Australia - Bodybuilding .com | Bodybuilding, fitness & figure

Joanne Stewart

Click here to go back to main New Zealand Section

Auckland resident Joanne Stewart is the most successful Kiwi female bodybuilder competing.

With two of the most prestigious international wins to her credit; the IFBB Masters Worlds and the Arnold Amateur lightweight class Joanne has made a strong impact on the bodybuilding world. Married to New Zealand NZFBB promoter Mark Stewart, a former bodybuilder who won the New Zealand Nationals in 2006, Joanne competes at approximately 123lbs [56kg]

At an unbelievable 47 years old when she won the Arnold, Joanne attracted much international interest with her standout physique in the international field of the 2008 Arnold. Joanne was the lone New Zealand entrant in the Arnold Amateur and she had a highly impressive performance winning her class, and barely missing the overall. Fellow Australasians Gabriela Ciobhan and Con Demetriou also made the journey and competed. Joanne was beaten for the overall by heavyweight Maria Seguro of Mexico, a somewhat controversial decision to some. Seguro had won the IFBB North Americans last year which qualified her for IFBB pro status so many queried why she was still in the competing amateurs, a highly unusual occurence in North America. Joanne also had photo shoots while at the Arnold, including a shoot with Martin Schoeller for a coffee table book of images of professional bodybuilders including former Ms. Olympias Lenda Murray, Iris Kyle and Yaxeni Oriquen. Joanne has the honor of being the only amatuer to be included. The scoresheet of the Arnold Amatuer is located here . There is also a feature in the IFBB newsletter about Joanne here.