stuff in the arts in school, and we had a commercial agent when we were younger, but we found that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-always-did-stuff-in-the-arts-in-school-and-we-had-a-commercial/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [A lot of martial artists that I know, a lot of officers that I know, they all are really into comic book fandoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/a-lot-of-martial-artists-that-i-know-a-lot-of-officers-that-i-know/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I love having muscles; it makes me feel really confident. I love what my body can do. It's just one of those things where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-love-having-muscles-it-makes-me-feel-really-confident-i-love-what/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) [Explore all 100 Katy O'Brian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) ## More Bodybuilding quotes > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [I don't believe in bodybuilders using steroids. If a man doesn't have enough male hormones in his system to create, a nice hard, muscular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-reeves/i-don-t-believe-in-bodybuilders-using-steroids-if-a-man-doesn-t-have/) Steve Reeves > [“The barbells and dumbbells you hold in your hands and the way you use them have stories to tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-cecil/the-barbells-and-dumbbells-you-hold-in-your-hands-and-the-way-you-use/) [Craig Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-cecil/) > [My first bodybuilding competition was the 2003 NPC Northern Colorado, where I was a light-heavyweight weighing in at 192 lbs. I was very nervous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-heath/my-first-bodybuilding-competition-was-the-2003-npc-northern-colorado/) [Phil Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-heath/) > [After school I would go to the gym where I actually did Olympic weightlifting. And usually that night I would do bodybuilding stuff, core,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/after-school-i-would-go-to-the-gym-where-i-actually-did-olympic/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [There is no reason to be alive if you can't do the deadlift!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-pall-sigmarsson/there-is-no-reason-to-be-alive-if-you-can-t-do-the-deadlift/) Jon Pall Sigmarsson > [When working out, play your favorite music loudly for an extra boost of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/when-working-out-play-your-favorite-music-loudly-for-an-extra-boost/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [A lot of guys have better genes but if you work hard and consistently, you can outperform them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zane/a-lot-of-guys-have-better-genes-but-if-you-work-hard-and-consistently/) [Frank Zane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zane/) > [The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-going-through-these-forced-reps/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I got into bodybuilding very young - I was 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-pasternak/i-got-into-bodybuilding-very-young-i-was-13/) [Harley Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-pasternak/) > [What is the point of being on this Earth if you are going to be like everyone else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/what-is-the-point-of-being-on-this-earth-if-you-are-going-to-be-like/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [People ask me why I work so hard and why I have this compassion to reach the top and be great. I respond by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/people-ask-me-why-i-work-so-hard-and-why-i-have-this-compassion-to/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [Gold's was the first bodybuilding gym made for bodybuilders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gold/gold-s-was-the-first-bodybuilding-gym-made-for-bodybuilders/) [Joe Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gold/) > [Bodybuilding isn’t 90 minutes in the gym..it’s a lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-priest/bodybuilding-isn-t-90-minutes-in-the-gym-it-s-a-lifestyle/) Lee Priest > [Most people use excuses to cover up mistakes, but it takes less time to do something right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/most-people-use-excuses-to-cover-up-mistakes-but-it-takes-less-time/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) [Browse all 322 Bodybuilding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Female bodybuilding started out as a circus attraction, and I guess it still feels unnatural to some people, especially in a place that's more conservative.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katy O'Brian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-circus-attraction-and-i-guess-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bodybuilding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-circus-attraction-and-i-guess-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-cir_3218472.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-cir_3218472.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-cir_3218472.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Female bodybuilding started out as a circus attraction, and I guess it still feels unnatural to some people…” — Katy O'Brian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Katy O'Brian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Female bodybuilding started out as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-circus-attraction-and-i-guess-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-circus-attraction-and-i-guess-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```